Help with a old snap on tool box lock?

[Nick.Watson]

I have a old snap on tool box I have been trying to figure out. I got a new lock because the old one was broken but it is the same thing. For some reason the mechanism works when the door is not in front of the doors but does not work when I put the door down. This is a top chest.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Interesting. I'm on my way out the door to the lock smith to get keys cut for the Snap-On top and bottom boxes I got for Xmas, and another I bought over a year ago.

It sounds mechanical if the key works the lock with the front panel up.

Reverse the lever on the lock and see if that helps. It should be held with a machine screw.

 

[Nick.Watson]

What do you mean by reverse the lever?

 

[dodge610]

Look at the back of the lock see which way its moving when lid is up take machine screw out reposistion it so it moves the opposite way. those locks have a little stop that only lets them move so far. They have to move the right way to go into the slot that is cut for them.

 

[Nick.Watson]

Thanks guys i got it to work!

 

[Modifieddriver]

What do you mean by reverse the lever?

Flip it over. But I see you got it working.

Got keys for my top box. They didn't have a bottom box key blank so I just had them give me another lock cylinder that'll do the same thing. Oh yeah, I had then rekey the top box to be the same as my screwdriver/extension bar side box.

 

[Last-Day]

From the style of the snap on logo, this particular toolbox is within the range of 1953 and 1981 hope this could help. Somehow.

 

[Stubby1743]

The thread is 13 years old and the OP has not been active on the forum since 2014.

 

[crewchief888]

I have a old snap on tool box I have been trying to figure out. I got a new lock because the old one was broken but it is the same thing. For some reason the mechanism works when the door is not in front of the doors but does not work when I put the door down. This is a top chest.

rods could be bent at the ends, or they arent lining up with the side holes when the top is down