Electric Drill: Motor Spins but Chuck Doesn't
When the motor spins but the chuck doesn't in your electric drill, you'll want to inspect the gears, spindle, and shaft. Save on time and money and diagnose the issue using our expert repair guide. Reference your owner's manual for information on your particular model.
Depending on the model, your gear may be an all-in-one unit on a small shaft or it can be removed from the shaft. To remove the gear on a shaft, install a hearing separator on the bearing and place the separator on top of the bench vice and tap on the shaft with a punch a hammer to free the bearing. Remove the retaining ring and wave washer, the broken gear and keyway.
Install the keyway and new gear on the shaft with the wave washer and retaining ring. Then, reinstall...
Depending on the model, your gear may be an all-in-one unit on a small shaft or it can be removed from the shaft. To remove the gear on a shaft, install a hearing separator on the bearing and place the separator on top of the bench vice and tap on the shaft with a punch a hammer to free the bearing. Remove the retaining ring and wave washer, the broken gear and keyway.
Install the keyway and new gear on the shaft with the wave washer and retaining ring. Then, reinstall the bearing on the shaft using a socket on the race of the bearing and tap it in place using the hammer. Clean and re-grease the gears inside the housing. Reinstall the gear housing cover. On models that do not have front gear case, you will have to separate the two halves of the drill case to access the gears. Remove the shaft and gear assembly. Remove the bearing using a bearing separator. With the separator installed on the bearing, place it on top of the bench vice, open enough where it will not make contact with anything but the separator. Tap the shaft with a punch and a hammer until the bearing is free. Depending on your model, there may be a retaining ring that you can remove to separate the gears from the shaft.
Install the new gear, ensuring the keyway is installed on the shaft first, then reinstall the retaining ring and wave washer. On some models, you would replace the gear and shaft assembly as one. Reinstall the bearings on the shaft by placing the bearing on top of it, with a socket on the race of the bearing, to avoid damage. Tap it in place with a hammer. Reinstall the shaft on the drill and reassemble the drill case back together.
Once you have loosened the chuck, proceed to remove it. Remove the front gear case, or on models without a front gear case, separate the two halves of the drill case. Remove the spindle from the drill. Take out the bearing with a bearing separator, then remove the retaining...
Once you have loosened the chuck, proceed to remove it. Remove the front gear case, or on models without a front gear case, separate the two halves of the drill case. Remove the spindle from the drill. Take out the bearing with a bearing separator, then remove the retaining ring, the gear and keyway. Install the keyway on the new spindle, then the gear with the retaining ring. Install the bearing using a socket placed only on the race of the bearing, to avoid damage. Tap in place with a hammer and reinstall back on the drill. Now, grease the gears. Reassemble the drill case, or gear case, back together. Install the chuck back on the spindle – this is in reverse thread. Insert an allen wrench in the chuck and snug the chuck on the wrench and hand tighten. Install the chuck screw hand tight, in reverse thread.