Hey everybody. I recently bought a brand new 68" epiq tool box. It's a very nice box, it's a good size and I like the drawer configuration. With that being said, I'm having a big problem with the way that it rolls. The epiq series wheels, if your not familiar,gives the option to make all 4 wheels swivel with a quick release or lock pin. So with the wheels at the handle end allowed to swivel and the others locked pointed towards the center of the box, when I push it forward it seems to roll fine but when I pull it backwards the wheels that are locked skip, pop and sound like they are going to come apart. The snap on rep I bought it from said that all epiqs do that and I have to release, rotate and lock the casters opposite of the handle every time I want to move it the other direction. I find this very hard to believe that a $10,000 tool box can't even roll across the shop right. I don't know anyone else with a epiq series box and I want to know if anyone else with this box has this issue. I am in the process of getting some one from snap on corporate to come out and look at it because my rep won't do any thing about it. I appreciate any feedback on this issue.
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Snap On Epiq series tool box problems
- Thread starter namaher
- Start date
GTA Matt
Well-known member
Sounds like the casters are just trying to spin around, the same as the front casters on a grocery cart do when you change direction. How much weight do you have in it? In my experience, fully loaded it should glide pretty effortlessly regardless of the direction of the casters. Mine has 10 casters, 6 facing one way, 4 the other way and it rolls pretty easily with no noise or fighting from the wheels.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
This makes no sense to me. I only ever rolled my Epiq a few laps around the shop a few times when I first got it and set it all up, but I KNOW I rolled it in all directions and moved around a good bit while moving out the old box and all that. I never noticed any wheel problems at all.....In fact I was impressed with how easily it rolls for it's size with all the stuff in it....
Givl Reggin
Banned
Sounds like the casters are just trying to spin around
^^ this is true... swivel casters have a definite direction they want to roll.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Nailed it.Sounds like the casters are just trying to spin around,
Thanks for the quick replies. I would say I have it loaded up pretty good but not completely full maybe 60%.Probably only 40% of its weight capacity. I've thought about the principle of the caster wanting to go one direction and that makes sense but you would think either way that this "High Quality" box just shouldn't have a defect like this. It almost seems like there's too much slop in the lock pin and caster making it have too much play and move/skip back and forth. It's strange though because it's not just one wheel. If a change the wheel set up from side to side the problem follows.
brandini109
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2009
- Messages
- 20
I had a 68" epiq also with the same popping sound as yours. If you read the warning placard on the side I think it says not to pull the unit with the casters locked.
Yeah I know it does say to only push the unit. Don't remember anything about casters being locked or unlocked. But it's only possible to not pull the box in a perfect world where nothing's in your way, lol ya know. I work at a shop where I constantly have to move my box from bay to bay.
. In my experience, fully loaded it should glide pretty effortlessly regardless of the direction of the casters.
So did your wheels skip and make noises when it wasn't fully loaded?
GTA Matt
Well-known member
I've never moved mine when it was empty. Dealer pushed it in for me, I loaded it up and put it in its spot. I've only ever moved it when its full. Never had a problem, even pushed it across asphalt. Heck, I didn't know the other casters even swiveled for the longest time. Definitely a strange situation you got.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Sounds like the casters are just trying to spin around, the same as the front casters on a grocery cart do when you change direction.
The OP is talking about the trailing casters opposite of the pull handle; not the swivel casters on the pull handle side. The trailing casters should never have to have the swivel locks unlocked to move the box like the Rep told him.
Bobioz1
Well-known member
Hi, I have a 68" epiq that does exactly what you describe but only when I'm pushing it. Rolls fine when I pull it around. Lock the casters on the handle side and unlock the other side, pulls fine, pushing it causes a wheel to skip on the other side. We have nice floors in our shop. Snap on rep came out to my shop to see it happen. 5 seconds of it skipping a wheel he said stop and diagnosed it as "bent". Said have my dealer order a new box whatever color I wanted. Lots of dicking around about who was ordering it and if it got ordered. 5 months or so go by. New box gets delivered same color same problem. Call dealer 2 hours after delivered to tell him the news. He says I shouldn't have got another box and his boss says there is an adjustment. I say show me. He looks. He's lost. Says his boss the snap on rep will have to come out and do it. Been waiting 2 months for that to happen. More dicking around I guess. Glad to know it isn't just mine. Good luck.
I work at a shop where I constantly have to move my box from bay to bay.
Whaaaa? You push a loaded epiq series box around a shop on a daily basis? Dont you have a cart of some kind?
wildstyle
Well-known member
Its the same deal at the dealership I work at. Tool box goes bay to bay as you work. Nobody uses carts in our shop either. I push a loaded classic 96 around all day.
