HELP broken lock on Matco mb920 box

[Mikeb7247]

Hi everyone,

So I'm starting to to refurb an mb910/920 combo I bought off craigslist for $240. Catch is, the bottom box is locked, but theres no lock barrel. Does anybody know any tricks to get this bottom box unlocked? Thanks!

 

[BlindViper]

Flip it upside down then open the drawers.

 

[Mikeb7247]

I tried that. No luck

 

[dodge610]

I tried that. No luck

Not familar with matco nos. is that a single stack or double bay box.

 

[txvwnut]

I remember my Matco guy saying you can drill a small access hole in the bottom right in line with the lock bar and use a screwdriver to push it up then pull a few drawers out to gain access. The big thing is knowing whether you have a single lock bar or dual lock bars on the drawers.

Post a pic or two of the box in question.

 

[Mikeb7247]

Okay so I had it at a 45 degree angle with the drawers facing down and gave it a couple good hits with a dead blow and that seemed to move the drawer locks enough to get a couple drawers open.

The locks are two slides on each side that capture hook-tabs on the back of the drawers. I had taken the lock barrels out to start refurb-ing it, and the lock slides shifted. So for now I'll just have to not fully close the bottom box's drawers.

 

[Mikeb7247]

For whatever reason I'm having issues posting a photo of my toolbox, but here's a photo of a similar one that still has the lock.

 

[dodge610]

Those are friction slides if I remember correctly just remove the locking bars all together. I did that on 1 I restored. Did not miss the lock bars at all but that is up to you. My memory could be wrong even if ball bearing you should not miss the bars. Your box your choice.

 

[Mikeb7247]

You're right, they are friction slides. I may do just that because it's going to stay in my garage, so in theory there isn't much of a need for the drawer lock.

 

[dodge610]

You could even braze a plate over where the tumbler used to be do a little body work on the spot. Bingono more tumblr hole and it looks good to. I allways hate having a box were the tumblr was removed and have to look at the hole where the tumblr used to be. Just looks bad in my book.

 

[Cope]

The top of the bottom box ought to have two covers riveted in place where the drawer lock slides are. You can drill out the rivet and unlock the box that way.