You’ve spent three hours on the job site and you’ve been trying to crimp a copper fittings with your Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool. Yet, your Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool is doing nothing. The clicking actuator switch and flashing red LED indicates a failed cycle.
The pipe slips out of the copper fitting with the same ease with which the pipe went into the fitting. The Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool is a reliable tool when the M18 ProPress work correctly. It allows the person to make reliable joint in just a few seconds instead of five or more minutes using a torch.
Yet, the frustration build when the Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool does not work. Each minute that the tool is down is a minute that the company lose money. When the Milwaukee M18 ProPress fails, most of the failures follow a pattern that a person should recognize if they know how to read the tool.
If a person understands the meaning of the symptoms that the tool presents, the person can fix the tool or avoid forcing it in a way that could damage the copper fitting. There are various reasons that the Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool will fail to perform. These issues are common on job sites with inexperienced workers.
Some of the reasons are less money-saving than others. Yet, it is still important for a person to know the reasons why the Milwaukee M18 ProPress fail. Your first place to look for the cause of your Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool failure is the battery.
Common Reasons Your Milwaukee M18 ProPress Fails
1. Low Battery Voltage
Specifically check to see if any battery cell are below the voltage that the M18 ProPress tool demands. If the voltage is too low, the M18 ProPress tool will not work. The M18 ProPress tool is a smart tool and will refuse to perform a task if the tool detect that the battery would not be able to perform the crimp properly.
Such a voltage would create a weakened crimp on the copper pipe joint. Instead of the tool working, you will hear the tool make a quick buzz with the flashing red LED. If you replace the current battery with a fresh one, the tool will work.
Most service calls with M18 tools are because the person using the tool fail to notice that the battery was dead. Always keep a spare battery for your M18 tools and make sure to label it for the Milwaukee M18 ProPress. Next, ensure that the tool’s ram is in its fully retracted position before attempting to perform one more crimp.
2. Ram Not Fully Retracted
If the tool was interrupted while performing the last crimp, the tool’s spring may have failed to return the ram to its start position. In this case, the M18 ProPress tool will not allow the person to perform another crimp. The manufacturer built this safety mechanism into the tool to ensure that the person does not make a joint that may not hold.
Give the ram a push with your thumb or perform a few cycles of the M18 tool in the open air. Once the ram is in its start position, the M18 ProPress tool should work correctly. Another potential area to inspect is the tool’s jaw.
3. Contaminated or Worn Jaws
The jaws may have become contaminated or worn with extensive use. Metal shavings and flux can prevent the jaws from closing on the copper pipe fitting. When this happens, the tool will fail to perform the crimp cycle.
Always wipe the jaws with a clean rag after a few crimps. If you are working in a very dirty area, such as a crawl space or near concrete, clean the jaws after every crimp. If the jaws are visibly worn, they must be replaced.
A fresh set of jaws will restore the M18 ProPress tool to its new tool performance.
4. Faulty Actuator Switch
The actuator switch on the M18 ProPress tool can develop issues after being used for a few years of daily use. These actuator switches are small and can wear with time use or become contaminated.
The switch may work for three crimps in a row and then not work for the next crimp. Try using a cotton swab with contact cleaner to clean the switch. If this does not fix the problem, you can replace the switch assembly with an inexpensive part.
5. Low Hydraulic Fluid or Leaky Seals
Low levels of hydraulic fluid or a leaky seal can also cause the M18 ProPress to stop working. This tool uses hydraulic fluid to generate the tons of force necessary to crimp the copper pipe. If there is not enough hydraulic fluid or if there is a leak in the seal, the tool will fail to work.
M18 ProPress tools do not have a dip to check the hydraulic fluid unless something goes wrong. When this happens, adding hydraulic oil to the tool will restore the tool’s power in a few minutes. Ensure that you use the proper viscosity of hydraulic oil in the M18 ProPress tool.
Using the wrong viscosity will damage the tool. Another area to consider is the copper pipe fittings. The rings on the copper pipes may be too thick or of the incorrect size.
6. Incorrect Copper Pipe Rings
This is especially true for aftermarket rings. The M18 ProPress tools are calibrated to specific size of rings. If the ring is of incorrect size or it is out of specification, the M18 ProPress tool will detect this and fail to perform the crimp.
Only use genuine Milwaukee ProPress rings or buy rings that are specifically listed as compatible. If you use the wrong rings on your copper pipes, the crimps will fail. Cold weather can also negatively impact the performance of your M18 ProPress tool.
7. Cold Weather Performance Issues
Many plumbers will admit that the M18 ProPress tool performs better in warmer environments. If the temperature drops below freezing, the hydraulic fluid in the M18 ProPress tool thickens. Additionally, the battery chemistry slow in the cold weather.
If you store your tool and batteries in your garage or indoors, this will allow the tool and batteries to reach a temperature of at least fifty degrees before you use the tool. If you live in an area that gets winter mornings below freezing, a heat gun directed at the hydraulic cylinder for a few minutes will allow the tool to work properly. However, do not allow the heat gun to ever heat up the hydraulic cylinder.
When the problem of cold weather is fixed, the M18 ProPress tool will work properly. Lastly, if the tool has been dropped or treated roughly in its carrying case, there may be debris in the jaw release or one of the pins may be bent. If this is the case, the jaws will not fit properly into the copper pipe.
8. Debris in Jaw Release or Bent Pins
The tool will sense this and fail to perform the crimp cycle. Remove the jaw holder, clear the debris with a brush or cloth, inspect the pins to see if they are bent and apply a little light machine oil to these moving parts. To prevent this problem, always carry your M18 ProPress tool in its case and never treat it like a hammer.
9. Control Board or Motor Brush Failure
If you have gone through all of the reasons above for which the Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool may fail and the tool still will not work, then the issue could be with the control board or motor brushes. These components wear out after the person has performed thousands of crimps with the M18 ProPress tool. At this point, the only alternative is to send the tool to an authorized service center or to purchase a new one.
The Milwaukee tool warranty and service network is very extensive. You can purchase a refurbished M18 ProPress tool that will perform almost as well as the new tool at a much lower cost. When the Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool begins to malfunction, the natural reaction is to panic.
However, by knowing the reasons for which the M18 ProPress tool may fail, you can fix the problem quickly and effectively. The Milwaukee M18 ProPress tool has many safeguards to ensure that a leaky joint is not made. You should respect the tool and keep it in good working order.
If you do these things, your M18 ProPress tool will continue to make perfect copper pipe joint for many years.
