How to open a busted systainer without breaking it further

[Cypren]

I just received a new festoy in the mail today but have run into a problem: it looks like the systainer was closed improperly, wedging one of the internal tabs on the back hinge outside the case. I can't open the lid without it exerting enough pressure to break the tab and probably a good chunk of the back wall with it, and I haven't had any luck so far trying to figure out how to get the hinges off the box without being able to reach inside. (I can't get the case open more than about an inch in front before it's exerting a lot of force on that tab in the rear.)

I'm curious if anyone has any ideas or suggestions here, or if I'm just going to have to either send it back under warranty or open it, break it and hope they'll give me a replacement box.

 

[six-point socket II]

You can force the hinge pins out with the lid closed by using a prying-tool, but that will leave marks/ damage the Systainer also. You could also put a screw in the hinge pins and pull them, then get new hinge pins ...

I'd simply open it and see what happens.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[FestitaMakool]

Don’t think there’s much more to do other than what Oliver says. Be sure to take photos before you do anything more that may leave marks.
Document it, take a photo and claim it through dealer. I had a shipping accident happening inside the card board box. I took a photo documenting and sent the dealer and I received a new systainer:
[attachimg=1]

 

[Svar]

This happened to me few times. Seems like a systemic issue. Happens when systainer is dropped or hit on the back side.
Two things I tried successfully depending on what's inside. First, use fixed part of an F-clamp to get inside and push on the hinge to pop it out. In my case I could open the lid far enough. You could use a metal rod either straight or bent into a hook for the same purpose. Second, if the hinge is blocked by the content, drill a small hole into the hinge, drive in a wood screw and pull the hinge out. It will obviously leave a small hole. Spare hinges can be purchased.

 

[Peter_C]

Use a small flat blade screwdriver to pop the hinge out. It will scuff the plastic, but a Systainer is just a tool box *shrugs*

 

[Cypren]

Thanks for the advice. I was able to work a blade into the hinge and pop it out after a fair bit of probing. As mentioned, it scuffed up the edges a bit, but it’s a toolbox, not a museum piece, so that doesn’t matter much. I was more concerned about the possibility of causing structural damage to the hinge or the case wall, but it seems to be fine.