Industrial motors and gearboxes are built tough—but the shafts? They take a beating.

From corrosion and scoring to wear from misalignment, even the best systems eventually show signs of fatigue. The good news? You don’t always need a new motor or gearbox. Sometimes, all it takes is a custom shaft repair or modification to keep your system running strong.

At CEM Industrial Supply, we help extend the life of motors and gearboxes through in-house shaft services that save you time, money, and unnecessary replacement costs.

Common Signs Your Shaft May Need Repair or Replacement

Whether it’s on a 5HP motor or a 500HP speed reducer, these symptoms are telltale signs the shaft is the weak link:

  • Visible scoring or wear – Especially where the shaft meets bearings or couplings
  • Excessive vibration – Often caused by runout or imbalance in the shaft
  • Unusual noises – Clunking, scraping, or irregular rotation sounds
  • Oil leaks – Worn shaft seals are often the culprit
  • Loose fit – When pulleys or couplings start slipping or wobbling on the shaft

Why Shaft Problems Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Ignoring shaft wear or damage can lead to:

  • Bearing failure
  • Coupling misalignment
  • Seal failure and lubricant loss
  • Overheating or motor inefficiency
  • Unplanned downtime

What starts as a $300 shaft fix can turn into a $3,000 motor replacement if left unchecked.

Shaft Repair vs. Replacement: What Are Your Options?

At CEM, we assess whether a shaft can be:

  1. Cleaned and resurfaced
  2. Re-bored, sleeved, or turned down
  3. Replaced or custom-manufactured

We work with both metric and imperial shafts, and our techs can match original tolerances or modify them for better performance depending on your use case.

When to Customize Instead of Replace

In many OEM applications, shafts are designed with one configuration—but your real-world setup might call for something more practical:

  • Different bore sizes
  • Keyway changes
  • Thread modifications
  • Tapped holes or drive pin features

This is where our shop’s precision machining makes the difference. We can bore, hollow, and modify existing shafts in-house to fit your new spec or retrofit an existing part into your system.

Real-World Example: Shaft Boring for Electric Motors

Let’s say you’ve got a 10HP electric motor that works fine, but you need the shaft to accept a different pulley bore size—or maybe you’re moving from a keyed to a keyless bushing setup.

Instead of ordering a whole new motor (with a 6–8 week lead time), we can bore out the shaft end to spec and have it ready for install in 48 hours or less.

That’s the kind of turnaround that keeps production moving.

Applications We Commonly See

We provide shaft services for:

  • Conveyor systems
  • Pump motors
  • Gear reducers
  • Machine rebuilds
  • Agricultural drives
  • Material handling equipment

Whether it’s food-grade stainless steel, hardened carbon steel, or just a basic cold-rolled motor shaft, we’ve worked with them all.

Our Machine Shop Capabilities

While we don’t focus on promoting our equipment, here’s what sets us apart:

  • Shaft boring and hollowing
  • Custom keyway broaching
  • Face and center drilling
  • Precision measuring for tight tolerances
  • Custom sleeves and spacers

In short? If it spins, we can fix it.

How to Get Started with Shaft Repair at CEM

If you’re experiencing shaft issues, here’s what to do:

  1. Bring the component in (motor, gearbox, or standalone shaft)
  2. Let our team inspect for wear, runout, or compatibility concerns
  3. Get a quote for repair, modification, or fabrication
  4. Pick up a precision-matched part, ready for install

We’ll also match any seals, bearings, or couplings you need while you’re here—making CEM a true one-stop solution.

Don’t Let a Shaft Take Down Your Operation

There’s no need to wait on backordered parts or replace good equipment over a minor issue. Most shaft repairs or modifications can be completed in a day or two, and we’re happy to coordinate around your production schedule.

Why CEM?

For nearly 50 years, CEM Industrial Supply has helped contractors, facilities, and manufacturers across Coldwater and the greater region stay online and ahead of schedule. From rental equipment to motor rewinding and gearbox builds, we’re proud to offer real solutions with local support.

Need your shaft repaired or customized fast?
Call us at 517-617-4089 or stop in—we’ll get you turning again in no time.