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Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
Bigplum
Well-known member
its the casters geometry, the swivel pivot is not in line with the axle pivot, makes it easier to push and steer.
when the bias is the other way the caster just fights itself
when the bias is the other way the caster just fights itself
Wow what a hassle bobioz1. I'm beginning to think it's just a poor design. Dang shame if it is. Yeah it wouldn't be so bad if the box stayed in 1 spot and I didn't have to roll it a lot. I do have a cart but most jobs are just easier and require my box right in the bay. I agree that it seems as though the casters are trying to turn back because of there geometry but yet again I could of bought a harbor freight box (no offense) and it probably rolls just fine. It just doesn't make sense for snap on to sell a box that has a issue like this. Thanks for all the input I'm definitely interested in any more opinions.
He says I shouldn't have got another box and his boss says there is an adjustment.
I've never heard of an adjustment. Has anyone else?
Wamsutta
Well-known member
namaher, was my description of your situation accurate?
The casters on the handle side that are unlocked and allowed to swivel are doing fine.
The casters on the other side that are swivel locked are the ones that are making the noise.
Is this correct?
The casters on the handle side that are unlocked and allowed to swivel are doing fine.
The casters on the other side that are swivel locked are the ones that are making the noise.
Is this correct?
Bigplum
Well-known member
It's not really a design fault , its just the way it is , offset pivots and axles allow easier steering , if they were in line it would be a pain as the box would wander every which way.
The extra weight of the snap on box probably magnifies the effect of the caster being pushed in the wrong direction,
Its a good sign of a well made caster and also that someone has thought of the implications of pushing the box into someone or something out of view by the pusher of the box,
I think it would be rather unpleasant to have my legs sticking out from a car and have a loaded tool cab roll run up against them.
It's the same idea of a pallet truck , easy to pull and steer, awkward to push
The extra weight of the snap on box probably magnifies the effect of the caster being pushed in the wrong direction,
Its a good sign of a well made caster and also that someone has thought of the implications of pushing the box into someone or something out of view by the pusher of the box,
I think it would be rather unpleasant to have my legs sticking out from a car and have a loaded tool cab roll run up against them.
It's the same idea of a pallet truck , easy to pull and steer, awkward to push
Last edited:
techenthusiast
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2014
- Messages
- 486
I have a question, I have a snapon 3 drawer cart with the open bottom and flip open top... It seems to wobble. Sometimes when I roll it one or two wheels don't touch the ground. Sometimes when I have it sitting I can actually wobble it back and forth on what seems to be flat ground... The bolts All four wheels seem to be completely tightened with the same
Torque... Is the ground actually uneven and I can't tell? Or is there a problem with the box?
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Torque... Is the ground actually uneven and I can't tell? Or is there a problem with the box?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
namaher, was my description of your situation accurate?
The casters on the handle side that are unlocked and allowed to swivel are doing fine.
The casters on the other side that are swivel locked are the ones that are making the noise.
Is this correct?
Yup that's correct. Now if I change the scenario to where the the casters at the handle are locked and the other side are allowed to swivel, the same thing happens. So basically the only wheels that pop/skip are the locked ones but they only skip when going in one direction. Then if I rotate the locked wheels they will skip in the other direction. So any time the locked casters wheel offset is pointed in the same direction of travel it skips because the casters are trying to rotate. Hope that makes sense.
I see what your saying Bigplum. I guess having the casters wheel axles offset all in the same direction does make the box more easy to maneuver but I don't think it makes that big of a difference. The master series box have the same Iso Ride casters only smaller wheels and don't have the capability of all 4 casters swiveling. Their wheel axles are also offset. They maneuver fine and roll with no problems.I guess what I'm getting at is if they were going for better maneuverability then they went back a step on quality because the cons weigh out the pros in my opinion.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Are all four casters in line with each other?
Let me explain:
If all four casters were in-line with each other and you had wet paint on all four wheels, you would see only two lines going across the shop floor.
If all four casters were NOT in-line with each other, then you would see four lines going across the shop floor.
Let me explain:
If all four casters were in-line with each other and you had wet paint on all four wheels, you would see only two lines going across the shop floor.
If all four casters were NOT in-line with each other, then you would see four lines going across the shop floor.
Bobioz1
Well-known member
I think bigplum is missing the big picture. When I push my epiq the slop in the forward casters causes the wheels to toe out. The weight of the box holds the wheels to the ground as they go in slightly different directions until the force of the box being split in two overcomes the traction of the wheel to the pavement. Then the wheel skips back under the box and the whole thing starts over. About every 4 feet of pushing it goes BANG. It's not a thoughtful or a quality design. Also there is a sticker on the box that says to always push not pull the toolbox. Sometimes I like my box right by the car I'm working on. That's why I bought one with wheels on it. It's such a sloppy design that I can't believe everyone of them doesn't do it.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
namaher, you might also check to see if the casters are all clocked straight. The caster mounts should all be square to each other and square to the box.
