Hello, a new HF 44" roller and a related issue

[crucible]

First, I've lurked here for awhile and appreciate the board and all the knowledge I've gained from it, and finally have decided to post. Hello and thanks!

Anyway, based on the solid reviews here and the fact that I was dire need of a larger box and the cost, I went ahead this past weekend and trekked to the closest HF (an hour away) and picked up their 44" rolling cabinet. (BTW-thanks very much to the forum here here for the coupon link!). The manager was very nice in helping me get it in my vehicle by de-crating as it wouldn't fit as it's shipped crated and upright-kudos to the manager.

My first impression was good-it seems very solidly built just like all the reviews stated and I was pleased. I off-loaded and wheeled it in place in my garage to begin the loading process, and to my surprise, I noticed that one of the swivel casters is able to turn by itself and not come into contact at all with the floor unless I put my weight on top-say maybe 1/8" or so of movement. The other three castors are solidly connected to the (smooth concrete) floor and seem to be even with each other, but this one, no dice, and the whole assembly is a bit shaky as a result.

I looked and could not see anything wrong with this caster in comparison with the others, nor anything overtly wrong with the box itself. To test, I went ahead and moved it to the opposite side, and while slightly better, the unevenness is still there at the same position (front right) and the other three remain solidly connected to the floor. I rolled it around the floor and it seems to be the same issue no matter where I roll it.

My previous box in the same location had no such issues, and though it was smaller, I doubt it's the floor being uneven as the culprit here-though I am going to check that this evening just to cross it off as a possibility anyway.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Would perhaps a metal shim under the caster there work? Call HF for replacement casters?

I'm not wanting to schlep it all the way back if I can avoid it, but I will if I think there's something wrong with the box itself.

Any advise appreciated-thanks.

C

 

[jjjrmx5]

That is the caveot of buying HF products as then can and often do come with blemishes and or QC issues.

Now that's not ALL of their products, but I have taken my fair share of air and power tools back to replace when inoperable out of the box or after one use.

That said, you can take the box back and get a different one , ask if they will drop ship a new box and take back teh old box box via a freight company, or likely the easiet solution, is to shim that caster in the corner that seems to be higher with washers in each of the 4 mounting bolts till it gets level with ther rest.

Again, if it is definately not the caster being bad or not matching the others, a few wahers on each caster bolt in the outside of the bottom of the box should lower teh caster to be flush with the rest.

IIRC, removing the bottom dwr gives access to those fasteners.

Good luck.

EDIT: On second thought---- if the casters all have the correct part numbers and are teh same hgt. and dia, I;d remove all the dwrs and the casters and flip teh box on it top, and then take a long level and see if the box bottom is flat on the bottom from front to back , side to side and diagnoally corner to corner. Rhat should tell you where the problem lies.

If it's a production error or if the box has bottom damage or is assembled and welded wrong, then it becomes a more apparent and difficult choice. Shimming with a couple of washers on the four bolts in one corner would be no biggie to me. Once you get more than a 1/4" of shim or more, then you got a bigger problem with the box's construction and I would be concerned.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[amolaver]

only thing i would add is a 1st / easier check before tipping the box upside down is to use a floor jack to lift up the front, rear, or sides and remove the 'low' corner caster and one of the others. measure their height and confirm they are the same size (or not). also, if the cabinet itself is torqued, you should be able to measure height on each corner and width across back and sides. if there are differences between either the two sides (plane parallel to ground), front and back (plane parallel to ground), or the corners (vertical plane), the box is out of square and is definitely a return / freight swap.

sorry to hear about your issue - its the 1st i've heard of such a problem with these boxes

ahm

 

[crucible]

Thanks folks.

The only thing I worry about with shimming with washers here is that it takes the weight off the larger wieght distribution area of square base of the caster, and onto the much smaller area of four washers as the washers would have to go above the caster base to lengthen it. No big deal for a box with not much in it, but if I get closer to it's rated capacity....? Perhaps with the large enough washers then, I can maximize the area the weight will have to be distributed onto.

I'll try measuring all the box dimensions as you stated amolaver too-I didn't think of that one, and that one side is might be slightly out of square is good sense. I guess one cannot assume much of anything here.

C-

 

[jjjrmx5]

Thanks folks.

The only thing I worry about with shimming with washers here is that it takes the weight off the larger wieght distribution area of square base of the caster, and onto the much smaller area of four washers as the washers would have to go above the caster base to lengthen it. No big deal for a box with not much in it, but if I get closer to it's rated capacity....? Perhaps with the large enough washers then, I can maximize the area the weight will have to be distributed onto.


C-

Those are likely M8 or M10 bolts used to hold the casters on, and by the time you get 4 washers on there on a 4" or 6" square caster base a lot of that weight will be distributed. If not use fender washers or buy some sq. alum. plate and grind and drill to fit. Even with washers, those 1/8" shims are not going to mean a risk of the caster sheering off hitting a bump when full. 1/4" and above I;d do a shim plate, but again, by the time you add your time and cost, It's back to do you have a faulty box. The if so get a new replacement.

ROV for modding a new purchse just to get is useable should be littel or no time. If so, time to take it back in my mind.

 

[Outlawmws]

snip I doubt it's the floor being uneven as the culprit here-though I am going to check that this evening just to cross it off as a possibility anyway. snip

C

Definitely cross this off the list first. assuming that is not the issue:

If all the drawers are square and don't bind, and an inspection of the bottom dos not indicate any issues of shipping damage underneath, then I'd go with washer shims, but use fender washers so the spread the load well, or make up a shim plate the appropriate thickness.

Certainly far less hassle than a long return trip and the possibility of a second damaged unit.

 

[tkonetzke]

Mine used to do this at work, but it our floor. I just had to find the right spot. Now its in the garage, no more problems. These boxes have a small footprint, i would make sure its not the floor.

 

[BigTJ]

Load it down with tools and it will be level. Worked for me.

 

[dumper]

Load it down with tools and it will be level. Worked for me.

yep, the simplest idea is usually the best idea.

 

[fitz11]

Load it down with tools and it will be level. Worked for me.

Had the same problem with mine and this was the solution.

 

[BigTJ]

Thats what I keep telling my wife, I need more tools to level my box out.

 

[sanddan]

I just picked up one of these last week and mine does the same thing. I plan on the "Load up on tools" method to fix.

 

[68rustang]

check the floor for level, check the box for level and square. Adjust whichever one is out. Don't overthink it.

 

[crucible]

Thanks again folks.

I checked the (smooth garage concrete) floor and while I have a slight general incline towards the front of the garage, from front to back where the box is located is dead level, so no go with the floor.

General measurements didn't reveal anything overt either, so I think I'm just going to find the widest fender washers for the caster bolts I can and throw 'em on-everything else on it seems to work well enough.

Now on to that filling it up thing......

 

[-Brent-]

I'd load it with tools first if the inspection of the box looks good.

 

[crucible]

FWIW-I wound up putting a total of eight 1/2" x 2" fender washers under the affected front caster bolts (2 per bolt) for a total of 1/8" inch or so additional length on that caster, and the box is now solid as a rock before any tool weight-good to go. Chaulk it up to HF variances I guess.

Thanks again folks.