It is always the small things in life that make the biggest differences – smiling at a stranger on the street, holding hands with your partner at the movie theater, taking the garbage out before it overflows, and those blasted drill chucks that seem to require Naval attention to beak loose.
It’s true, many craftsmen struggle with their drill chucks. They can be pesky beyond imagination, but, users of Makita’s BDF452 18v cordless drill, fear your chuck no more. Although it may still require what some would consider saintly patience to remove it, there are just a few simple steps to follow and you should have that chuck removed in no time.
To begin, recognize the appropriate safety precautions (i.e. wearing safety glasses) and ensure the chuck is fully engaged and that the gear box is set in low. Open the chuck completely and you will see a small screw down in the center of the opening. Keeping in mind that the screw will have left-handed threads and the chuck itself will have right-handed threads, remove the screw. If said screw is missing, this is no problem, it is replaceable and simply saves you a step.
Next, insert the smaller (or short) end of a large allen wrench into the chuck and tighten the chuck completely around it. Remember, your drill should be set in low and the clutch should be set to “drill.” With your BDF452 now firmly set on a bench (or on the floor), and using a dead blow hammer or rubber mallet, smack the long end of the allen wrench (with counter-clockwise force). The chuck should release with the blow. If it does not let go on the first whack, simply repeat until the chuck breaks loose. As many chucks are secured very tightly, it is not abnormal to require a few blows before release.
If after a series of good whacks, your stubborn chuck still does not release, spray some WD-40 into the center of the chuck’s opening. After allowing the lubricant settle in (for about an hour), repeat the hammering process until the chuck breaks loose.