Harbor Freight Toolbox slides. How to de-gum?

[rogersmithiii]

I have a bunch of Harbor Freight, rolling toolboxes.

The drawer slides have gummed up, and only move with effort.

What is the best way to relube them? Do I have to clean off the old gook, or can I just lube? I'd rather not empty out four chests.

Thanks'

 

[dnschmidt]

How did they get gummed up to begin with? Are you working in a coal mine? You sort of do have to remove the drawers to do this properly which would be to use brake clean to get rid of the gunk and then some form of gel spray lube (I use the one made by WD40) to re-lubricate the ball bearing half of the slide which is attached to the side of the toolbox.

Easy was out which will last for awhile. Spray WD40 on everything you can get to as it's a pretty good solvent (I use it to remove sticker adhesive). This is not nearly as good as taking the drawers out but it's better than nothing.

 

[brandonsmash]

If they're truly gummed up (e.g. with dried grease), removing the drawers will be the best way forward.

It might make a mess, but you may be able to spray Goof-Off on the tracks and let it sit for a while. Then you'd spray that off with a quick-drying solvent and then re-lube, preferably with something Teflon-impregnated that is a dry lube rather than something tacky.

 

[RTM]

I use paraffin wav on all my slides. I degummed my last Kennedy using a Simple Green soak. Some had old lube dried to a honey or thicker consistency.

 

[bluedog225]

The factory grease can lock up. Another vote for wd40. Nothing to lose. If it works; it works.

 

[seber]

Whatever you do, don't use WD40. It will dry up and make things even worse. Any good solvent will do the job.

 

[Wamsutta]

I use paraffin wav on all my slides. I degummed my last Kennedy using a Simple Green soak. Some had old lube dried to a honey or thicker consistency.

I don't soak anything in Simply Green anymore. I found out by accident that the stuff remove black phosphate coating if in contact overnight.

 

[whateg01]

Is wd40 the new "which motor oil" topic?

 

[RTM]

I don't soak anything in Simply Green anymore. I found out by accident that the stuff remove black phosphate coating if in contact overnight.

Yup, been there, done that. But didn’t attack the black on my slider clips.

 

[dchawk81]

I have a bunch of Harbor Freight, rolling toolboxes.

The drawer slides have gummed up, and only move with effort.

What is the best way to relube them? Do I have to clean off the old gook, or can I just lube? I'd rather not empty out four chests.

Thanks'

PB Blaster. Or diesel fuel. That's how I degum my 5th wheel jaws. Really just softening up dried grease.

If the grease is too contaminated you'll probably need to remove, clean, and regrease. For a 5th wheel it's not precision like ball bearings.

 

[Nutria]

Once you get the slides cleaned up, I'd recommend this garage door grease for slide lube. All of my boxes are 1970s Mac and Matco and have friction slides. I've been very happy with the results.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AJ1SII/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mrschnipster]

I have a similar issue on one of my US general boxes. Would using white lithium grease work? And where exactly on the slide would you recommend spraying? On the entire rail or just where the bearings are?

 

[mrschnipster]

I have a bunch of Harbor Freight, rolling toolboxes.

The drawer slides have gummed up, and only move with effort.

What is the best way to relube them? Do I have to clean off the old gook, or can I just lube? I'd rather not empty out four chests.

Thanks'

Did you ever end up getting yours rolling right? What did you do and use to get the job done? I was thinking about using white lithium lubricant for mine.