Written on: 17/10/2003 by Richard (1 review written)
Good Points
Worked ok until it broke :-(
Bad Points
Motor burned out after not a lot of use.
General Comments
I bought this Bosch CSB 550 RE power drill about three years ago thinking that buying a brand like Bosch would be worth it in the long run.
It has a hammer action and variable speed (but no torque control).
The depth gauge on the drill was handy but this eventually broke. The chuck tended to jam up periodically but would unfree eventually after an oiling and some (sometimes not so) gentle persuasion.
but I haven't really ever given it much hard use until I recently used a carbide impregnated attachment to clean up a stone floor.
I guess I should have known better because half way through the job, the motor started to run slowly and sparks could be seen through the grilles in the casing.
Thinking the brushes had gone, I got myself some new ones, only to discover this did not solve the problem. Upon closer inspection, I could see that some of the lacquered wiring on the central rotor had actually burned out.
I'll certainly think twice before purchasing Bosch again.
(PS Does anybody know whether it is worth repairing the drill with a replacement rotor - I hate seeing things thrown away).