The Medway Handyman wrote:

My 14.4v Making Combi died yesterday. Sob!

We have been together over for 4 years, every day, drilling thousands
of holes.

I wish now I hadn't dropped him from a ladder last year, or left him
in the rain before that. He didn't deserve that.

Sadly missed, he went as he would have wanted to, drilling a hole.

I wondered if it might be the brushes? If you pull the trigger
nothing happens, but if you twist the chuck it starts?

Can I resurrect Mr Makita?

You could try spraying some contact cleaner in through the motor
cooling slots and running it .. but be aware it might create a flame or
three to start with! Spray the trigger switch too if you can get close
enough to it.

We used to do this often with electric motors working in dusty or very
dry environments.

If you fancy opening it up, bearing in mind you've little to lose,
check the trigger and it's contacts. One I fixed recently had a
plastic part of the trigger broken, not allowing the trigger to press
the metal strip switch together. Quick repair with epoxy and job's a
good 'un ..

--
Paul - xxx