Proto Rolling Tool Chest - drawer "stops" halfway

[gasongasoff]

Proto Rolling Tool Chest - drawer "stops" halfway [RESOLVED]

Just got a new 50" Proto 450HS rolling tool chest. Whenever I open a drawer, it catches or locks at the half-way point. I have to give it another tug to open a drawer all the way. Does anyone know what the point of this is? Is there a way to make it so the drawers smoothly open all the way without catching halfway?

Edit: Resolved, see last post

 

[bobcatdan]

I'd call proto and ask for new slides, something isn't right. Brand new box, I wouldn't settle for any less.

 

[Hiball]

Just got a new 50" Proto 450HS rolling tool chest. Whenever I open a drawer, it catches or locks at the half-way point. I have to give it another tug to open a drawer all the way. Does anyone know what the point of this is? Is there a way to make it so the drawers smoothly open all the way without catching halfway?

Im going to Guess its simply a Detent, I believe I read Here or somewhere that some of the Proto boxes have Adjustable detents, Obviously the Detents are there to reduce the chance of multiple Drawers opening and causing damage or Injury.

 

[gasongasoff]

I think it's a feature because all the drawers do it at the halfway point. I found a way to adjust the force of the first detent (when you initially open the drawer), but I have no idea how to adjust/disable the midway detent. Any other ideas?

 

[Ruger_556]

It's a Proto/MAC issue with the current slides. Load the drawers and use them and/or pull the drawers out faster so they go past the mid detent. They'll wear in and you won't really notice them anymore. If you don't close the drawer past the detent neither will be there, if I'm in the same couple drawers I usually just don't push past the detent and then they'll open full extension without it

 

[Ruger_556]

Also you can buy the old model slides with the screw adjust detent in the back of the drawer. They drop right in and don't have the mid detent if it really bothers you.

 

[Conductor562]

I noticed them on some of the new Macsimizers. I hate them and I'm 100% sure they would drive me crazy

 

[amlv20]

Just got a new 50" Proto 450HS rolling tool chest. Whenever I open a drawer, it catches or locks at the half-way point. I have to give it another tug to open a drawer all the way. Does anyone know what the point of this is? Is there a way to make it so the drawers smoothly open all the way without catching halfway?

My mac tech1000 did this when it was new,pissed me off to no end.i had the dealer replace slides and then drawers.and this was multipul drawers,but not all of them.he finally called his district manager who came in and took a few measurements and finally got the box warrantied.has worked better since but one drawer still sticks every now and then.

 

[Conductor562]

I was gonna save it for my upcoming article, but what the hell. Mac/Proto is correcting the problem.

Apparently the drawers are hanging up on the sequencing tabs. Mac has a redesigned slide that I believe is already being used.

 

[gasongasoff]

I was gonna save it for my upcoming article, but what the hell. Mac/Proto is correcting the problem.

Apparently the drawers are hanging up on the sequencing tabs. Mac has a redesigned slide that I believe is already being used.

Can't wait to see your article.
In the meantime, is there something I can just dremel out so that the drawers don't catch halfway anymore? Is it that black plastic piece with the arrow?

 

[Conductor562]

In the pic it certainly appears altering the black plastic piece might help, but I wouldn't swear to it.

Tell Ya what though, I'll hit Mac up for a user procedure to help. Maybe I'll get some kind of answer

 

[gasongasoff]

In the pic it certainly appears altering the black plastic piece might help, but I wouldn't swear to it.

Tell Ya what though, I'll hit Mac up for a user procedure to help. Maybe I'll get some kind of answer

I'd be happy to test out whatever you come up with and report back. Anything's better than replacing the glides.

 

[gasongasoff]

Update: I found the black "sequencing tabs" that Conductor562 mentioned. They look a little different on the Proto glides, but same principle. I was able to completely remove the annoying half-way stop simply by removing the black tabs (they come out).

Unfortunately, the black tabs also appear to server another purpose: they provide a soft stop when the drawer is opened fully. I guess I can live with that, or maybe sand down the black pieces.

Does anyone know if Proto/MAC sells replacements for those black sequencing tabs?

 

[gasongasoff]

Update2: Problem solved. I discovered that there is a metal tab on the rear of each slide (drawer-side) that can be bent inwards. This prevents the slides from catching the black sequencing tab when the drawer is pulled out halfway. Now the drawers slide out fully without catching, and it's very smooth. I really like this box!