HAAS® Alarm 117 — SPINDLE HIGH GEAR FAULT
Part of: our HAAS® alarm reference · covering 60 of the most common alarms.
What it means
On a 2-speed gearbox spindle (older VF machines), the gearbox failed to shift into high gear.
Common causes
- Air pressure low — gear shift is air-actuated
- Shift solenoid failure
- Mechanical wear in the shift fork
- Position sensor on the gearbox failed
What to check first
- Check shop air pressure (needs 85–100 psi clean dry air)
- Listen for the solenoid clicking when shift is requested
- If it's intermittent — most likely the shift cylinder or sensor
Prevention
Most spindle alarms have one of two root causes: heat or load. A clean cabinet with working fans, sensible cutting parameters, and a regular spindle warm-up cycle (especially on cold mornings) prevents the majority of spindle issues. If your spindle load gradually creeps up across a long production run, replace the cutter sooner rather than later.
If you’re still stuck
If you’ve worked through the checks above and the alarm hasn’t cleared — or if it cleared and came back — that’s the point to call. Persistent alarms after a reset usually mean a real component fault, and pushing through them risks turning a simple repair into a bigger one. Keith covers HAAS® breakdowns across the UK with same-day phone diagnosis.
A note on this guide. Alarm wording and numbering can vary by HAAS® machine model and software revision. The descriptions here are written in plain English to help you understand what the machine is reporting and what to check first — they’re not a substitute for the official HAAS® operator manual or for a qualified service engineer’s diagnosis. Always confirm the exact alarm message on your screen and consult your machine’s documentation before attempting any repair.