Confused about part of my pillar drill switch

My pillar drill started not turning on propery. Each time I pressed the green button it would only go while I had finger on button.

I would have to try it up to 10 times before it finally stayed on.

No problem I thought, I would change the green/red buttoned on/off switch.

I took it apart and there's a weird (to me) strange part next to the switch (see photos, 1 of side, one of bottom and two looking down the top, one with flash the other without).
The hole in the middle of the top down view is for the screw that holds it next to the on/off switch. While it looks metal from the pics, it's plastic.



The two outs from the on/off switch go to the motor.
The neutral from the mains go to the in on the on/off switch.
The live from the mains go to the weird bit photoed.
There is a safety switch in the lid with two wires, one goes to the weird bit, the other goes to the in on the on/off switch.

I've made a quick diagram showing what I mean



I can understand whats happening easily enough, if the lids open, the on/off switch doesn't get any current.

However, if I have the lid open, pressing the green button does nothing as I would expect.
Closing it, and I'm back to trying about 10 times before the on/off switch works. hence the safety switch in the lid is working fine.

If I bypass the weird bit/lid switch completely, and simply have both the mains on the IN side of the of the on/off switch it works 100% fine, every time I press the green button it starts properly and stays running.

As soon as I go back to using the weird bit, it takes about 10 times for the start to remain on.

My conclusion is, the weird bit is faulty, but what is it?

Happy to bypass it, can't be any more dangerous than my old metal lathe is, but if it's easy to get, will do it properly.

many thanks

Perhaps a piece of plastic has fallen of the phot'd bits, preventing it latching on?

What make/model is the drill? there may be something online, have you asked MrGoogle?

If it's intermittant and it's not a problem when you bypass the latch, I'd say that's where the problem is. I'd start by giving it a good blast with WD40 to repel any moisture; can work in certain situations.

Thanks.

It's an old Ferm FTB 16/500

I've tried googling, the manual pdf I find doesn't show the actual piece.

I think the bit I photoed is simply an over designed connector block as testing with a multi meter, both pins connect to each other.

So it probably is the lid switch

Resettable thermal cutout fuse maybe?

Is this the same switch?
https://www.fiyo.co.uk/ferm-switch-for-table-drill-105341?device_brand=5629#suitable-for

mattylad said:

Is this the same switch?
https://www.fiyo.co.uk/ferm-switch-for-table-drill-105341?device_brand=5629#suitable-for

Click to expand...

No it's this one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/152968626805?chn=ps

Will get a new switch at that price.

yeah, not worth messing around at that
In fact get 2, put the spare one in a safe palce never to find it again