HF 44" Roller Cabinet Drawer Problem

[bmw57isetta]

Given the critical mass of GJ'ers who have the Harbor Freight 44" roller cabinets I hope someone can chime in and help me fix a nagging problem. I bought two 44" rollers last week. The full width top drawers on both of them are a bear to open. You have to really yank them out of there. I can only imagine the eternal mess with tools flying around every time I open it in the future. Has anyone had this problem and, if so, what did you do to fix it? The rest of the drawers open OK. I'm about one click short of taking them back for a refund.

On a more nit-picky note, the cabinets I got have the new rectangular US General logo plate on the top left of the cabinet. I called HF and asked if the top chest, which I plan to buy in the near future, had the new logo as well. Nobody knew the answer and only had the floor units with the older logo mounted on the right side as a reference point. Given that fact I'm retiring a pair of 32 year old 26" Craftsman stacks I want the new setup to match. Anyone recently gotten a top chest with the new logo on it?

Any help or advice on either topic will be welcomed.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Have you greased the tracks? the ball bearings might be dry

 

[bmw57isetta]

Yes, that's the first thing I did.

 

[cmandp]

Do you have anything in the drawers yet or are they mostly empty? They will open better with some weight in them.

Also can you better describe this?

The full width top drawers on both of them are a bear to open. You have to really yank them out of there.

 

[Trey T]

When you say a "bear to open", do you mean it's stuck and binding?

I noticed that HF 44" drawer I have are not 100% smooth like a ball bearing slider should be, that's because the slider are not sit 100% parallel. I don't have any problem with that. You can probably take off the box and tweak/shim the receiving slider portion.

 

[bmw57isetta]

No, there is nothing in them yet. All of my tools are in the Craftsman chests that are for sale. I can't imagine that a few pounds will make a difference but I'll sure give it a try.

I don't know how to better describe the situation than I did. You have to give the top drawer a strong pull straight out to open it unlike the others that open very easily. It's the same regardless of whether I'm holding the handle in the center or on either side. It's almost like it's caught on something. The fact that both cabinets have the same problem tells me it's more than a coincidence. Maybe it's one of those "just give it some time" deals but that's not acceptable as "some time" may or may not ever happen. For what it's worth, both boxes sit flat on the floor, look nice and straight and arrived without a scratch.

I'll re-lube and put some stuff in the drawer(s) and see if that makes any difference. And I appreciate your input.

 

[bmw57isetta]

TreyT:

Hmmm... now that makes sense. I'll check it out.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Well, as usual, the fix was nothing more than taking the drawer out, giving the slides a good hosin' with Gibbs Penetrant and putting the drawer back in. I can now open it with my little finger. Guess I'll pull all of them out and give them the same treatment. Made a huge difference.

Thanks for your help!

 

[cburnscrx]

Given the critical mass of GJ'ers who have the Harbor Freight 44" roller cabinets I hope someone can chime in and help me fix a nagging problem. I bought two 44" rollers last week. The full width top drawers on both of them are a bear to open. You have to really yank them out of there. I can only imagine the eternal mess with tools flying around every time I open it in the future. Has anyone had this problem and, if so, what did you do to fix it? The rest of the drawers open OK. I'm about one click short of taking them back for a refund.

On a more nit-picky note, the cabinets I got have the new rectangular US General logo plate on the top left of the cabinet. I called HF and asked if the top chest, which I plan to buy in the near future, had the new logo as well. Nobody knew the answer and only had the floor units with the older logo mounted on the right side as a reference point. Given that fact I'm retiring a pair of 32 year old 26" Craftsman stacks I want the new setup to match. Anyone recently gotten a top chest with the new logo on it?

Any help or advice on either topic will be welcomed.

If it has the old emblem, I'll happily send you the new one in exchange. Just let me know.

On a similar note, please make sure your big top drawer slides have all the rivets in them. On my top drawer, the bottom front rivets were missing on both the left and right side. While this didn't change the ability to open and close the drawer, it did make it a bit more...firm. Also, I have lubed my slides with the Super Lube sold at Harbor Freight. and that made a huge difference. It took quite a while to lube it up though...

I am still very happy!

 

[bmw57isetta]

cburnscrx:

Thanks for the additional tip and offer of the badge. I think the Gibbs job did the trick. I'm going to pull all of the drawers out and give them the same treatment. Amazing difference for five minutes of work.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

FWIW all the boxes I bought the weekend before last had the new badges...that's 2 side boxes and the main 44" box. The floor models had the old badges. Other stores may differ but mine has had the same floor models for a couple of years. All are smooth finish not the crinkle.

On a side note to that, the drawer slides on those floor models are still nice and tight after thousands of opening and closings. No telling how many people have opened and closed those things over the years. I hope to have the same results with mine.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Ratchet Man:

Good to know. Same with the floor models here in Austin. If those things have held up to opening and closing no telling how many times, mine ought to working great for years to come given the light use they'll get.

Sounds like you and I hopped on the $349 bandwagon weekend before last ... BF

 

[cmandp]

You may have noticed how sticky the stock lube was while you were lubing them up.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Ratchet Man:

Good to know. Same with the floor models here in Austin. If those things have held up to opening and closing no telling how many times, mine ought to working great for years to come given the light use they'll get.

Sounds like you and I hopped on the $349 bandwagon weekend before last ... BF

That's right! I went and got the main box Saturday and the two side boxes Sunday.

 

[chipper]

Yes the top box has the new silver badge

 

[bmw57isetta]

cmandp: That's a good way to describe it. I should have been a little more specific in my first reply about lubing the slides. I opened the drawer and shot some Gibbs on them and thought that would suffice. It took pulling the drawer out and doing a thorough job that did the trick.

Ratchet Man: Going for the top chests this weekend when I've got some 20-something muscle around to help unload. After they get that done they can start "unloading" the beer fridge.

chipper: Thanks for the confirmation.

I appreciate everyone's feedback! Now to get those blasted Craftsman chests out of here.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

I would of liked to have a top box but I need extra bench space more that anything. I opted for the second side box for the extra drawer space.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Ratchet Man:

If I had the real estate out in the garage I'd hang one of those off either end of the two boxes and free up some space elsewhere. Maybe some day.