1980 KRA58D & KRA379A

[Scott(GA)]

I acquired a KRA 58D & KRA 379A set on craigslist. The date on the rear of these boxes seem to indicate they were built in 1980.

A couple of questions:

1. In the picture that follows, I have a white arrow pointing at the handle on the KRA379A. How does one remove that handle? I took off the rubber ends of the handle and I can see a couple of machine screws that appear to attach the handle to the chest. The handle itself may be in two parts. Does one slide the outer part of the handle off to gain access to those machine screws?

2. At least one of the drawer slides in the lower section of the roll around has been damaged. It works but it would probably be better to replace it as it has been bent. The slide has numbers stamped on it: 8 253 & 82953 alternate the length of the slide. Is it possible to get a replacement slide somewhere?

Thanks!

Scott

[snapmom]

I think the rubber bumpers on the end come off, then the outside piece snaps off, exposing the screws.

[Scott(GA)]

I think the rubber bumpers on the end come off, then the outside piece snaps off, exposing the screws.

Thanks for your post.

Well the bumpers do come off but I don't think the outside piece will "snap off" without damaging the handle. I am assuming you meant inserting a long screwdriver (or whatever) into the open end of the handle and levering the outer piece away from the box. It looks to me like the two pieces of the handle are interlocked to a degree that would cause damage if I tried that.

It appears - to me - that the only option is to slide the outside piece of the handle the length of the handle. That also doesn't sound like it would be that easy to do without possibly damaging the handle. Here's some pictures. The arrows in the second picture point to the places I think will interfere if I try to pry.

In the second picture my camera was facinated by the shiny part of the handle and it kept trying to focus on that. I held the bumper in front of the "shiny thing" to allow the camera to focus on the end of the handle.

Am I missing something?

Best regards,

Scott

[daviddiag]

With caps removed, slide the pieces apart lengthwise. You may have to bump it along with a soft plastic hammer. I have had mine apart before.

[J.A.F.E.]

That is correct they slide part. I bought a KRA377D new (looks very much like the 379) and the handle was an option and that is how I had to as semble it.

[Scott(GA)]

Thanks for the replys. I will gently tap to slide the handle apart.

As to drawer slides for this model... are they still available?

Best regards,

Scott

[Scott(GA)]

The handle slid off with some initial resistance. I used a dead blow hammer, a piece of poplar scrap wood and a bit of light machine oil to accomplish the task.



Removing the handle also cleared up the mystery of "How did a mud dauber get inside the handle to make a nest?" In earlier images, one can see a mud dauber nest inside the handle. I was surprised to find that when I took the rubber bumpers off the ends of the handle. With the outer part of the handle removed, there are an extra set of mounting holes drilled in the inner part of the handle. These - no doubt - provided the insect's access.

Scott

[Scott(GA)]

Today I decided to call Snap-On Customer Support at 877-762-7664 to see if drawer slides were available for my KRA379A Roll Cab.

Before I go any farther, I have to thank this site for the uploaded catalogs that are archived here. Using the information in the 1980 catalog allowed me - I think - to identify the 3-drawer option in the bottom of my chest as KRA436A.

Tammy, at Snap-On Customer Support, looked up the drawer slides for the 5 upper drawers of the KRA379A & the 3 lower drawers of the KRA436A.

For the upper 5 drawers, the slides were 8-377 for the upper 3 drawers and 8-367 for the lower 2 drawers.

For the lower 3 drawers of the chest (the KRA436A option), the upper drawer slide was 8-377 and the lower 2 drawers had the 8-367 slide.

Snap-On's web site has slide 8-377 listed for $7.15 and slide 8-367 listed for $9.85.

I just got off the phone and I haven't checked to see if the "replacement slide" information matches what's in my roll cab. I'm pretty sure these replacement slide part numbers are different than what's in my roll cab but I'm going to check and see if the pattern matches. In other words, do the upper 3 slides match the top slide of the KRA436A and do upper drawers 4 & 5 slides match the KRA436A's lower 2 drawer's slides.

If all the slides seem to match up, I'll call and check on the "Slide Replacement Warrenty". Hopefully Snap-On will replace the slides that are damaged.

Scott

[Scott(GA)]

I just finished my Roll Cabinet Drawer Slide Audit.

I have a total of 4 different slides in my KRA379A with the KRA436A (3-drawer add-on option).



Starting at the top drawer of the Roll Cabinet, I'll number that drawer #1 and number each drawer in order as we go down. The bottom drawer will be #8.

Drawer #1 - Drawer # 3 use a slide that is 13/16" tall and is 18-5/16" long - these slides have 8-1057 stamped on them.

Drawer #4 - Drawer #5 use a slide that is 1-3/4" tall and 17-5/8" long - these slides have 8-2853 stamped on them.

Drawer #6 uses a slide that is 13/16" tall and is 18" long - these slides have 8-1157 stamped on them

Drawer #7 - Drawer #8 use a slide that is 1-3/4" tall and 17-5/16" long - these slides have 8-2953 stamped on them.

The Drawer Slides in the top part of the Roll Cab (drawers 1-5) are 5/16" longer than their equivalent slide in the lower part of the cabinet (drawers 6-8).

The Snap-On Customer Service rep indicated that Drawers 1, 2, 3 & 6 now use drawer slide 8-377 and Drawers 4, 5, 7 & 8 use slide 8-367. Looking at the original slides, I don't think any of them being 5/16" longer or shorter would have an effect on their performance. One does have to wonder why the original design would have the different length slides if it wasn't necessary from a performance standpoint.

Tomorrow, I'll try to see what is involved in getting a "slide warranty" replacement.

Scott

[Scott(GA)]

Well Snap-On Customer Support indicated that the Lifetime Warranty on the Drawer Slides are for the original owner. She gave me the impression that if one inherits the Tool Box from an original owner the warranty would be honored as well.

More interesting than that was this Customer Support Rep indicated some of the original slide part numbers were still available. The first rep had indicated that slides were available but the part numbers were different from the original part numbers.

Entering the following part numbers into the Snap-On Web Site yields the following:
Runner 8-1057 is available for $7.15
Runner 8-2853 has a substitute part number, 8-367, and is available for $9.85
Runner 8-1157 is available for $8.55
Runner 8-2893 is nor recognized but the first Customer Service Rep indicated the replacement was 8-367.

Scott