How to remove the chuck from an electric screwdriver

How to remove the chuck from an electric screwdriver at home

Now let’s talk about how to remove the part in question. This may be necessary to carry out routine cleaning and lubrication, which will increase the life of the tool. First, let’s break down the case of disconnecting a chuck with a locking bolt. A hexagon will be needed that has the right size:

  • First unscrew the screw clockwise if the part is left-hand threaded;
  • before doing this you need to unclench the cams as much as possible to see it;
  • Insert the wrench into the cams and quickly turn it counterclockwise;
  • unscrew the cartridge.

When it comes to disassembling the Morse taper chuck, you will need a hammer on hand. Using it, you can dislodge the shank from the housing socket. First disassemble the electric screwdriver, and then pull out the shaft with the chuck and gearbox located on it. Using a pipe wrench, perform unscrewing of the clamp cylinder.

Now proceed to the dismantling of the cartridge with the threaded joint. The procedure will be as follows:

  • unscrew the threaded fastener using an L-type hexagon;
  • Insert the 10 mm wrench into the cylinder with the short side, and then firmly fix it with the cams;
  • start the electric screwdriver on low revolutions, and immediately turn it off so that the free part of the hexagon hits the support.

As a result of all the actions performed, the fixation of the thread should loosen, after which the clamping cylinder can be removed from the spindle without much difficulty.

Sometimes the removal procedure can be done in none of the above mentioned ways. Then the device should be disassembled, and depending on the manufacturer and model perform certain actions. Let’s show the disassembly process using a Makita electric screwdriver as an example.

Owners of these models have the need to unscrew the chuck, which uses a threaded locking with a screw-type fastener that performs an auxiliary function.

Then you have to undo the screw and press the button for the shaft stop. After that, wrap the body of the electric screwdriver in a cloth and clamp it in a vise. We press in the cams of the hexagonal wrench and hit it with a hammer so that it is possible to remove the cylinder.

Order of removal

There are two types of cartridges. Quick-action and cam-action. The first thing you need to prepare tools for the removal (screwdrivers, hexagons of the appropriate size, some heavy object of small size, a puncher). It is imperative to observe safety precautions. wear goggles to protect your eyes from small elements that can fly off during work. The disassembly process itself begins.

It is necessary to find out what type of chuck is used in each particular tool (Morse taper, threaded or threaded with an additional locking screw). This can be recognized by the inscription. For example, “1. 6 V10” refers to Morse taper, in Russian production “1.0. 10” and for foreign brands “2. 13″ mm ½. 20 UNF”, here the dimensions are written in inches.

The cone-type chuck is removed without much effort. It needs to be lightly struck with a hammer and utmost care needs to be taken.

Replacing a Hammer Drill Chuck

How to attach it to the shaft of an electric screwdriver

The cartridge is attached to the tool shaft by means of:

  • threads. To do this, the threads on the cylinder and shaft must match. The metal cylinder is screwed onto the shaft.
  • of the retaining screw. The fastener also requires tightening, and the screw itself only increases the contact between the chuck sleeve and the shaft. It has a Phillips-head screwdriver notch and a left-hand thread.
  • Morse tapers. One of the oldest methods of attachment. The shaft of an electric screwdriver has a tapered shape and the same groove is made inside the sleeve. When the outer and inner cones meet, the head sits securely on the shaft.

How to remove and disassemble the chuck of an electric screwdriver

Cams are less convenient, but provide a more secure connection. When the wrench is turned, the adjusting sleeve compresses the steel cams until they close.

The quick-clamp fasteners tighten faster. They do not require a wrench.

Types of quick-clamp designs

  • Single-joint. one hand is enough to install the bit, because one part of the body locks automatically.
  • Two-coupling. both parts are movable, and one of them must be held by hand so that it does not rotate.

If you want to replace the chuck on an electric screwdriver, note that single-fingered are used only on tools with locking.

The material is plastic or metal. Plastic products are less reliable, but they are more convenient to work with because they weigh less.

How to unscrew the nozzle from an electric screwdriver?

To do this turn the electric screwdriver back on, hold the outer chuck shell and press the “start” button. In this way, the drill bit is easily released. If you do not have a special key, you can remove the drill bit with a Phillips screwdriver or a nail.

To do this, take the wrench that is designed to loosen the chuck and put it in the recess. Turn counterclockwiseThere are the following variants of the situation:

  • Standard drill bit extraction (chuck has no damage);
  • Pulling out the drill when there is no wrench;
  • Removal of a jammed cutting element.

Reason for replacement

You need to change the chuck if it became loose, the jaws do not clamp firmly the drill bit or it is loose. A small backlash (1 mm) usually does not cause visible problems during operation. For larger sizes, attention must be paid to the condition of the gearbox. Drill bits fly out during operation due to poor clamping. The chuck can also be replaced if you want a different size or design. Even when the drill starts to move from one side to the other. In addition to wear and tear on the cams, the chuck can also fall and crack. It is easy to remove the part. No special skills or tools are required.

There are 3 ways of fixing the chuck to the spindle

In the first case, there are threads on 2 mating parts. Cylinder is screwed on the shaft.

In the second method, a screw is used to strengthen the contact between the sleeve and the shaft. Here, the screw is screwed in the same way and the fixing element is additionally secured. The screw most often has a cross-shaped head and left-hand thread. To look at, the cams are pulled apart as much as possible.

Locking with Morse taper requires a tapered shape on the surface of the shaft. Both cones are matched, so the parts align quickly and reliably.

