OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

277005 Mpfiller 2023‑02‑17 Re: Kennedy Tool Box
I've had occasion to do this more than a few times, when I've acquired a
Kennedy, Craftsman or Waterloo box without a key.  
Like you I find a suitable lock, uses the same size hole, and has a metal strap
doo-hickey that swings up when they key is turned.  These are simply held to the
box with a nut, or of late a U shaped spring clamp thingy.  The strap is held to
the lock via a nut, over a square shaped boss.
You should know that over the years Kennedy has altered the geometry of the
lock/lid interface.  The length of the strap, the offset (what I call the Z
curve) and placement of the notch all are variables.  Another variable is how
far into the box is the end boss of the lock.  I have also seen on some boxes a
double ended strap, the second end swinging down to pass through a slot in the
bottom of the top section, into a slot on the top of the front drop-panel.
The important thing is to measure from some datum (I use the seam where the lid
meets the box, directly above the center line of the lock.) the distance up and
in to the place where the notch needs to end up, and similarly down and into the
box from the same point to the back of the lock, where the strap do-hicky is
attached.
So get a piece of 1/2" wide, 1/16" thick piece of steel, about 2-3" long, drill
a hole in one end and file it square, in an orientaion that the strap is
horizontal when unlocked, vertical when locked.  
Then, referencing the center of the hole, put a 90 degree bend in toward the
front of the box, just enough offset to clear the lock body.  
Go in to a point you've calculated as the difference from the measurements made
relative to your selected datum, and bend the strap the other way.
Put a mark on the strap where the notch should be, use an angle grinder to make
a shallow notch.  By shallow I mean just a divot, something you can feel.
Also, shorten the strap at this point so it isn't trying to punch through the
lid when the lid is closed and the strap is up.
Put the lock in the unlocked condition, strap horizontal, close the lid.  Try to
lock the box gently and lift the lid an quarter inch to get a feel for the
relative location of the notch relative to the mating sheet metal in the lid.
Then you should be able figure out if the divot you've made is too high or too
low.  Remove it from the lock and finish the grinding and file all edges smooth.
This took longer to type than it takes to do.  Cut a strap, drill a hole, make
it square, put a Z bend in the strap, make a divot, put it on the lock, feel
with the lid closed and the key turning the strap to the up position, remove the
strap and adjust, reinstall, and Bob's your uncle.

Recent Bios FAQ