Bobioz1, when you say "sloppy design," are you talking about the casters, or the whole box?
Bobioz1, when you say "sloppy design," are you talking about the casters, or the whole box?
I think bigplum is missing the big picture. When I push my epiq the slop in the forward casters causes the wheels to toe out. The weight of the box holds the wheels to the ground as they go in slightly different directions until the force of the box being split in two overcomes the traction of the wheel to the pavement. Then the wheel skips back under the box and the whole thing starts over. About every 4 feet of pushing it goes BANG. It's not a thoughtful or a quality design. Also there is a sticker on the box that says to always push not pull the toolbox. Sometimes I like my box right by the car I'm working on. That's why I bought one with wheels on it. It's such a sloppy design that I can't believe everyone of them doesn't do it.
Yeah exactly what mine does. Bobioz1, if you rotate your locked casters the other way (wheel offset to the center of box) you will be able to push it with no popping noise. But then pulling it will cause the noise.
It's such a sloppy design that I can't believe everyone of them doesn't do it.
Does anyone have a 68" epiq that doesn't have this wheel problem?
Wamsutta
Well-known member
namaher, what happens if you lock all four swivels and try to push it; does it freak out? If all four swivels are locked, I'm assuming the casters are supposed to be turned like this: o/______\o
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Yeah good picture. I actually never tried moving it with all of them locked like that but I bet it would freak out. I tried moving it with all of them locked like this and I think they skipped pretty bad push or pull. In theory it should have rolled smooth when pushing from handle.
Handle end 0/________0/
Handle end 0/________0/
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Okay good, now I know which end the handle is on.
Pulling Left <------- \o________\o
Pushing Right -----> o/________\o
You should be able to do it like that I would think.
I'm trying to figure out whether there's something wrong with the casters, or if there's something wrong with the box.
Pulling Left <------- \o________\o
Pushing Right -----> o/________\o
You should be able to do it like that I would think.
I'm trying to figure out whether there's something wrong with the casters, or if there's something wrong with the box.
Rig Rocket
Member
I have a 68" for about 3 years now. I m in a big shop always move my box bay to bay. Never have had a problem.
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I have a 68" for about 3 years now. I m in a big shop always move my box bay to bay. Never have had a problem.
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That's very good to here thank you. Now I'm for sure there is a issue that should not be there with mine.
This is starting to get comical. Dude seriously, they're casters. They are designed to work in one direction. People have tried explaining it to you, yet you refuse to listen. There is nothing wrong with your box. It seems like you just insist on making it work the wrong way. You are making a big deal out of nothing.
Bigplum and xj31 are right; there is no design flaw. Offset axle casters are like the front end alignment on a car (caster setting, that is). The wheel axle is made to trail follow the mounting point and if pushed (with the wheel axle leading) the caster will turn itself to the axle trailing position. It is simple physics. The only actual problem is SO putting swivel casters on both ends of the box. If you want to correct the "problem", put fixed casters on the end opposite the handle (fixed caster has axle inline with mounting center line). Or leave all the casters unlocked. No adjustment, no flaw, no problem.
Mastermind
Well-known member
I have a 68 as well, and I have not had any problems with mine, but its only moved twice. But I also realized the axle center line (caster) neexs to be trailing... maybe I'll roll it onto the alignment rack tomorrow lol. My only complaint is my drawer detents are way too stiff on the top drawer. Moves the whole box to get off the detents.my snap on guy keeps forgeting to find lighter detents
nerraw117
Well-known member
i have a 68" with hutch and locker and it rolls great.
Thanks for your opinions. I understand completely what you guys are saying. Yeah simple physics of a caster not rocket science I know and haven't refused to listen. I don't insist on pushing it the wrong way but just understand what I'm working with. In order to roll the box with the trailing casters all in their appropriate positions, I have to first unlock them, rotate them and then locked them. Not to big of a deal but every time I change directions it's a hassle and everyone in the shop is like how long does it take to move your box down a couple bays. It does roll fine with all 4 unlocked but takes two people to move it because it's hard to control.So yeah I am making a big deal about it and I'm sorry but it's just crazy that a $10,000 box does this. Maybe the only solution is to put fixed casters on it. Also if there is no problem why does Rig Rocket not have a problem with his?
i have a 68" with hutch and locker and it rolls great.
So you can push or pull the box with the casters swiveling at the handle and the other side locked, no matter which way of the wheel offset, and it rolls without the wheels skipping and making loud noises?