Reason for replacement

Chuck must be replaced if it has become loose, the jaws do not clamp the drill bit more firmly or the chuck has become slack. A small amount of play (1 mm) is usually not a significant problem. If it is larger, then the condition of the gearbox must be checked. Drill bits fly out during operation because of poor clamping. Substitution is necessary if a different chuck size or design is desired. Replace also when the drill itself starts to drive from one side to the other. In addition to wear and tear on the cams, it can also be caused by the cartridge dropping and cracking. Removal is simple. It is not necessary to have any special skills and special tools for this.

There are 3 ways to secure the chuck to the spindle with:

In the first case, there are threads on the two parts that are in contact. The cylinder is screwed onto the shaft.

In the second method, a screw is used to strengthen the contact between the sleeve and the shaft. Here, the screw is screwed in the same way and the fixing element is additionally fastened. The screw most often has a cross-shaped head and a left-hand thread. To consider, the cams are pulled apart as far as possible.

Morse taper fixation requires a tapered shape on the surface of the shaft. The two tapers are matched, ensuring that the parts align quickly and securely.

First mandatory step! Unscrewing the retaining screw

The first, obligatory, step in removing the chuck from most household screwdrivers is to unscrew the fixing screw located at the end of the spindle between the cams. This fastening product is intended to prevent the quick-clamping unit from unintentional “screwing” itself when working with a load in reverse (counterclockwise) mode.

For example, when unscrewing old fasteners, when it is necessary to increase the torque. the chuck can remain stationary, secured with the bit in the work surface, and the spindle will rotate “left” (counterclockwise) and unscrew from the screwdriver fastening unit on its own.

To avoid such situations, manufacturers use a test screw with a “left-hand” thread. It is this that must first be removed by carrying out the following steps:

  • Separate the cams so that the screwdriver tip can pass freely between them.
  • Unscrew the screw, making turns to the right side, since it has a “left-hand” thread.

Warning! The screw head flutes can be of different sizes and shapes (straight or crosswise). Screwdrivers with different tips are therefore necessary.

Unscrewing the quick-action chuck from the screwdriver spindle After the “left-hand thread” fixing screw has been unscrewed from the end of the spindle, the quick-action chuck can be removed from the screwdriver.

Due to the fact that the gap between the sleeve and the housing is several millimeters, it is not possible to secure the spindle with a vice or pipe wrench. There are therefore several other ways to remove the chuck.

Holding the chuck by hand

The easiest way is to hold the chuck by hand. To do this, proceed as follows:

  • Wear a work glove on the hand that will hold the chuck.
  • Set the torque control to the maximum setting or set the screwdriver to drilling mode.
  • Make sure that the retaining screw has been unscrewed from the end of the spindle.
  • Bring the jaws of the chuck to a minimum clearance.
  • Hold the chuck with one hand, protected by the glove, and turn the screwdriver counterclockwise. While the jaws are diverging, the motor gains momentum and at the moment of their full opening you get a kind of impact that should move the screw joint. Now it’s easy to unscrew the cartridge.

Attention! This method is not safe! Do not use it if at least one point is confirmed:

  • No need for a work glove.
  • The screwdriver has a power output of over 500 watts.
  • Lack of confidence in their own abilities.
  • Lack of good physical preparation (teenagers, women, elderly people).

If this method is not suitable for the above prohibiting reasons, or was unsuccessful, it is necessary to apply the following.

Using an L-shaped tool

This method is quite simple and safe and is therefore the priority. Proceed in the following sequence:

How to Change a Keyless Drill Chuck

  • Ensure that the spindle locking screw is unscrewed from the end of the spindle.
  • Clamp the L-shaped tool in the jaws. An Allen wrench is best.
  • Set torque control to maximum or switch to drilling mode.
  • Change the direction of rotation of the spindle to reverse (anti-clockwise).
  • Start the motor and allow it to reach full speed.
  • Apply the L-shaped rotating tool that is secured between the jaws to the hard stop. For example, a locksmith’s vise, a gymnastic weight.
  • The chuck is unscrewed from the spindle quickly when the L-shaped tool is tapped.

Attention! The chuck can be unscrewed very quickly, in less than a second. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that it falls from a minimum height, i.e. the stop on which the L-shaped tool will be struck should be as close to the floor as possible.

The second variant of this method is also possible:

  • After unscrewing the screw and fastening a faceted wrench (three-, four-, five-, six-sided) between the jaws, hold the screwdriver in one hand and use the other hand to hit the shoulder of the protruding tool with a hammer (mallet), so that the rotation is counterclockwise.
  • Having thus “ripped off” the cartridge from its place, the screw can continue to be unscrewed by hand.

this kind of unscrewing is especially effective when there is no voltage in the network (mains screwdriver), the battery is empty or the power tool is out of order.

How to screw in the cartridge after replacement

The chuck is screwed in and secured by hand. the electric screwdriver is switched on for a short period of time. Turn the fixing screw counterclockwise. Screwing process completed.

There are many situations in which the cartridge has to be removed. often the causes are caused by problems in the work cycle, such as backlash, falling out of the bits, etc.д. Some people wish to replace an existing part with one of a different design or size. The other chuck also has to be replaced if the drill bit starts to twist sideways. You must install another chuck if it becomes cracked because it has been dropped or kicked. The part should be replaced every 2 years if the tool is used a lot.

After the chuck has been disassembled, all parts should be brushed and lubricated. Then the head must be reassembled in the reverse order. When removing and installing it, the safety regulations must be followed. If the work cannot be carried out by oneself, one must call in a specialist.