SNAP ON tool box friction drawer slide BREAKING

[seattlemart]

Hello, I just bought this tool box today for $150 http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/ronsea206/100_6197.jpg and I come home to find one of the slides on the drawer is separating on the very top of the slide at the end of the drawer http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/ronsea206/100_6195.jpg Anybody have any experience in fixing something like this? Can it be welded? Would I have to buy a whole new slide and get it welded on the drawer? Whole new drawer? Thanks everyone!!

 

[Junkman]

Can't tell much from your pictures, but I can tell you that the friction slides are spot welded to the drawer. If it comes loose, you can clean up the area and reattach the slide with some epoxy glue such as JB Weld. I doubt that you could buy a new drawer today for any old Snap-On box, and if you could, you would have sticker shock that might stop your heart. If you know someone with a spot welder, have them fix it. It isn't a big deal as long as you get it placed on the drawer properly. Don't take it off any more than it already is.

 

[Merkava_4]

There's a channel that the slide goes into that's spot welded to the inner steel wall; is that what you're talking about? Or are you talking about the slide itself? Which one is broken?

 

[seattlemart]

There is actually nothing wrong with the welds holding the friction slide(chanell) to the drawer. It is the friction slide(chanell) itself that is breaking apart where it holds the drawer up(top). Looks like it can be welded to stop it from spreading. I will try to get a better camera to take more detailed photos.

 

[rose jackets67]

Assuming you are talking about the I-beam shaped channel between the drawer and the cab, you can get replacements from snap on. I've done quite a few old boxes, all of which needed at least one or two new slides. Prices are pretty reasonable - around $15 or less if I remember right. Go to Snapon.com, click on the 'parts catalog' then navigate to your box model number to see what parts are available. If there is a number on the slide it self, you should be able to enter that in directly on the snap on site.

 

[seattlemart]

Here are some more pics. Here http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/ronsea206/100_6202.jpg Here http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/ronsea206/100_6201.jpg and Here http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/ronsea206/100_6198.jpg Can it be fixed easily?

 

[rsanter]

it looks like the chanel itself is broken.

you have a couple of options.
install a spacer in the chanel and mig (or tig) weld along the top

make a new piece and spot weld on

get a salvage piece from a junker toolbox

look at replacing the parts with a ball bearing slide (not sure if it can be done, but maybe)

where do you live? I can weld it if you are close

bob

 

[Merkava_4]

That looks like the drawer channel on the drawer itself; it looks like it's split right there on top where it makes the radius bend; that's going to need some precise welding and then possibly massaged afterwards. Start cleaning it by getting all the grease out of there and get it sanitary in preparation for the welder. Wire brush all that paint off the area.

 

[ampegor]

About ten years ago my old snap-on box started to come apart at the drawer slide spot welds. I showed my dealer and they warrentied it with a new box. I do not now if the warrenty is syill the same but the boxes were lifetime warrenty at one time


check into it!!

FYI
Andy

 

[krusty the clown]

i would drill out the spot welds and remove the track. then take it to a sheet metal shop and have them make a new one. it can be attached by drilling 1/4" hole in the center and mig welding it back on......a little grinding and a little paint, your done, good as new.

 

[Merkava_4]

i would drill out the spot welds and remove the track. then take it to a sheet metal shop and have them make a new one.

That's a good idea; plus, the sheet metal shop might already have a portable spot welder on site. One suggestion though: definitely center punch mark the spot welds before drilling them.

 

[seattlemart]

About ten years ago my old snap-on box started to come apart at the drawer slide spot welds. I showed my dealer and they warrentied it with a new box. I do not now if the warrenty is syill the same but the boxes were lifetime warrenty at one time


check into it!!

FYI
Andy

Thanks for the advice garagejournal. I contacted Snap On and they are sending the new channel to me free of charge. The box is older than me by 7 years (KR557B) and It is under lifetime warranty. Now all I got to do is figure out how to take the old channel off and weld the new one on.

 

[rsanter]

Thanks for the advice garagejournal. I contacted Snap On and they are sending the new channel to me free of charge. The box is older than me by 7 years (KR557B) and It is under lifetime warranty. Now all I got to do is figure out how to take the old channel off and weld the new one on.

spotweld it

look for someone at a local high school or college that can help you out. $10 or $20 bribe to a student will go along ways.

I have a spotwelder, so there are a few people out there that have them.
some bodyshops use them for panel replacements

bob

 

[Merkava_4]

seattlemart, just take the drawer and the new channel to a good body shop and they can do the whole job for you. One thing nice about a spot weld is that you won't have to grind the weld down.

 

[Stanger]

Think they would replace a bent slide??

 

[glenni]

I had them replace a bent slider - so it can be done.

Generally they will do so if you can show it was not due to "bad" maintenance.

I have seen them turn down replacement parts that were rusty.

The outstanding warranty is the reason you pass out when you pay the prices for snap-on.

 

[snapmom]

I have replaced some slides on my 557, snappy warranted them, the slides are held by screws and hangers, once you remove the screws the slides just pop out.

 

[Egghaus]

I had a bent slider from my KR557F replaced under warranty and the box is older than I am. Slide had some rust on it as well. However I've been waiting for months to get the hinges for the top lid on my KR537D.

Not to hijack the thread but was the KR557 a really popular box? Since I bought one I see them for sale everywhere now.