May 18, 2026
Description
I have an LEM meat grinder with the push-to-open drawer, which never stays closed. This is a known issue, and LEM will provide a replacement for the issue on newer machines. The fix they supply no longer has a push-to-open mechanism and is just a handle you pull to open the drawer. This model fixes the old mechanism.
LEM has video on disassembly, here is a text description.
You'd have to remove the top panel and rear panel to get the drawer assembly out.
4 screws for the top panel, 2 screws left to remove the rear panel (after the 4 you've removed).
If you pull the drawer out completely, you'll see 2 countersunk screws, one on each side, they'll need to come out.
Next is the bottom of the unit - there are 4 screws arranged in a square/rectangle. Once they're removed, the whole drawer assembly comes out.
The issue is caused by the white 'lever' at the bottom of the assembly, which flexes away (outward) enough to let the drawer catch slip, and the drawer pops out. This 3D printed support beam prevents it from flexing, so the drawer stays closed. The white 'lever' is between 2 of the posts that the screws from the bottom screws into. The support beam slips over those posts and prevents the white retainer from flexing away. Insert the support beam and reassemble.
Problem solved. My machine is a #12, it seems they all have the same size drawer, so maybe this helps someone else.
The model is not symmetric - this allows for more of the overlap towards the end of the white retainer.
I was a little rushed and unfortunately forgot to take pictures of the install. I may revisit this in the future to do that, but it is really simple.
I printed this with a 0.6mm nozzle in PLA, using 15% infill in the gyroid pattern.
License:
Creative Commons — Public Domain