Locked Macsimizer Issue.

[southernfriedcj]

I was moving a Macsimizer MB 1900 yesterday and since the keys were lost we swapped in a spare lock cylinder that we had the key for so we could lock the box to ensure the drawers wouldn't open while we were moving the box.

We locked and unlocked the box several times in order to be sure all the drawers were locked and wouldn't open.

This morning I unlocked the box and the drawers wouldn't open.

I assumed that something must have come loose inside the locking mechanism.

There is a rod that runs from the back of the lock cylinder about 24" into the back of the toolbox. We must have gotten the rod pulled out of whatever it goes into at the back of the box.

I drilled out the cylinder and the slotted end of the rod is visible about 1-1/2" inside the box. I grabbed it with needle nose pliers and it turns with no resistance.

The opposite end (the end at the back of the box) of the rod has an offset bent into it so I assume it lines up in a slot or hole to turn the locking mechanism.

I can't get the end of the rod into the money position. The box is locked shut and there is no way to access the back corner were the magic happens.

Searches of this forum & Google have brought me no joy.

Have any of you guys disected a Macsimizer before? Any way to get in there short of torching the back of the box open?

I was looking forward to getting my tools in that damn box this morning but I have been denied!

 

[mrholeshot]

Flip the box over and shake it being its empty. Once you get it open pull out the bottom drawers so you can get to the lock shafts until you get it worked out.

 

[southernfriedcj]

Flip the box over and shake it being its empty. Once you get it open pull out the bottom drawers so you can get to the lock shafts until you get it worked out.

This sucker weighs 1,200 pounds. Flipping it over will have to be a last resort, unless that is the only method that will work.

 

[mrholeshot]

I never said it would be easy, lol Beats cutting up the box

 

[JPRACING]

I would call Mac tools

 

[southernfriedcj]

I never said it would be easy, lol Beats cutting up the box

Well, if it must be done I'll call in the troops tomorrow and flip that ***** over.

 

[southernfriedcj]

I would call Mac tools

I'll do that Monday if I can't get it open this weekend.

In the mean time I think I'll just go out in the garage and stare at it. The teal is growing on me. I actually like it.

 

[SS5150]

Sent a PM southernfried

 

[bgott]

There is a video on Youtube showing somebody opening a locked snap-on box with a sheet of steel.

Aha, found it!

 

[JPRACING]

That's crazy how easy that was now i am scared that anyone at work can get into my box

 

[JASTECH]

Wow! Now how do we secure our tools? I wonder if they are all that easy to break into?
Snap-On,, what are you going to do about this?

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[isr2kba]

Wow! Now how do we secure our tools? I wonder if they are all that easy to break into?
Snap-On,, what are you going to do about this?

Thanks, JASTECH

Secure your tools the same way you secure everything else - with an insurance policy.

Snap-On is not going to do anything about it. They make tool storage units, not tool safes. You can open one up with a boy scout can opener, why would they make the locking mechanism houdini-proof?

OP, get all the lights you can that would fit in there and light that back corner up (a borescope comes to mind) until you can figure out where the end of that little rod is supposed to go. Be really patient and you'll get it.

Alternatively, figure out where in the back of the chest you can drill and make a hole to assist.

 

[mrholeshot]

That's crazy how easy that was now i am scared that anyone at work can get into my box

Locks are just to keep honest people honest. While I havent had to break in any tool boxes I can tell you there arn't many cars it takes more more than 30 seconds to get inside. In Myrtle Beach Sat nights so many drunks lock their keys up in the car I could spend all night unlocking doors.

 

[southernfriedcj]

Sent a PM southernfried

There is a video on Youtube showing somebody opening a locked snap-on box with a sheet of steel.

Aha, found it!

Thanks guys!

 

[JPRACING]

Hey did you ever get it opened

 

[southernfriedcj]

Hey did you ever get it opened

Nope.

Mac was no help either. They were clueless. They suggested I call a salesman. The salesman suggested I drill the lock cylinder (I drilled the lock cylinder yesterday).
The issue is not the lock cylinder. When we swapped in a new cylinder (no keys for the existing lock) we must have gotten the rod (that runs from the cylinder to the back of the box) unhooked in the back of the box.

As a last resort I'm gonna call Mac back and see if they sell matching drawers and cut the big top drawer out to gain access.

Anybody have a MB1900 that could pull their top drawer and take a look at the locking mechanism in the back left corner for me? The Snap On video method does not work. There is nothing to hook on to with a piece of sheet metal.

