Thread: Stuck Makita MLT 100

Assuming no major changes between revisions of the saw, the winder handle runs to a gearbox which drives a shaft to the internal winding mechanism.

A broken tooth or foreign crud in there can lock it up tighter than a politician's purse. DAMHIKT. Because the gearbox "case" is part of the aluminium motor assy
it is a major exercise (read: PITA ) to access and repair.

However, if you flip the unit upside-down and remove the bottom cover you should be able to at least poke around and check the internal mechanism train for obvious signs of movement and/or binding.

If you're lucky, it'll just be an errant offcut that ended up somehwere it shouldn't be... which happens way more often than it should.

I would also try unplugging it then removing the throat plate and try pulling the blade up as you wind the blade up.