How to Fix and Maintain your Jacobs Super Chuck

How to Fix, and Maintain, your Jacobs Super Chuck

Andrew Prestridge | December 18, 2020

When Should I Take Apart my Chuck?

If your chuck is stuck open or closed, isn't running true, or feels sticky or crunchy it's a good time to take apart your drill chuck. It may be broken and you need to fix your Jacobs Chuck, or it’s starting to wear and you don’t want it to get worse, or everything is working fine and you want to keep it that way. Another good time is when you first buy it and you want to put it in tip-top shape before using it heavily, or maybe you’re curious and want to see how it works. Fortunately, the original design is both effective and easy to rebuild with the right tools. For that reason, it hasn’t changed much since it was introduced in 1902.

Dirty Jacobs Super Chuck being cleaned while disassembled

Dirty Jacobs Super Chuck receiving some much needed attention

Most problems with your Jacobs Chuck can be solved with a good clean and lubrication. For more complicated issues, repair kits offer replacements for all the components in the Jacobs Chuck. The process to remove the sleeve is the same for both, and we found it takes about 10 minutes with our helpful Service Ring. Replacing parts, cleaning and lubrication may take longer.

Tools to Repair a Jacobs Chuck

  • Jacobs Chuck Service Ring, to press the sleeve on and off without damage
  • Arbor Press, a dead-blow hammer can work in a pinch, but a press is recommended
  • Dental pick (or similar), to scrape out any dirt or buildup
  • Cleaning agent, most degreasers should work fine
  • NLGI #2 Grease, to keep everything running smoothly
  • Optional: A lunch tray, to keep track of everything and stop the ball bearings from rolling away
  • Optional: Repair kit (depends on the problem)
Service ring, dental pick, and tray atop an arbor press

A service ring, dental pick, and some WD-40 goes a long way to revitalizing your chuck

How to Rebuild your Jacobs Chuck

Here's a basic guide on removing and repairing your Jacobs Chuck. Check out the whole process in our YouTube video Rebuild a Jacobs 14N Super Chuck

  1. Place the Jacobs Chuck (jaws facing up) on the deep side of the Service Ring
  2. Retract the jaws so they’re beneath the face of the chuck
    Tip: If the jaws are stuck, put a piece of softer material (wood, plastic, copper, etc.) on top of the jaws to distribute the load
  3. Push the face of the chuck (or soft material) down with the press, until the sleeve slides up and is loose. It contains the ball bearings so keep it in place.
  4. Transfer the chuck to your workbench.
  5. Remove the Service Ring, sleeve, and split-nut then use the dental pick to slide the ball bearings out of the slot in the split-nut
  6. Remove the jaws from the face of the chuck
    Tip: Mark which jaw came from which spot on the chuck
  7. Clean all of the components, look for anything worn or broken
    Tip: The split-nut is supposed to be in two pieces
  8. Replace the jaws into the same holes on the chuck. If you’re using new jaws (or lost track), the holes in the chuck arbor are marked 1, 2, and 3 and match to jaws 1, 2, and 3.
    Tip: Look at the threads at the base of the jaw, to determine which is which, an image guide is below. The jaw tips should all align when they are installed in the correct order.
  9. Apply grease to the ball bearing track, then insert the ball bearings
    Tip: Adding grease first helps keep the balls in place
  10. Make sure the jaws are all equally extended, then hold the split-nut around the threads on the jaws
  11. Keeping the jaws even, slide the sleeve over the chuck and split-nut
  12. Place the Jacobs Chuck (jaws facing down) on the shallow side of the Service Ring and push down with the arbor press

Check out our video on repairing a Jacobs Super Chuck here:

Jacobs Chuck Summary

Easy to Service

Maintenance is straightforward and quick to complete with a Service Ring

Enduring Design

The design has remained relatively constant since first introduced in 1902

Long Lasting

With a touch of grease and a quick clean your chuck can last for generations

1 comment

  • Thanks for the info, I just purchased two Super Chucks and want to get them started on the right foot.

    Grev B>

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