 

[BigBlue1]

I'm not sure if I have your toolbox but it is teal it that matters. I can't exactly pull it out to look at model numbers it wedged in between 2 beams. I looked at the bottom box and saw nothing in the left hand side there is a rod in a center then it goes into two sandwiched plates the best I could tell. I think tipping the box upside down is the way to go.

 

[fourfeathers]

Are you gonna put a top on it? If so, cut the top?

 

[JPRACING]

like i wrote the first time get a hold of a mac truck and the guy will know how to open it

 

[SS5150]

My Mac guy wasn't able to get in mine.

Sending another pm

 

[southernfriedcj]

Are you gonna put a top on it? If so, cut the top?

Might need to go this route. Mac doesn't sell Teal replacement drawers anymore.

like i wrote the first time get a hold of a mac truck and the guy will know how to open it

He doesn't know how to get in.

Sending another pm

I tried and it didn't work.

I called Mac again and talked to them (hoping to get different person).
The guy said he couldn't send me a schematic of the box and he couldn't help me "break in" to a box for security reasons.

I'm debating on cutting into the box or buying another MB1900 (used) so I can take a look at it and see how the locking mechanism works.

 

[caper]

Did you ever try flipping it upside down?I know it sounds like a pain but it has to be better than cutting up the box.Any chance you could borrow/rent a borescope?Alternatively,most locking systems consist of a bar that drops down over the rear lip over a drawer.It may be possible to pull so hard on a drawer that the rear lip will bend enough to allow it to open.Once you get one out you'll be able to access the lock rods.Some hammer and dolly work would repair any damage to the drawer and since it's in the back it wouldn't be noticeable.

 

[scott37300]

I don't have a mac box but I would think the locks would be fairly similar between boxes. Can you call your mac guy and see if he has a box on his truck and ask him if you can take the top drawer out of it to figure things out? Tell him you will give him 100 bucks or something, I think it would be well worth that. Or if he won't do it ask him to ask around anyone that has a similar box and offer them that deal.

 

[bowtie3]

i have a mb1300 (i think thats the number) its the first macsimzer. if yours is made like mine the offset in the rod doesn't go in a hole or slot it just picks up the lock bar when the offset turns to the 12:00 position. if you could the offset in the 6:00 position then push the rod back as far as it will go, then turn it to the high point at 12:00 hold it so it cant turn and push the front down as far as you can it should lift the lock bar and open the box. I know it will be tough do do thru the lock hole but if the front of the rod can move up or down the back wont lift the lock bar by just turning it.

 

[Davefr]

He doesn't know how to get in.

Your MAC dealer doesn't need to know how to get in. What you want him to do is get ahold of dealer technical support within MAC and try and get some "next steps".

It's obvious that MAC isn't going to be cooperative until they know everything is legit. Your dealer should have more internal MAC resources at his disposal then you.

Snap On claims the achilles heal of their competitor's boxes is the drawer hook:

http://www.theundisputedchamp.com/mainevent/8.html

Maybe you can rig something to get a lot of pulling force evenly distributed across one drawer front near the lock and give it a swift tug and hope that just hook breaks away without bending the drawer front.

 

[Davefr]

So what's the latest status? The suspense is killing me!!

 

[southernfriedcj]

Flip the box over and shake it being its empty. Once you get it open pull out the bottom drawers so you can get to the lock shafts until you get it worked out.

Box is flipped and shaken. Nothing happened and the box still doesn't open.

Did you ever try flipping it upside down?I know it sounds like a pain but it has to be better than cutting up the box.Any chance you could borrow/rent a borescope?Alternatively,most locking systems consist of a bar that drops down over the rear lip over a drawer.It may be possible to pull so hard on a drawer that the rear lip will bend enough to allow it to open.Once you get one out you'll be able to access the lock rods.Some hammer and dolly work would repair any damage to the drawer and since it's in the back it wouldn't be noticeable.

Tried pulling hard and nothing let go. I don't want to use a pry bar.

i have a mb1300 (i think thats the number) its the first macsimzer. if yours is made like mine the offset in the rod doesn't go in a hole or slot it just picks up the lock bar when the offset turns to the 12:00 position. if you could the offset in the 6:00 position then push the rod back as far as it will go, then turn it to the high point at 12:00 hold it so it cant turn and push the front down as far as you can it should lift the lock bar and open the box. I know it will be tough do do thru the lock hole but if the front of the rod can move up or down the back wont lift the lock bar by just turning it.

Whatever the offset rod pushes against must have moved. no love there.

Your MAC dealer doesn't need to know how to get in. What you want him to do is get ahold of dealer technical support within MAC and try and get some "next steps".

It's obvious that MAC isn't going to be cooperative until they know everything is legit. Your dealer should have more internal MAC resources at his disposal then you.

