US General Series 2 72" drawer slide mod update

I wanted to add some finer details about doing the drawer mod to stop the squeaking. These were things I found when doing the mod on my new box I just got on the 17th. Still waiting my 56" top to arrive. I haven't looked in my old Series 1 44" box yet, but I imagine it applies to those as well.

[@rodgerlogan]

Nice video. I got my 72" bottom and 72" top yesterday. Tackled the riveting today. I used 1/8" rivets since strength is not really an issue and the smaller rivets have a very flat profile. If any one is curious, 76 rivets in all. I opted to not go through the trouble of placing masking tape everywhere and found that my shop vac cleaned everything out just fine. I'm glad I had a pneumatic riveter. 76 rivets by hand is painful!

[@jeffspicoli6088]

I really appreciate you sharing your experience so your viewers can avoid the pitfalls! Thank you!!!!

[@CurtisDrew1]

Interesting! I should be taking delivery of my New Orange 72" chest and 56" top chest this week. I'll check them to see if they have that squeak before I start loading them with tools. Good tip Joel.

[@Dylan_Miller]

Considering getting this exact box. Video is very helpful thank you

[@Thejmhinkle]

Best box for the money, hands down

[@Dylan_Miller]

I agree. I’m excited to get one. I like the green color also. What are your thoughts on the top box after having it for a while? It would take me a while to fill a 72 inch box, but I’m wondering if it’s better to get a top box or simply another 72” for extra storage.

[@Thejmhinkle]

@@Dylan_Miller I like having the top box personally. I've only got two drawers in the top not really utilized at this point. Just because I've been too busy at work to clean the garage up more. I also don't have a place for an additional bottom so building up is my only option.

[@relikvija]

you have chosen wisely

[@stefanczechorskidds5536]

Great details!

[@brianbrewer2485]

I got a series one, yeah squeaky like crazy, lithium grease from major brand, took maybe 5 min, no squeaks and its been a couple years now, still no squeaks. I didnt know people were drilling and riveting, wow thats extreme!

[@kentfyfe8200]

Great video. I received my 56in top last week which already had the back rivets from the factory... but I still went ahead and crushed the tabs on the inside of the drawers to stop those from making noise. My 72in bottom showed up today and looks like I will have to add the back rivets. Disappointing they don't have a standard design/assembly/parts across the US General line. I also noticed the 56in top has larger drawer locks secured by two screws and the 72 has the smaller drawer locks which are secured via a rivet.

[@CHIBA280CRV]

Excellent tip l I will be getting the green set as well , wish they had gray or silver , maybe in the future..

[@John-NeverStopLearning]

Hi, great 👍 video. FYI, the catch is a detent. The slide grabs it to keep the drawers in. 5 to 10 years the detents will dry up and fall apart. Last time I checked they are almost $9 each on Amazon. Maybe HF has started making them a lot less expensive. I would purchase total needed and seal them in a container for wen needed. I purchased a 3D printer and made my own.

[@davidstill754]

Probably the most informative video on this fix. The information you passed on is invaluable not to mention time saving. I just have one question... What size rivet did you use? Thanks again for posting 👍

[@Thejmhinkle]

Thanks. Rivet size is mentioned in comments below, but they are normal 1/8" diameter by 1/4" long.

[@jordanrose5480]

First Green 72” on KZbin!

[@Jrsmith005]

Countersunk rivets would allow you to place the rivet wherever you like, and still not hit the catch.

[@jasonkane6879]

What size rivets did you use? Just pre-ordered mine today.

[@lent2005]

Hey Joel, I'm getting ready to do this to my 56" Series 2 box. Do you see any reason I couldn't throw another rivet at theend of each of the drawer mounted rail assemblies? They have a lot of endplay / squeak too, since they're only riveted at the front. Thanks for posting this very helpful video!

[@Thejmhinkle]

The fix for the drawer side was to squeeze the metal brackets attached to the drawer. The drawers have a square hole that brackets go through then sit in. Clamp it tighter to stop the drawer side play if you have it.

