Got a Makita drywall screw gun…worked fine for about 60 sheets so far, but all of a sudden it seems to want to “ratchet” all the time, not just as the screw head is starting to press the paper face. Adjusting for screw countersink doesn’t make any difference.
Is there an adjustment I can’t figure out? Cleaning? Worn out part? Never having seen one used/abused before, I’m at a loss to figure this out.
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Replies
make double sure it is full on forward..or reverse..not inbetween.
same with speed settings if it has one for fast/slow
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Yeah, I checked that.
Slightly bent bit holder or crud down iside the nose cone assembly...
Get a Milwaukee....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Does the bit holder piece ever get hogged out enough so the holder actually ratchets on the bit? Whats the relationship between the internal ratcheting mechanism and the external nose cone piece that starts the ratchet when it hits paper?
Or am I missing something in how these things actually work?
None that I have ever used but you may have an el-cheapo and not know it.
The ratchet mechanism is a clutch plate type configuration.. light or almost no pressure slips the clutch. Heavy pressure locks up the clutch.
Maybe the bit is rounded off slightly and what you hear is the bit slipping in the screw or you have a bit not sized or matched to the screw. Cheap bits can be a real PITA.... Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Vermont American bits, if they were slipping in the screw head, the recess would show it. Guess I'll take a real close look at it tonite with a strong light and extra power reading glasses. I'm suspecting screwed up or worn out clutch mechanism. Started right after one of those ones in the corner where you have to angle the screw a bit to hit the corner stud, the cone hit the paper before the screw is all the way in. (Taper calls those "hangers", 'cause you could hang something on them)
So I really bore down on it. Constant ratcheting started after that.
Look to the bent bit holder or it hanging up on the nose. Maybe the nose is out of wack.Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Thanx....will do and let you know what it was.
Johnny, if you take the nose off and try it, what happens?
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I'll do the trouble shooting thing tonite for sure. Still have ~ 12 sheets to hang.
Well I think the clutch has taken a dump. Probably partially due to admitedly inexperienced users (mostly me!) letting the clutch slip too long and hard, and then using it even with the clutch slipping. But wouldn't you think the clutch would stand up for at least 100 sheets? Only have hung about 60 so far.
Anyone else abused a gun that way?
Service center says $30 - $40 for parts to replace clutch...but the drill only cost ~$80 new at a Menards.
Think I can in good conscience take it back to the store for a replacement?
Johnny, this '72 Milwaukee has been used and admittedly abused in one form or another. All I've ever replaced is brushes. I think your initial purchase was bogus if you want long life and use outta that tool, but no.......it should have lasted at least till the cheap #### cord cracked. Buddy geno still has his first makita gun. Still honks along cord after cord after............
I surely would go to menards and tell them it crapped out. How bout credit card purchase? Some of them have an extended warranty.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Yeah, it seems like the clutch mechanism itself should be built sturdy enough to do what it is supposed to do...slip when the cone hits the paper...for thousands (maybe 10 of thousands) of screws, even if it is pushed hard once and awhile. Pretty hard to toe-screw at the corners without pushing a bit hard now and then.
When you get to the corner and need to get a deeper set, adjust the nose deeper or hold the gun real perpendicular and the top of gun to the side wall, horizontal instead of vertical. No real need to toe screw if that stud runs an inch into the wall surface. Most guns are shallower on the top, allowing you to get it closer to obstructions.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
After not even 100 sheets that Makita should still be going strong. 1000 sheets should make no difference to it either.
Time to get an adjustment on it and upgrade to a Milwaukee. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Yeah, I got that technique down just this weekend, and it does work better, but alas, the damage (?) had already been done.
Good news is that I took it back to Menards for an equal exchange, no reciept, no box, no questions asked...wooo hooo!
I know, probably won't last much longer than the original, but I only have about 12 sheets to go. Then I get a chance to wear this one out screwing radiant floor sleepers down. This is the bottom of the line model 6821, only 2.9 pounds...probably saved some weight when they designed the clutch assembly.
Thanks, you too imerc, for your advice and support.
(hey did you catch my post in the FHB BT section? ? About setting a tub, cement board etc? Everyone gets 5 seconds of fame. That's about as much attention as I got when I showed it to 16 yr old daughter :<}) )
Does Menards carry Milwaukee? If so see about an upgrade... Trades yur Mak in for a credit.
Mine have done more screws than I would ever care to think about in the last 20 plus years.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
HD and Fleet Farm carry Milwaukee here.
I know about Milwaukee, though. The late 70s vintage Milwaukee sawsall I got when I did plumbing for a living is still going stong with one switch replacement. The 1/2" hole shooter was OK too until a 2" hole saw on an oil drum (don't ask) caused its early demize.
Edited 3/23/2004 3:05 pm ET by johnnyd
Just a heads up, then, for anyone using a SR screw gun for the first time:
It's NOT OK to bear down on a screw that doesn't go straight in...to the point where the clutch squeals in protest. Like if you start going in less than straight, if it hits a knot, or you're trying to toe-screw on a corner. If the screw stops for any reason, and you start hitting the clutch hard, just leave it be, put one in straight next to it, and go back and take the crooked one out with a screw driver.
I'm sure you pros know this already.
Really different from using a conventional drill/driver. And I think that's at least part of the reason for the original's early death. I first noticed the squealing noise when my really green helper was screwing off a few screws up on the lid. He had a hard time getting perpendicular to the board. I thought it was normal. But obviously once you start wearing the clutch out, it gets worse fairly quickly.
Live and learn. (First time I used a chain saw, years ago, I thought it was OK to let the chain and bar sink into the dirt at the end of a cut...thought all that blue smoke was "normal". Bar and chain replacement later, I got a bit more sensitive)
Of course, (and this is a common DIY lament, and one of the reasons why you don't often really save any money DIY) ) just when you get done with a project using a new tool or technique, you get passably good at it, never to use it again.
Sorry to hear that....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!