My cordless drill keeps stalling - batteries are fully charged!

Hey everyone, I've got a DeWalt 20V max drill that's been working fine for a year, but now it stalls under any load, even when drilling soft wood. Batteries are fresh off the charger (I have two, both do the same). Any ideas? Could it be the clutch or something?

Could be a few things. Have you checked the brushes? They wear out and cause intermittent contact. Also, clean the chuck and make sure it's not slipping. But if it's stalling under load, might be the motor or a gear issue. Does it make any odd noise when stalling?

I had a similar issue with my Makita. Turned out the carbon brushes were shot. Easy to replace if you're comfortable opening it up. Also check the gearbox for metal shavings or damaged gears. But first, try a different battery, just to rule that out. You said both batteries do it, so probably not the battery.

Thanks guys. Yeah, it makes a kind of grinding noise for a second before stall. I'll open it up and check the brushes and gears. I'm not super confident taking it apart, but I''ll watch some vids. If I see anything broken, I'll order parts. Appreciate the help!

Good idea. Also, while you're in there, check the armature and make sure the commutator isn't worn or dirty. A bit of commutator cleaner and a gentle polish can work wonders. And if you do replace brushes, make sure they seat properly. Let us know how it goes!