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Soft Closing Drawer Won't Close

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hi,

I have a drawer (with soft closing slides) that can't seem to close.

I suspect I may only need to 'fix' the slides (seen some YouTube videos on it) instead of replacing them??

Thanks all!

Featured Answer

lindsey_9002

5 years ago

Okay first thing first, check the bottom of the drawer itself. I have orange plastic levers on each side of mine. They look like this:

You squeeze these in order to release the drawer from the track when removing it. Do you see anything like that on the bottom of your drawer? If so, squeeze them a couple times. One may have gotten stuck in the squeezed in position.

Now to mount the drawer: slide the track in all the way so nothing is sticking out from the cabinet. Then take your drawer and manually insert it into its slot. When you do this, don’t try to line it up or place it in the track but rather slide it in above the track. You’ll probably have to wiggle it back and forth a little to get it in there.

If you’re doing it correctly, it should be in its slot most of the way but it’s not actually in the track and will feel like it’s going to fall if you let go.

While still supporting the drawer, manually push it all the way closed and it should engage the track and you should hear a click.

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Comments (11)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
It seems like something is preventing from going all-away back... Looks like something fell over and is preventing the drawer going all-away back.

Take the drawer off the track out and look behind there, if nothing there, check the slider itself make sure it goes in all-away back.
lindsey_9002
5 years ago
Did you recently remove the drawer? This happened to mine. I don't remember where exactly the little tabs are but there are little tabs on each side located somewhere on the track. Push them in and slide the drawer at the same time and I think there was a click sound or something. I circled two areas for you to check but if theres no little tabs there keep looking around and see if you see any.
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PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
5 years ago
When you pull the drawer out there on the inner track there is plastic lever, push that lever down and slide the drawer out. (in the picture above the lever is right before that second circle on the inner track)
SW Wong
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your help, I have pulled the drawer out and confirmed nothing is behind.

I am having difficulties putting it back on the rail, the soft closing doesn't work and the drawer doesn't fully close.

Looking at my diagram, there is a small piece (the bar with 5 squares), do I need to push it to the end?

How about the slider itself? Do I push it all the way in when mounting the drawer?

Thanks!
ci_lantro
5 years ago
Lindsey, you have undermount drawer slides. OP has side mount slides. Two whole different animals.

SW Wong, did you check all the mounting screws in the slides to make sure that they are properly seated? If one is standing proud, that could be the problem. Check all of the screws, the ones that mount the slide to the cabinet and the ones that mount the slide to the drawer.

I have some Accuride and KV side mount slides but no soft close versions. When I remove and replace a drawer, I have to get kinda' tough and force the drawer to close. For some reason, the slide has quite a bit of resistance to closing. After that first 'force to close' , the drawer functions fine. Again, I do not have the soft close versions.

Also, check the slides for a manufacturer's label. If these are a generic, no-name slide, then the chances of just having a bad slide is probably higher than with a recognized brand. You may end up needing to replace the slide. Not a fun job but not all that difficult to do, either.
SW Wong thanked ci_lantro
SW Wong
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks all, I have managed to fix this - I am using the generic slides.

The gas pistons were disengaged so I have pushed them back up so the the slider (from the drawer) connects it back.
ci_lantro
5 years ago
Oh, good for you! And thanx for the update.
lindsey_9002
5 years ago
Well who knew there were different options for soft closing drawers! (Clue: name starts with L and ends with indsey)

Glad you got it figured out, OP!
Jeani Masching
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I fixed my drawer in just a few minutes. It is so easy! Thank you, lindsey_9002 !
lindsey_9002
2 years ago
You’re most certainly welcome! Glad I could help @Jeani Masching !

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