Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Console drawer locking repair (Read 948 times) previous topic - next topic

Console drawer locking repair

Until I saw building a wooden tray in the drawer or using a stick to keep the drawer open, I assumed that I was the only one with this problem.  This is what I did to fix the drawer that would not lock open.

1.  These drawers in the console dash are used as a drink holder and a shallow area for such as maps.  The drawer can be pulled out and held by two "stops" that it will not close when stopping.

2. You can remove the drawer fairly easily (a tab on each side of the rail extensions will release each side) and the third photo shows the drawer and a neoprene/aluminum stop guide that is used by the metal bar to hold the drawer in two different extended positions.

3.  The metal bar or rod under the drawer locks, and releases, the drawer.  The end of the bar is to hit against the top of the white neoprene surface when the drawer is pulled fully out and a notch in the bottom of the bar engages the lower part of the "C" shaped hole in the neoprene to hold the drawer in the closer position.

4.  On my drawer, the neoprene stop material had become worn or eroded to the point that it no longer acted as a stop for either open position.  You can remove the neoprene/aluminum stop easily, two wood screws.

5.  I made a new neoprene C shaped stop piece.  To remove the old neoprene C, I drilled out the brads that FT used to attach the neoprene to the aluminum holder and installed a new one with 6-32x3/8 machine screws with stop nuts that I can easily remove the C shaped neoprene  later. 

6.  The distance with the C opening is important.  The end of the bar simply rests against the top of the C to hold the drawer full open.  To close the drawer the rod pulls down and into the opening of the C to allow closing.  My drawer locking bar or rod is 5/16ths inch wide and thus the cut out of the C must be at least that wide.  However as the notch on the lower part of the drawer rod must engage the lower part of the C, the cut out in the C, for mine, had to be no more than about 7/16th wide or the notch would not fully catch on the neoprene.  Make the space narrow at first, you can make it a bit larger by trial and error if need.

7.  To reinstall the drawer, on mine run the ball bearing portion of the drawer slide rails all the way in.  If I install the drawer with the ball bearing slides extended, the drawer would not close all the way.

I built the C from a small piece of neoprene from David Flanagan at FOT.  I now have some poly board that should work as well.  Probably do not use the distances (measurements) I used but check what is needed for your own before you cut the C shape into the poly.

Send PM me if you undertake this and need help or if you want me to send you a piece of poly board for the C. 

Mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #1 –
I realize this post is VERY old, but it's the newer of the two I found on the subject.  My drawer will stay fully open, and has usually caught on the "drink holder" position.  Tonight I removed the drawer, slightly widened the notch and twisted the spring to get a bit more pressure and now that position works great. 

What I don't see in either of these threads is what is used to hold the drawer complete closed.  Mine slides open every time I accelerate.  In the other thread, Travelin' Man untwisted the twist, cut a new notch for the "closed" position and made a new twist closer to the end of the lever. While I'm sure that works, what was the original intent to hold it closed, because I'm not seeing it.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #2 –
Kieth I played with that also. While replacing the floor with vinyl plank I realized I could put two layers under the drawer and it would still slide but also would stay anywhere I stopped. That ended being my fix. They slide on each other and should last longer than me.
Scott

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #3 –
Keith, it seems to me the latching in the closed position is built into the ball bearing sliders. Jim.
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #4 –
I don't have cup holders  I have a drawer.
I have to push up on a latch located under the drawer to open it.
Not at coach so no pics.
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Lt403 –
I don't have cup holders  I have a drawer.
I have to push up on a latch located under the drawer to open it.
Not at coach so no pics.

If you get a chance, it would be great to see what the bottom of yours looks like.  I'm trying to determine how it stays latched closed, as I don't see a notch for that.  Thanks!
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #6 –
Very soon after getting my coach, I ran into the same problem of the drawer not staying in.  I ended up installing a simple spring loaded catch on the back of the drawer and at the back of cabinet.  It was fun figuring out how to get to the back of the cabinet.  I mounted them on some sheet aluminum to get a larger mounting surface.



https://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4800

https://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4801

The selected media item is not currently available.The selected media item is not currently available.
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #7 –
Might be a few weeks till we get back up to coach.
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #8 –
My drawer works like the first person who posted.
The bar that you lift on has a notch which catches when the drawer is fully closed.
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Console drawer locking repair

Reply #9 –
On mine, the notch seen in the white bar in your last picture catches the "C" shaped bracket in the drink holder open position.  The drawer stays open when the bar passes the "C" shaped bracket and the bar catches the end on it.

I'm pretty sure the closed position in mine is supposed to be held with some plastic friction devices in the slides, but those are gone in my case.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197