stuck in reverse - porter cable cordless

[yancey96]

so, i have the best luck ever... and it just so happens that when the forward/reverse switch on my drill breaks, it breaks in reverse. useless!

i had just purchased this used Porter-Cable set from a contractor friend because i my latest round of projects have been more demanding on the tools than the old 9V black&decker starter set could handle (i call the old one my "wussy girl toolkit")

i don't care so terribly much about fixing the switch at the moment; i just wanted to make it thru my Thanksgiving project list (a set of shelves, a coat rack, and a sewing table) before i find out what "Santa" is bringing me in December... and if there's NOT a nice new Porter-Cable box under the tree, then i can wait until January to make the decision of getting the drill serviced vs. coughing up the extra dough for a new drill (or quitting these complicated projects so that i can go back to using my wussy girl tools, they are a helluva lot cheaper!)

can anyone tell me how to open it up, switch the direction manually, and just leave it permanently in the forward direction? at least that gets me thru 90% of my projects.

If that wouldn't work, then when i order the switch as a replacement part, does it come with instructions on how to install it? i don't want to have to solder anything in, so if that's what it takes for a switch replacement, i would prefer to know *before* i purchase the switch. and i'm assuming that it's the switch - the slider button where i switch the drive direction just slides freely, doesn't completely fall out, but isn't catching on anything to affect the change of direction. if there's something else i should be calling that part, please correct me.

generally, i can do almost anything as long as it comes with instructions - i'm a big fan of Haynes and Chilton manuals when it comes to car repairs, but is there something similar for tools? just wondering.

thanks to anyone who has advice to offer on this subject. -Yancey