[@thejim3501]

Nice. Have you looked into swapping the drawers around?

[@Thejmhinkle]

I have not as I like the drawer layout as it comes.

[@dennisgundlach87]

do the draws slides extend fully, for a fully open drawer, I'm looking at getting new slides, soft close

[@Thejmhinkle]

Just short of full extension. About 1/2" from the drawer above or 1" from the side wall of the box.

[@daltonmcneely2062]

What size rivets did you use? I'm looking into doing this as well. They squeaking is so annoying.

[@Thejmhinkle]

1/8" diameter by 1/4" deep is what I had around.

[@chex313]

Plan on ordering a green one to match my tractor...so the grease isn't enough to stop squeaking? It takes another rivet in the back? Sorry I have not seen other vids on this...just wondering....

[@Thejmhinkle]

@@chex313 correct, the squeaking is because the rails just clip into place loosely on the rear. 1 rivet in the rear of each real solves it. Some people squeeze the clips on the drawers to take out some slop, but I didn't find that to change anything for me.

[@dustywest4171]

What rivet gun did u use. Trying to Make sure I buy the right one that fits in the smaller side drawers.

[@Thejmhinkle]

Rivet gun is just a standard swivel head gun. Rivets are 1/8" diameter by 1/4" long.

[@warrenlovell3919]

Get the harbor freight air rivet gun! Game changer and pretty cheap.

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello Joel I didn't know about the issue. Does this happen on all Harbor Freight Boxes? I am considering a new Toolbox. Right now I have a 9-drawer Craftsman Toolbox. And I am almost out of room. So I need all the information I can get to make a good informed decision. Thank you for a great Video.

[@Thejmhinkle]

The newer boxes have been reported as coming in with rivets in the rear. It's an easy fix if they don't, but if the squeaking doesn't bother you it's not necessary either. I just figured easier to do it before loading it up. Only took a couple hours to do it though so don't consider it a knock against the boxes. Still the best boxes for the money.

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello again Joel Thank you for the quick response. Since you have the US General Series 2 box. In hindsight, what was it that said to you, this is the Box for me? And now that you have it, again in hindsight, what do wish, you knew before you brought it. I 'm not asking about the noise factor. From start to using the box? There's a whole bunch I wish, I knew before hand on my Craftsman box. A lot I had to overcome. Again thank you for the Great Video.

[@Thejmhinkle]

@@georgeferlazzo7936 I had a Series 1 wrinkle red 44" bottom, top and side drawer unit. It served me well from 2005 to 2019. I only upgraded because I outgrew it over time. I sold it to a coworker who had the matching system so he doubled up on size while I went more modern. The only thing I would have done differently was maybe get a 72" top, but that wasn't an option until this year Having the extra little space on the side of the 56" top has been helpful for me due to where my toolbox is located in the garage anyway. It will serve me well another 20 years at least now.

[@marktucker5837]

How much does that box coast i like it

[@gwrace]

Received my 72x 22 US General series 2 green roller cabinet on Friday. Can't hear any of the drawers squeaking or rattling. So no plans to make these changes. The 56" top chest on the other hand arrived so badly damaged that the drawers were sprung, missing catches, locks broken and more dents than I can count. Can't wait to see how Harbor Freight handles this issue since the order was placed online and not in a store.

[@Thejmhinkle]

They should quickly get a replacement on its way. Never had any issues with harbor freight and returns myself.

[@wagonwrangler]

My 56" bottom had the drawers already riveted....except for 2 slides which were drilled but forgotten to rivet. Seems like a slightly improved slide & manufacture. The 56" top has the same sloppy/squeaky situation. Oh well, I only have to mod the top! Purchased today (2/16/20).

[@Thejmhinkle]

@@wagonwrangler Good to hear they are doing this at the manufacture level now. It's the only weakness in the boxes to me.

