Restoring Huot boxes?

[jamesfjamesf]

Hi all..I have my father's Huot 100 top box and porta-cab roller bottom. He was a diesel mechanic and I swear the lower box had a few big rig motors dropped on it

I almost bought a HF cabinet to replace them but since my trailer is buried in ice I've convinced myself to try restoring these.

The sliders are very stiff, and the roller's top drawers all hit each other.

Huot's web site didn't seem too resto-friendly. Has anyone rebuilt the mechanicals of these? The roller also needs its top straightened; it's a bit concave now. These things are built like tanks so I have no idea how to go about straightening the big parts. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

Some pics (hopefully) attached. (No idea why the Huots aren't on top of each other, there must have been a loose nut during the move ;-) ). Also the roller top looks crooked because of the way the top box sits on it, but it isn't.

thanks,
jim

 

[Brick_Smart]

A friend and I (mostly him) have been restoring an old Snap-On box with similar style slides. We found that the primary resistance was due to the slides twisting/warping from 60 years of abuse. Carefully straightening the slides, along with stripping everything down and re-greasing, freed them up to how I imagine they were new. No pics at the moment sadly, I was covered in kerosene (parts washer) and grease when we did this.

Maybe some bodywork guys can comment on straightening the shell???

 

[jakemac]

You could try clamping the sides down and then use a jack in the center to push up. ????

 

[zkling]

Get a stiff bar (even a 2x4) span the top and then use a large clamp type to compress the sheet metal to the bar. When straightening boxes you need to avoid stressing the construction joints and pulling spot welds. Hopefully the panel is not stretched/warped.

 

[S4cruiser]

I've got an old Hout box I picked up at a barn sale that I'm not planning to use. Was actually thinking about scrapping it as it's missing pieces, etc.

Let me know if you need it or any parts and it's yours, jus cover shipping. Here's a pic...

 

[jamesfjamesf]

Thanks S4..I could use a description of the slides right now. Mine don't seem to have a tab at the front of the slide to depress, like the Snap-On threads describe. The catch seems to be at the rear. Can you tell from yours how the drawers come out?

jim

 

[jakemac]

Thanks S4..I could use a description of the slides right now. Mine don't seem to have a tab at the front of the slide to depress, like the Snap-On threads describe. The catch seems to be at the rear. Can you tell from yours how the drawers come out?

jim

There seem to be two types of slides. Early and Late.
Here you go.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238554

 

[S4cruiser]

James - I'll check tomorrow and let you know...assuming it doesn't rain again...

 

[jamesfjamesf]

Thanks Jake! Sad thing is, I'd come across that thread very early in my search. By the time I got done reading about what boxes I have, their history, etc, I'd forgotten all about the thread

Went out in my skivvies armed with an appropriated file hanger and removed a drawer. Victory is mine!

jim

 

[jakemac]

Feels good when one of those bastards finally pops out, doesn't it.

 

[POS Racing]

This place is awesome I've always wondered about the slides on my Hout!

It is cool having some family history around this Hout was my Grandfathers all it needed a lot of cleaning.

I used brake cleaner, a scotch-brite pad, and some Kroil to get the rails to slide a bit easier. But now I may be able to get it to work a bit better!

 

[jamesfjamesf]

I got all the sliders out today. They're all fixed except one, the whole thing is kinked in all dimensions and I got it better but it still snagged. The rails on the box for that drawer were also a bit bent but I think I got it sorted since another slide operates fine. The box is also missing the stop tab, and I have no idea how to remedy that. I hopefully have a replacement slider coming but I'm open to ideas on that tab...

The bent top, I think I got close enough so that the top drawers won't sag into the next ones. Two 2x4s on the bottom and a floor jack, jack stand, and 2x6 and I was able to get it somewhat planar, but it's definitely stretched and will never be flat. I only care about the drawers working anyway.

jim

 

[zkling]

You can use a torch and a ice cube or wet rag to shrink the top panel a bit where it was stretched.

 

[jakemac]

The clearance might be tight, but you may be able to make a stop tab and rivet it to the inside of the box. Otherwise, maybe a plug weld if you have the means.

 

[jamesfjamesf]

Had some time today and had at it. Replaced the missing slide stop tab with a #6 phillips pan head screw which performs the needed job perfectly. Lubed all the slides with silicone spray and now they slide without dragging the whole toolbox with them.

The top drawers also now clear the 2nd drawer.

I was even able to fix the #2 drawer slide, which stuck severely. I swapped left to right and holy cow no more sticking. Not bad for a rainy Sunday.