Systems and apparatus related to automated tightening of a footwear platform including a lacing engine drive apparatus are discussed. In an example, a drive apparatus to rotate a lace spool of a motorized lacing engine within a footwear platform can include a gear motor, a gear box, a worm drive, and a worm gear. The gear box can be mechanically coupled to the gear motor, and the gear box can include a drive shaft extending opposite the gear motor. The worm drive can be slidably keyed to the drive shaft to control rotation of the worm drive in response to gear motor activation. The worm gear can rotate the lace spool upon rotation of the worm drive to tighten or loosen a lace cable on the footwear platform.