Ms. Fix It

Victory!  Woo Hoo!  Victory!

A few weeks ago, while fixing the water softener, I dropped my 18 volt cordless drill / driver and broke one of the little plastic notches on the housing that holds the battery in place.  I could still use the tool for little tasks, but I had to hold it a certain way and it wasn't going to work for anything big.

I have no money.  I really don't like to spend money on tools, anyway.  The thought of spending about $100 on a new one didn't make me feel happy at all.  Yes, I know there are ones that are much cheaper, but I sometimes need a tool that will a little more than what a "normal" girl would need around the house.  I make do with the least I can, but I need a tool that is at least capable of doing the jobs I do.

Since the batteries and charger are still fairly new I thought I'd look on the manufacturer's web site to see if there was a rebuilt item available for cheap.  Rebuilt stuff probably wouldn't include batteries, chargers, carrying cases, etc.  I just needed a new... housing... for the working tool I had.  hummm.

So, while examining the web site I decided to check out the parts department.  Much to my surprise, when I studied the schematic of the tool, I found that a new housing was only $6.95!  I figured that was a pretty small amount to gamble if I could actually fix the thing!

Today I tried.  I took out about ten screws, pulled a couple of pieces out of their slots, and the old housing was off!  Easy.

Unfortunately, I failed to notice a couple of details about how the pieces I had to remove from their slots actually worked.  Not so good...

Then, as I was trying to figure it out, the internal workings of the drill fell into two major sections.  Not so good!  

There were about 8 little gears, some pins, a metal plate... all smaller than a nickel.  Shit.

Then I decided to work on it.  I figured it was hopeless, but I tried.  

I analyzed, studied, analyzed, studied.  I tinkered.  I fiddled.  I studied some more.

Guess what???  I did it!  I put it all back together and it works!!  Not only that, since it has a brand new housing, the darn thing looks brand new!!  No scratches, no dents - just shiny and new!

I feel like a genius!

Not only that, while I was finding the part for the drill I also found a replacement cap for my cordless power garden sprayer.  The sprayer uses the same batteries and is a very handy little $30 item, but without the cap it was useless.  That part was only $2.95.

Sometimes things go the right way.  I fixed it!!