Keyless chuck on T15+3 drill malfunctioning

[Nicholas Noe]

Hi everyone,

I'm having a problem with the keyless chuck (I believe it's Festool part #496905) on my T15+3 drill. It will neither tighten nor loosen, and try as I might I can't get it to budge.

The drill and chuck haven't been put under any particular stress, and neither has ever been dropped. I chucked up a 1/2" dowel and spun it in the drill while holding sandpaper against the end of the dowel to round it over. In the middle of this, the chuck seemed to spontaneously loosen. I removed the dowel and discovered the chuck would no longer tighten nor loosen.

I thought maybe a splinter had worked its way into the chuck so blew it out with the compressor. Still no dice.

I've tried pulling the chuck grip towards the body of the drill while turning it, but it still won't budge.

Does anyone have any suggested fixes? Is this a known problem?

thanks for your time,

- Nick

 

[Xoncention]

I'm having a problem with the keyless chuck (I believe it's Festool part #496905) on my T15+3 drill. It will neither tighten nor loosen, and try as I might I can't get it to budge.
- Nick

Are you able to remove the chuck from the tool?

 

[Nicholas Noe]

I'm having a problem with the keyless chuck (I believe it's Festool part #496905) on my T15+3 drill. It will neither tighten nor loosen, and try as I might I can't get it to budge.
- Nick

Are you able to remove the chuck from the tool?

Yes, it pops off no problem.

- Nick

 

[Xoncention]

from the tool?

Yes, it pops off no problem.

Then hold the chuck by the nose and give it a sharp rap on its back against a hard surface - try and keep it as flat as possible.  The fingers on the locking clutch are not aligned and this is what has locked up your chuck.  If you have a working chuck, then put a bit in it and tighten, then continue to tighten and the clicking you hear are these fingers.

 

[Nicholas Noe]

Then hold the chuck by the nose and give it a sharp rap on its back against a hard surface - try and keep it as flat as possible.  The fingers on the locking clutch are not aligned and this is what has locked up your chuck.  If you have a working chuck, then put a bit in it and tighten, then continue to tighten and the clicking you hear are these fingers.
[/quote]

Thanks for the advice, just tried it (several times) and still no dice.

How do those fingers come out of alignment?

- Nick

 

[Xoncention]

It has happened to me in the past and all I can put it down to is not tightening the chuck fully or put a bit in slightly off centre and it is only holding on two of the three jaws.  You could also try tapping the chuck on its nose softly.  Have a look at the level of the chuck jaws and see if they are all at the same height.  Another thing that has worked for me is to hold the chuck firmly and use the mass of the drill and rotate sharply to open the chuck.  Don't use the trigger, but simple inertia, this has opened the chuck when it has jammed up on me.

 

[Nicholas Noe]

Just following up in case this happens to anyone else.

Xoncention, thanks for the input. Tried the nose-tapping and no dice. The chuck jaws all appeared to be the same height.

I called the Festool Service number up top. Guy who answered the phone said my drill was out of warranty (I purchased it refurbished) and that the problem with the chuck was unrepairable. My only option would be to purchase a new keyless chuck ($72). I asked him how long the warranty would be on that, and he said there is no warranty on chucks purchased alone, only if they come with the drill. That surprised me.

With nothing to lose, I went back to the drill, put a pair of serrated-jaw channel-lock pliers on the chuck and just torqued down on it like I was trying to break it. There was a clicking and ratcheting noise, then, whaddaya know, the jaws came back to life. It's working now.

- Nick