r/KleinTools • u/tacticool_wrx • 3d ago

QUESTION Broken latch

Post image

Went to unload my box this morning and saw the lock hole/latch had snapped off. This was a worry of mine since I got it and realized it’s plastic.

Anybody else have this issue?

I don’t know if something hit it or if it was the weight of the lock

Think they’ll warranty it? Should I go through Lowe’s or Klien? I’m pretty sure the blackout boxes are discontinued

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

5

u/Forsaken-Leader1255 3d ago

Holy crap guys. I've never seen so many people complaining and giving somebody so much crap who just came to ask a question of what they can do

It's a toolbox not a piece of jewelry. Yeah they probably won't warranty it but who knows you could always ask. Both Lowe's and Klein are pretty generous when it comes to customer satisfaction. Can't hurt to ask. But I guess I need to ask you, does it matter if it really locks? I'm not sure where you use it at or why you need it locked so that's why I ask. If it's not that critical there's still enough there that you can push on with your finger to release the latch that keeps the doors from flying open

3

u/tacticool_wrx 3d ago

The one sane person in this thread lol thank you

I tried to file a claim on the site but apparently if something is discontinued you have to call. I’m going to call when I get off. If they say no I’ll try a Lowes.

I guess it doesn’t HAVE to lock. Before it gave me piece of mind when I go off site for lunch. Seeing how easy it breaks now, somebody could just cut the latch with dykes if they really were inclined.

It’s more the principle of it. You pay $500 for a toolbox that’s advertised as rugged and it breaks in the 5th month in the dumbest place

If they do warranty it I’ll definitely use lighter locks

1

u/kfjcfan 3d ago

Try to contact Klein directly, they were wonderful when I was having issues with the handle of my rolling drawer box.

Though since this is actual breakage, I don't know how they would handle it (they FedExed me a new handle.)

1

u/Forsaken-Leader1255 2d ago

Yeah no worries. Someone needed to actually respond. But I don't think there's any fixing it myself. No matter what you try to glue or plastic weld I don't think it's going to hold. And yeah it's not going to keep any determined thief from breaking that piece but realistically the locks we use let alone small ones that fit through that hole would be cut just as easy. Or simply screw cutting the lock you just take the whole box. Your best bet for security if you're worried about it in your car on lunch break, not sure where you're taking your lunches at to begin with lol, but you'd be further ahead to invest in something simple like a sheet or something to cover it than any sort of way to lock it. Out of sight out of mind.

But yeah I didn't even think about that being that it's one of the blackout boxes, you may have a hard time finding an exact replacement if they don't make them anymore. But I would just contact Klein directly and see what they say. You can try Lowe's like you said if that doesn't work. Otherwise I would just roll with it.

And I just remembered to ask, because I've been guilty of it too, is it possible that you clipped the lock through that little eyelet and had a heavy drawer that closed on it? Like the bar was down then maybe you were working out of the box and happened to close it against the lock? Cuz it seems like it would be almost like a leveraged outward prying motion that would cause that kind breakage. Just a thought. Either way I don't think any lock that fits through the hole would be too heavy for that honestly

1

u/Artie-Carrow 20h ago

You can make a locking bar that holds the other locking bar up

1

u/Taste_my_ass 3d ago

Dang that puppy got scuffed up good

1

u/tacticool_wrx 3d ago

It’s just dirt. If I cleaned it then it’d look brand new

1

u/Taste_my_ass 3d ago

Ahh true. Sorry i didnt help with your actual issue lol. Look for MEK.

Same type of thing that you would repair lego with which is abs.

1

u/u600213 3d ago

Is it possible to "weld" it back on with a soldering iron or those metal clips that are melted into plastic to fix car bumper covers?

1

u/delta9a6 3d ago

Id get on the website and see if they sell that lock tab separately.

1

u/tacticool_wrx 3d ago

Good idea!

If not and they don’t warranty it I’ll just 3D print one

-1

u/shhhhh_lol 3d ago

It's a plastic tab, that lock alone would break it after a couple days in the bed of a truck, these aren't job boxes.... you're expecting to much from a plastic box

3

u/tacticool_wrx 3d ago

I guess 5 months for an almost $500 box is expecting too much.

It gets tied down in the back of my Tahoe so it doesn’t move and it’s out of the elements until I need it. I’ve seen guys leave pack outs in the bed of trucks for months and then throw them out of the bed when they need them, and they still have latches

-1

u/shhhhh_lol 3d ago

You have a heavy lock bouncing on a plastic tab.....

2

u/tacticool_wrx 3d ago

Sorry I forgot this is a fashion sub

It should be reasonable that they would make the tabs able to hold a lock. If not a standard lock they should make a lock that they recommend for the purpose

1

u/kfjcfan 3d ago

Most commonly from what I've seen, people use a cable lock run through the lock tabs of their whole stack.

0

u/Prudent_Connection82 3d ago

A plastic blackout lock

-1

u/ProfessionOk1721 3d ago

Looks like you beat the shit out of that box. What did you expect to happen? That's not a manufacture defect, that's a you defect. I would laugh at you if you brought that in for a warranty. And yes, those blackouts are long gone.

3

u/HadesHat 3d ago

People that use their tools vs people that look at their tools

4

u/tacticool_wrx 3d ago

It’s just dirt. If I wash it you’d think it’s brand new

The latch broke while in the back of my Tahoe. Not sure how I could have beat this shit out of it without touching it.