Electric Drill: Chuck is Stuck Open or Closed

The drill chuck contains the jaws that clamp firmly on the bit. Over time, this part will wear down, losing its ability to clamp down. When the drill chuck wears out, you will need to replace it. To do this, begin by inserting the proper screwdriver into the chuck to remove the screw at the bottom – also known as the chuck screw. Tighten the chuck against the screwdriver, then loosen it by turning it clockwise (this screw is reverse thread). Once you have broken the tightness of the screw, loosen the chuck and continue to remove the screw. Next, insert a big allen key into the chuck and tighten firmly. Hit the allen key with a hammer to loosen, turning it counter clockwise. Once loosened, continue to remove from the spindle.

Install the new drill chuck by threading it on the spindle, remembering this is reverse thread. Now, insert the allen key back in the drill chuck and tighten the chuck on the spindle. Use the allen key to tighten the drill chuck onto the drill, then remove the allen key. Insert the screwdriver inside the drill chuck to tighten the chuck screw, remembering that the screw is reversed thread.

A chuck screw that is partially unthreaded will cause the jaws in the chuck to become stuck, or have partial movement, impacting their operation. The chuck screw is located inside the drill chuck at the bottom. Insert the proper screwdriver into the drill chuck and tighten this screw down. Remember it is reversed thread when tightening. If the problem persists, then check the screw for damaged threads and replace.

A worn key chuck, or using the wrong size key chuck, will cause this problem. Ensure you are using the correct key chuck that is not worn.