I don’t need to tell anyone why it’s bad when a Bosch hammer drill is not hammering. I mean, the tool’s name itself makes the fact that its whole purpose is to hammer pretty obvious.
As for what exactly causes this, there are multiple causes I can think of. In my experience, it’s usually something to do with the bit. So, let’s see what exactly is afoot and how you can resolve it!
5 Tips To Try If Your Bosch Hammer Drill Is Not Hammering
- Use The Right Setting
My first solution speaks for itself; make sure you’re using the right setting. Bosch hammer drills come with multiple modes of operation. These modes are for different situations.
Some of these stop the device from hammer drilling too, so make sure you’re not using those. It’s a common mistake I’ve seen new users make with these tools.
You can see all the different modes in this picture of my Bosch hammer drill. I highlighted each of them so you can get a better look at what I’m talking about.
The setting at the very top center of the knob is the one you want to use. It’s the mode to activate hammer drilling, while the rest are for other functions.
- Seat The Bit Properly
Another easy thing to check is the bit on the tool. Is it properly seated, or is it loose in any way? It should never be moving too freely, and it should never be too tight either.
Both of these things make the movement of the drill bit worse. As such, its functioning is worse too. That makes it feel like the Bosch hammer drill isn’t hammering the way you want it to.
So, the next thing I want you to check before moving on is the positioning of the bit. Always make sure to seat it the right way to avoid issues with efficiency.
You can easily tell if the connection is wrong by spinning the bit with your hand. If it moves too freely or doesn’t move at all when you try to twist it, that means there’s something wrong.
In case of a loose connection or overtightening, take the bit out immediately. Then, set it back on the chuck properly to make sure it can move freely from here on.
- Bit Obstructed
When you don’t clean the bit after use, the dirt around it can cause problems. It can get stuck and harden between crevices. This is another thing that stops the drill from functioning right.
The only thing you need to know for this solution is that it’s important to clean the Bosch Hammer drill regularly. That’s especially true for the bit and chuck especially.
Take a look at the one on this Bosch Drill Hammer too. The bit is clearly covered with some tissue and dirt, which might make it spin weirder than usual.
Whenever you notice something like this, take the bit off and give it a good cleaning with a cloth. Then, do the same thing for the area of your drill’s chuck where the bit sits.
With these two clean, there shouldn’t be anything obstructing movement.
- Internal Damage
If the other three things I mentioned don’t work out for you, there are probably internal complications with your Bosch hammer drill.
These can range from anything to do with the motor, wiring, or any of the other components inside the tool. Old age is a factor too, as drills eventually stop working as smoothly when they’re older.
Depending on how old your specific hammer drill is, a replacement might be the best idea. But, for newer ones, a repair is viable depending on the extent of the damage.
- Weak or Bad Battery
And last but not the least, the reason why your Bosch hammer drill is not hammering is due to a weak or bad battery. Are you sure the battery you have on your tool is still good?
Try testing if your battery is still OK on a multimeter. The voltage reading on the multimeter should be the same as indicated on your battery.
Are you sure your battery is still holding charge? If it’s not then you can try to reset it before buying a new one.
I have a video here which shows how you can reset a Bosch battery. You can watch it below.
You need another battery which has the same specs as the faulty battery. Connect the positive and negative terminals of the two batteries.
Then, press the battery indicator to check if the power flows through the battery in balance. This will reset the Bosch battery.
You can also know if your Bosch battery is still OK when you connect it to a Bosch battery charger. There are different lights on the charger which will indicate if your battery is still OK or not.
I have a video which discuss this topic and you can watch it below.
A blinking green means the battery is charging, a solid green means the battery is already fully charged, a blinking red means it has detected a bad battery, and a solid red means a hot/cold relay.
There you have it, my tips for fixing a Bosch hammer drill not hammering. I hope they can help you fix your tool at home without calling a technician.
