How to Repair a Damaged Can Opener

Fig.1 Feed gear

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:   
Loctite® Adhesive Spray
Damaged manual can opener

This blog is about fixing and saving money. So when my manual can opener decided to take a holiday. The choice seemed simple, repair it. 

This post shows the four steps to repairing the feed gear and crank shaft and returning the manual can opener back to work. 

Step 1: This can openers has two handles that squeeze together so the two gear can lock onto the metal can. Fig.2 shows both gears. On the left side of fig.2 is the top gear, which is a circular sharp blade for cutting the top of the metal can. On the right of fig.2 is the bottom gear, which is also attached to the feed gear moving the can backward and the other side of this gear is the large black plastic handle that needs to be turned manually.

Fig.2 Can opener gears

Step 2: Inspect what is wrong with the kitchen tool. Find out why the manual can opener would not work? Fig.3 shows that the can opener is missing the handle. Without the handle the can opener cannot move the can backwards to cut the top. Fig.4 shows the black plastic handle.

Fig.3 Missing handle

Fig.4 Crank handle

Step 3: Fig.5 shows the black plastic handle is no longer secured on the crank shaft the metal spindle falls out of the chrome base. 

Fig.5 Crank shaft spindle

Step 4: Just pressing the black handle back on the crank shaft will not repair the can opener. During its parts installation the handle was melted over the crank shaft and thus fused itself to the metal spindle. Fig.6 shows that to make sure the handle is secured use a spray adhesive inside the black handle and put the spindle gear back into the can opener. Apply pressure on the black plastic handle until the handle is snapped into place. The adhesive will dry and the kitchen tool is ready for its next can. Fig.7 shows the can opener ready for its next can to open, this job is done. 

Fig,6 Spray adhesive

Fig.7 Repaired

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