my dewalt 20v drill just clicks when i pull the trigger, battery is charged and it feels like it's trying but nothing spins

— asked by Sam

DIAGNOSIS The motor is getting power but the mechanical connection to the chuck is broken. This is almost always a stripped planetary gear in the transmission.

FIX Replace the transmission assembly. It's a single module.

  • Remove the battery.
  • Take out the long screws from the gear housing.
  • Separate the motor/trigger housing from the transmission housing.
  • The old transmission lifts out; drop the new one in.
  • Reassemble. No gear alignment needed.

IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the transmission is new and it still just clicks, the issue is upstream. The motor armature might have failed or the trigger/switch assembly is faulty and not sending full power.

HEADS UP Don't run the drill in this state. The clicking is metal teeth grinding. Continuing will turn a simple gear replacement into a need to replace the entire gearbox shell and possibly the motor.

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