A compliant shifting mechanism can change the operation of a power tool between first and second operating conditions. The shifting mechanism can provide two distinct forces on a gear set during movement of the gear set between the two operating conditions. The shifting mechanism can provide a user with a tactile sensation of the completion of the transition between the two operating conditions without the gear set completing the full transition. A shifting mechanism can automatically complete the change between operating conditions, regardless of an alignment between the gear set and another component. The two distinct forces can be a torsional resistance force and a bending resistance force.