[@wagonwrangler]

@@Thejmhinkle I should have first said "great video". Very helpful in prepping for my modifications...other videos out there but this is the best of the bunch. Alignment of the rivets for the C-channel to offset the stop is a great point to be made BEFORE drilling = thanks. I used 1/8 x 5/16 rivets and these pulled well. I was hoping for 5/32 but didn't have any on-hand. That is what it looks like the factory used on my bottom box. Note: my factory lower drawers didn't have any wobble on their drawer-mounted portion of the slides. The top box had a lot of slop and I didn't "clamp" those into submission and it did seem to also make an overall tighter feel.

[@PewSmith]

Got my 72" few days ago. It's still got the squeaky drawers. I plan on getting this done in a few days.

[@briansdumbchannelderpy6986]

I don’t know if the heads are smaller on your rivets but I am putting mine in the same spot and they are hitting? ( on the C channel side) I am using 1/8” rivets and a automatic punch to get the holes perfect.

[@Thejmhinkle]

Are you putting them back where I did and in the center? I used standard rivets and have no issues catching if in the center to clear the low spot as I show in one spot of the video.

[@briansdumbchannelderpy6986]

@@Thejmhinkle yes I was , I ended up ordering countersunk rivets and got tired of waiting for them to arrive so out of a whim I thought I would switch manufacturers on the 1/8” and it worked! Thanks for the great video, it helped a lot. I had a friend powder coat all my exterior trim metal in black ( I have a blue box) . It turned out awesome I am hoping to get a video together on it and I’ll send you a link. Thanks again.

[@rauldiaz69]

How long did this take?

[@Thejmhinkle]

To complete the slide work?

[@rauldiaz69]

@@Thejmhinkle Yes sir. And did you do anything to the rails on the actual drawer?

[@Thejmhinkle]

@@rauldiaz69 it only took maybe 2 hours total for the bottom. That included cleanup. I did try squeezing the drawer clips as suggested on a couple drawers, but found no benefit to that. Doing the 56" top didn't take as long because it was only 2 sections vs 3 on the bottom.

[@groovemaker8997]

just drill through the tab bro.

[@charliehollis5614]

How do you like the Box so far

[@Thejmhinkle]

I've had it over a year now without a single complaint. Best box for the money hands down. It'll easily last longer than my old 44" that I had 14 years and outgrew. My coworker has that box now.

[@PewSmith]

Got this tool box delivered from HF yesterday. Although it was a pain in the butt to get it off the shipping crate, it was well worth it. Thank you for posting this. Now, I have to do this to get rid of that awful squeaky noise from the sliders. I have a question though. What size drill bits and rivets did you use on these? Gonna try to tackle it this weekend. Thanks in advance.

[@Thejmhinkle]

1/8 Diameter x 1/4 length rivets. 1/8" drill bit.

[@MoragTong_]

Why not just shim it? Way easier and you can still rivet it later if it becomes an issue. Have had mine shimmed for more than a year fully loaded and not a peep.

[@briansdumbchannelderpy6986]

How did you shim it? I am struggling with the rivets on the C channel side right now

[@Thejmhinkle]

Because a rivet is the correct fix and solved the problem the first time out. Shims have to be adjusted and work loose. I'd rather fix it right the first time and be done with it.

[@rone4220]

I have the same box and cut a small piece of thin gasket material and simply slid it behind the each of the drawer slides. All drawers are quiet as a mouse and tight. After 3 years of hard use NONE of them have worked loose or needed any ‘re-shimming’. It took me all of 20 mins to do both the and bottom boxes (no drilling or rivets required)!!! This method is much easier

[@RobertMagaro]

That's the least of your problems wait for ALL the drawer latches to snap off in your hands.. Lol.. I made NEW ones out of aluminum, no more broken drawer locks... Countersunk Head Rivets work the best...

[@Thejmhinkle]

Over two years old and not a broken lock yet. Not a concern.

[@vapnut]

That's a great video, but who would spend over a thousand dollars for a tool box that needs this kind of a modification? That's a flawed product.

[@Thejmhinkle]

Not at all. It works perfectly fine. Doing the mod is to make the mounting points tighter just to eliminate some squeaking. And it wasn't over a thousand if you use the coupons properly. People spend 5x this much on other brands built with even less quality.