Angle grinder maintenance is simple

- it is almost zero

For contractors who are hard on their tools because they have to get the job done fast to make any money there is not another tool that does as much work with so little maintenance required.

This is because the angle grinder is a very strong and reliable motor that drives a consumable wheel and it is the wheel that takes much of the wear.  The leading brands are usually of high quality, however there are some low-cost grinders that use low standard materials which rarely last long under strong load conditions.

Diamond grinding wheels wear away as the concrete is ground back, cutoff wheels wear as they cut through steel, but angle grinder maintenance is minimal.

Brushes and the main shaft bearing are the major components that wear and can be relatively easily replaced.

The brushes can be accessed by removing the cover plates located on each side of the grinder towards the rear of the grinder motor just before the trigger-switch handle. The cover plates are usually held in place by a screw and once removed the brush which is a carbon block with a spring and wire attached can be extracted.

Purchase new brushes, install them correctly and begin grinding again.

One cause of premature brush wear is dust, especially abrasive concrete dust which is sucked in through the vents near the brushes and blown out the front of the grinder. This air helps to cool the brushes, but it can also direct the abrasive at the wearing surfaces where the brushes rub on the armature. To prevent this from happening use a good quality dust shroud.

The main shaft bearing is located in the housing around which the guard is clamped and is usually accessed by removing four screws that hold the housing to the grinder body.

Some manufacturers supply the bearing only, some the bearing and the housing while others supply the housing, shaft, gear and bearing as a complete assembly. Gears are pressed onto the shaft and require a special strong press to remove and replace them. The bearing takes a lot of punishment before wear is noticed, but it should be replaced as soon as any movement in the shaft is felt to prevent damage to the gears.

For all other maintenance issues the angle grinder should be taken to a repair specialist.

Back to "Angle Grinder Burnout"