Snap On claims the achilles heal of their competitor's boxes is the drawer hook:

http://www.theundisputedchamp.com/mainevent/8.html

Maybe you can rig something to get a lot of pulling force evenly distributed across one drawer front near the lock and give it a swift tug and hope that just hook breaks away without bending the drawer front.

I'm going to try the area rep again. I spoke to him the other day but he never called me back.
The video from Snap On makes the insinuates that the Mac hooks aren't strong. That does not appear to be the case.

So what's the latest status? The suspense is killing me!!

Box is upside down. I'm going to screw around with it some more today in hopes of getting it open.

 

[southernfriedcj]

BTW, I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

 

[TheGrooveking]

My recommendations are to use a hole saw and drill a hole directly above the lock bar/ rod connection through the top. The reason for this is that your worktop will cover the hole and structurely it would impact the integrity of the box the least.

Do you know anyone with an inspection camera, like the Milwaukee or similar that you could possibly snake into the box and look around?

TheGrooveking

 

[mrholeshot]

Yeah I would say use a boroscope now to see whats going on. I know that was a job flipping it over but I really thought it would work. Sorry that didn;t work

 

[southernfriedcj]

Yeah I would say use a boroscope now to see whats going on. I know that was a job flipping it over but I really thought it would work. Sorry that didn;t work

Victory!

I messed around with pulling on all the drawers and the only drawer that felt like it had any give at all was the big drawer on the bottom left (upside down it's the top right).

I shined my light between the drawer bottom & the bottom of the box frame and I could see a bracket at the very back. The same bracket is visible above all the drawers and I messed with them extensivly whilst the box was upright.
I got my trusty 48" piece of thick sheet metal and pushed on the bracket at the back of the box (as the box is pictured in my post above I pushed from right to left) and the bracket moved and the drawer opened.

I have to go help a buddy with a mower issue but when I get back I'm going to pull all the drawers and flip the box back over.

While upside down all the liners fell and blocked the view to the back so you can only see above the bottom drawer bottoms. There is some kind of corded tool under one of the drawers.

I think I'll buy some tools to celebrate.

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the box flip!

 

[fourfeathers]

I'd still cut a hole in it.-just to remind it of who is the boss. lol
Thanks for the update. What an ordeal.

 

[Keep]

I'd still cut a hole in it.-just to remind it of who is the boss. lol
Thanks for the update. What an ordeal.

Glad you got it sorted out, nothing like a little issue to really get you worked up.

 

[southernfriedcj]

Just for reference (in case some other Homer can't get in his box) here is what the locking mechanism looks like.

The first pic shows the end of the rod that runs from the back of the lock cylinder to the locking mechanism. The end has an offset and when the rod turns it should move a sheet metal "bar" that runs across the inside back of the box, a couple inches down from the top. That "bar' should put the four vertical locking rails into locked & unlocked position as the key is turned. The hooks on the back of the drawers are caught by each locking rail.

Pic two shows the "bar" (the yellow magnet is slipped under it from below) and one of the vertical rails. It is in the locked position. The little white plastic thing that is screwed to the bottom of the bar moves to the right when the box is unlocked. The silver vertical rails are spring loaded.

The third pic is my finger holding a vertical rail in the unlocked position.

The fourth pic shows the locking mechanism where the rod enters it as well as parts of two vertical locking rails.

The fifth pic is a close up of the white plastic knob against the vertical locking rail. It is in the locked position. It will move to the right to unlock the box.


The final pic shows the open front of the box with the four locking rails visible.

For some reason my locking "bar" won't move left to right. It is stuck in the locked position. When you turn the key to unlock the box the rod will flex and pop out of the little sheet metal box at the right end of the locking "bar".
I'll work on it Sunday to get it corrected (or just remove it so it doesn't lock).

Thanks again for the help.

Jim

 

[SS5150]

So was my advice useful now that it's open? It was kind of hard to explain.

 

[tonydanzah]

whats with the tennis ball sticker?

 

[Quik208]

The poor box looks dead with its wheels in the air. Glad you got it unlocked!

 

[caper]

Interesting how the lock bars are hinged like that.Most boxes I've looked at the bar goes up and down not hinged the way yours is.

 

[turrican]

This makes me want to pull a couple of drawers out of my Snap-on box just so I know how my locks work - JUST IN CASE

As for the box being Teal - yeah, it will grow on you

 

[Mustangmike]

whats with the tennis ball sticker?

yeh, you gotta think that previously somebody had the drawer(s) out to put that sticker there, and possibly buggered something up reinstalling the drawers..just my $0.02