Please help! Locked out of toolbox

[MackMan]

So I got the 41" craftsman box mentioned on other threads here.. I decided to swap the lock out of my old toolbox since they are the same style. As soon as I pulled the cylinder out of my new box the lock dropped into place.. I can't rotate the rod to unlock it, even got the new cyl in, and I can turn the key to a point then it binds.. hoot to the point of starting to bend the key. Worse yet most of the drawers were closed when this happened so I have limited tools. Also I can't seem to remove the drawers this is a friction slide box, Isthere any way to remove them?

 

[Bigplum]

Other similar threads mention turning the box upside down so the rods / bars drop down ,
Not much fun on a large box though,
if one of the draws is still open , half the battle is won , once you have figured how to dismount it

 

[Ruger_556]

There are locking tabs on the slides you have to bend in with a screwdriver to get the drawers out.

 

[Ruger_556]

There's a youtube video for drawer removal but the guy in the vid has ball-bearing quiet glide.

That's what they're calling friction slides now. They're not ball bearing.

 

[MackMan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did figure out how to get the drawers out, and had enough open to go back in and physically lift the locking tabs and put the old lock back in to keep it unlocked.

So follow up question, what could go wrong that jams the system like this? I tried lubing the hook-tracks , but it seems the cross bar that lifts the hooks doesn't want to stay horizontal. It just keeps binding. I don't see anything that looks damaged. Is this a common problem, or is something wrong here?

 

[kenfain]

Pull the c clip on the inside. Then take the whole thing out. Not just the cylinder.

 

[MackMan]

Pull the c clip on the inside. Then take the whole thing out. Not just the cylinder.

That's what I did. I can turn the rod with pliers, but it's tough. With the lock in the key is not strong enough to turn the lock

 

[MackMan]

Here's some pictures of the innards. It seems like the rod that rotates is binding on something, and it's difficult to get both left and right sides to lift at the same time.

Tried some white lithium grease here..

 

[justme-]

I had this happen on a Vidmar twice. Top drawer was open thankfully the first time. Was able to reach back with a piece of rod stock and lift the mechanism. 2nd time I wasn't so lucky and it was closed up tight. Resulted in drilling a hole in the cabinet side near the back where the mechanism is such that a finger could lift it. Pains me to think about defacing a Vidmar like that now, but 5 years ago when it happened they were just another parts storage box to me, and the quantity of them I let go by at auction for short (really short) money was ridiculous.
If I'd only known then what I know now...

 

[MackMan]

From what I read up the friction to ball bearing conversion was pretty involved and I'm sure expensive for my 15 drawers.

But is there a way to get the lock mechanism to free up better?

 

[Bigplum]

Sometimes if the drawers have been really pulled on whilst locked the sliding bar deforms then binds in the channel on the back , any damage or wallows in the back panel will do the same too .
Does it bind up with all the drawers out / away from the locking hooks?

 

[MackMan]

yes, it binds up regardless of drawers in or out. Can I fix this somehow? There's 3 locking racks, so I guess I see which one may be binding if any?

 

[Bigplum]

You should be able to feel which one is binding , it may have something jammed in the channel like a stray washer or label .

 

[kenfain]

My box had a binding track issue. While I was messing with it one day, I inadvertently pushed in on the track. I don't remember why I was pushing on it. Probably trying to get the spring to work better, or something, it's not important. What is important is, I heard, and felt this track pop back into place. I didn't know it was out. Couldn't tell by look or feel. Been working great ever since. I had it against a wall so it wouldn't tip over, and I was really leaning on in with all 250 pounds. You might try that!

 

[MackMan]

Interesting.. will give these things a try. Locking isn't a huge deal as I'm not in a shop with other people, just my own garage, and figure if someone breaks into the garage they will likely have no trouble breaking into a toolbox, but I like having the option, and also nice if I want to move it around to not worry about drawers falling open.