Once you take it apart to inspect the damage put a few picks up !
Could be a misalignment of the gear to motor on the dec But if the gears are stripped ....you may as well do the Rowan belt mod while you have it all apart.
http://rowanastronomy.com/productsa1.htm#heq5beltkit
http://www.astro-baby.com/heq5-rebuild/heq5-m1.htm