Are my batteries dead?

You should have waited to rate the solution until we were done working on the shaver and got it fixed. Anyway, let me know what size nickel cadmium cells you will need and I will get you the best source to get them. Keep me posted and let me know how you make out.
George

Awsome, When you repair it use stranded copper wire to jump the cells together(all), this way it will not break again if he drops it again. Thats so cool you fixed it. Most people today don't have the skill and ambition you have to figure out what is wrong with something and just throw it away and buy a new one. If they only looked into things a little they would see it is some thing simple to fix. Congradulations on the fix, and keep on using your head. If you had a multi meter you could have tested it before you even opened it and new there was an open circuit. To do that in the future, you set the meter to measure resistance. If the needle or numbers don't change you have an open circuit. If it goes to 0 you have a dead short. You should pick one up at radio shack (you can get a cheap one for 7 bucks) and you will have it for your next project. It's not a bad field to get into. I retired at 38 with more money than I can ever spend. I'm 42 now and so bored I found this site and now I have a way to teach people some of the cool stuff I learned over the years and help them out. I mostly answer the free ones to help people. When I see a pay one that I know how to fix for sure I help them to make sure they don't have to spend any more than they have to to get it fixed. I've only been doing this for a week and I helped over 200 people fix there stuff most of them for free like you. I made 400 buck too, so you really can't beat it. You could be a tech here too. You seem to have good verbal skills and are good at figuring things out. It would be a fun hobby for you and you can make more money then someone that has to get up and go to workevery day to make money for someone else. I never was down with that.
Anyway, I bet your dad is happy, Guys get attached to there shaver. My dad had his for thirty years before he passed away. He must be proud of you.Keep up the good work man,
George

NICE! You should get into fixing things, You have what it takes. I get a rush everytime someone figures out how to fix something. If You ever need anymore help with anything post it in a comment here and I will help you for free.