Have I met my match?

Makita, those b@$t@rd$, plastic drill chucks, some kind of cost cutting going on these days I assume, I hate them.

One of the first and probably only modification one will do to their current line up is probably the drill chuck IMO.

So what do they do? Make it hard for the average Joe to replace the drill chuck.

A slotted left hand threaded screw probably with some loctite thread lock compound. So turning it clockwise should unfasten it.

Flat head screw view.jpg

It wont budge with any of my physical strength. I tried and all I ended up doing is marring the screw head

Next solution I tried was softening the loctite using a soldering iron at its max of about 450 degC to heat the screw with pin point accuracy because there is so much plastic around it. The outer body of the chuck is hot to the point I cannot hold onto it. Close but no cigar.

Heat the screw with a soldering iron.jpg

I will admit, so far I have not been trying any of the harsh options such as:

- Heating the entre chuck up with flame torch. Afraid I will melt internal plastic components.

- Chopping the chuck off into a million pieces with an angle grinder. Such a brute way to do it.

- Using an cordless impact driver to drive out the screw. I will need to borrow one and will need to also find a slotted driver bit.

- A hammer driven impact wrench to drive the screw out. I have one but that need a fair thump to work and I may bend the spindle or break the plastic parts.

- I have a big electric impact wrench used for automotive stuff like wheel and axle bolts but is probably too powerful for a slotted head screw and I will need to adapt it for holding hex bits. (Something inside me says this is a bad idea).

I have seen a million youtube videos but I am not convinced that it is actually the first time those chucks have been replaced. There is usually some pre-prep before shooting the videos.

I still can't believe Makita made it this hard to undo the screw. I do not see a reason why especially considering the left handed screw will tighten during regular use of the drill.

Anyone had a similar experience? What worked for you? There has to be a smart way of doing it.
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