I got a used matco pro Formance series box about a week ago and the guy I bought it from lost the key. So today I thought I would take out the lock cylinder and get a key made. Well big mistake, I started to take out the lock cylinder and realized I had to take the bar off that runs to the back of the box for the locking system. So lOng story short the bar piped off from the locking system in the back of the box and the locks slid down now locking the box. I was doing all this while kneeling down by the way. So I stood up to hat a flashlight and when I did I bumped the top drawer shut. Now all my drawers are closed and locked and the rod to the locking system is not attached. I have no I deal how to open this box now. The only thing I can think of is to flip the box up side down and hopefully the locks will slide back up to the top and I can open the top drawer. Has anyone ever been in this situation or can anyone help I feel like an idiot and am so pissed off I need help please
Very stupid mistake
- Thread starter yfz 450
- Start date
Steevo
Well-known member
Turn it upside down?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Turn the whole thing upside down? 
Edit Steevo is quicker than I tonight...
Edit Steevo is quicker than I tonight...
How heavy is the box? If it is quite heavy, flipping it may cause more damage. Here are two more options.
1 - drill away the top cover lock, then replace with a new one.
2 - drill a hole on the top cover and use a very power magnet (neodymium boron magnet) to pull the slider up. You can buy these magnet cheap at amazon or HF.
1 - drill away the top cover lock, then replace with a new one.
2 - drill a hole on the top cover and use a very power magnet (neodymium boron magnet) to pull the slider up. You can buy these magnet cheap at amazon or HF.
bgott
Well-known member
There is a Youtube video of some guys opening a locked Snap-on box with a sheet of metal between the drawers. That method will probably work on yours.
Last edited:
metaleltr
Well-known member
The paint, maybe the shell of the box itself if you are careful you should be able to manage without damage.
yea im planning on doing it with a few friends because it is heavy as hell. the only thing is the rod that goes from the cylinder to the locking system is laying in the top drawer. so when i flip it up that rod is going to be bouncing around and hopefully not going to get stuck somewhere inside the box
metaleltr
Well-known member
When you get it unlocked take the drawers out.
Toolman12
Well-known member
Glad your car keys weren't in it
On most Matco boxes, you can pull off the top mat and look along the back for a rivited plate over each lockbar. Drill out the rivits, pull up on the lockbar, open drawers.
This sounds like the most promising method. I'd try this before flipping it over or cutting anything.
yea what im going to have to do i think is when i flip it up i will open the top drawer and hold it open untill we stand it back up on its wheels. then just take the top drawer out. once i stand it on its wheels the slides will go back down and lock the drawers again but if i have the top drawer out i can just lift the slides from in there if i need to open the other drawers to get to the rod. i just dont want to have to take out every drawer
Ok, but why don't you just take the top mat off like Stick advised and see if you have these riveted cover plates? That involves no tipping of any kind.
daveblank
Well-known member
Call me. You do not have to flip the box.
OP, here is your rescue squad. This fellow is a Matco dealer and a stand-up guy. You're saved!
Post your results. Take pics and post them, too, since it might help the next fellow that this happens to. Actually, if daveblank suggested to keep the procedure secret for security reasons (breaking into boxes) then go with that.
G1GRANDEUR
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2009
- Messages
- 2,094
MrMark
Well-known member
DaveBlank is smart, unlike the idiots posting on youtube.
Farmrod
Well-known member
Dave beat my post I was gonna say contact your dealer and let him give the advice or let him handle it all together
daveblank
Well-known member
Believe it or not, I had one that could not be opened in my normal way. It was going to take 2 weeks for keys. There was no rush because it was a repo box. Me & 2 other guys tried this method with no luck. We even tried 2 pieces of sheet metal to try & get extra movement.
This happened to me on a Craftsman ball-bearing 26" roller. The lock cylinder popped out when I removed the key and it was a _horrible_ feeling hearing the bar slide out and the locks engage. Thankfully no tools were in it and I flipped it upside down and opened a drawer once the locks opened, no damage or paint chipped. Not easy.
I don't know how long your Matco box is or if this is an option for you, but it did work for me. (For once Craftsman thin/light steel pays off.) I know what you're feeling right now, and I'm sorry this happened to you.
The key cylinder was a known problem when I bought the box, and I was testing things when the cylinder came out. I thought I had it blocked off with my thumb when I pulled out the key but all it took was a little movement....worst part is, this box is only 2-3 years old and Sears made me buy a new cylinder ($16 shipped), no warranty on the locks beyond either 90 days or 1 year, the store manager wasn't certain.
I don't know how long your Matco box is or if this is an option for you, but it did work for me. (For once Craftsman thin/light steel pays off.) I know what you're feeling right now, and I'm sorry this happened to you.
The key cylinder was a known problem when I bought the box, and I was testing things when the cylinder came out. I thought I had it blocked off with my thumb when I pulled out the key but all it took was a little movement....worst part is, this box is only 2-3 years old and Sears made me buy a new cylinder ($16 shipped), no warranty on the locks beyond either 90 days or 1 year, the store manager wasn't certain.
ptschram
Well-known member
Not cool.
Very cool if you lost a key or bought a box without one.
There are exceptions to every rule, this one might just save your *** someday.
It beats the Hell out of taking a plasma to the box. At least this way, if ti's stolen and recovered, you might get a good box back, whereas if they used the plasma, not so much.
Always more than one way to look at something.
im not glad to hear this happen to someone else but happy were in the same boat and you got yours figured out that was my first thought (to flip it over) but dave informed me of another way that might work. im not going to say anything unless he says its ok to. but im going to try it tomorrow and see what happens. i didnt have time today. the box is not at my house its at my grandfathers about 20 min away. but i know i will get it figured out i just hope it dosnt come down to cutting or drilling the box all up.
On most Matco boxes, you can pull off the top mat and look along the back for a rivited plate over each lockbar. Drill out the rivits, pull up on the lockbar, open drawers.
I agree.... 5 minute job. drill 4 rivets, pull up on lock bars, open box.
ok last night i headed over to my grandfathers and worked on the box. lifted the top mat like dave said and there were the plates. drilled the rivets out and pulled up the locks. just am waiting for the new lock from my local matco guy. thanks alot dave you helped tremendously. that was alot easier than flipping the box over haha
daveblank
Well-known member
Believe it or not, one of the boxes in my starter inventory came missing the keys. I learned how to do it before I even finished loading my truck.
Did nobody else notice 55 seconds in, the camera conveniently doesn't show the keyhole when they 'break in' to it?
I'm raising the flag on this one.
smalltruck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2011
- Messages
- 333
Don't raise the flag. One of the guys I work with left his keys at home and needed to get into his box to work. He made a jimmy bar out of some sheet metal that does the same thing.