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Gun safe combination lock fail


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After 25 years of trouble free use, the mechanical combination dial lock will not disengage the tumblers. It is an S&G lock. The file folder containing the safe info, manual & emergency key is missing/misfiled and cannot be found. Last time I referred to it was at least a decade ago.

Squirted some gunblast bore cleaner in the emergency key hole and around the dial to see if that would help by loosening up any gummy lubricant inside where the tumblers are. No go.

Tried the troubleshooting tip of rattling the door handle bashing the dial face with my hand. No go.

suggestions before calling a locksmith?

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1 hour ago, Armybrat said:

After 25 years of trouble free use, the mechanical combination dial lock will not disengage the tumblers. It is an S&G lock. The file folder containing the safe info, manual & emergency key is missing/misfiled and cannot be found. Last time I referred to it was at least a decade ago.

 

I've got $20 that says your wife put this stuff IN the safe.

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59 minutes ago, Alex Karev said:

Will the dial turn either direction at all? Are is it the dial key lock that's stuck. If the later a locksmith may be able to unlock the tumbler dial. You can then run your combination 

Yes, the dial spins as normal.

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54 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

I don’t think posting on the interwebs that you currently cannot access your weapons is a very good idea.

Only the one safe, but I have a .357 Magnum, a 9mm, a .380, and two sawed off (legal) 12 gauge shotguns .... all loaded.... at immediate hand and not locked up. 

Edited by Armybrat
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2 hours ago, ROFL BOX said:

Yes, have tried the correct combination at least 20 times, but the final “stop” does not catch properly so the safe door does not open.

and yes, I’ve been on that factory site and tried their trouble shooting without success. Will contact them about the possibility of them sending me a replacement emergency key.

But.... I never registered my purchase with the factory, so that might screw up that solution.

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2 hours ago, Armybrat said:

Yes, have tried the correct combination at least 20 times, but the final “stop” does not catch properly so the safe door does not open.

and yes, I’ve been on that factory site and tried their trouble shooting without success. Will contact them about the possibility of them sending me a replacement emergency key.

But.... I never registered my purchase with the factory, so that might screw up that solution.

Sounds like you bought a stolen safe.

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Sometimes I have to stop 1digit past my correct numbers 

Example if combination calls for 3 turns left and stop at 21, I have to go to 22. 

Not sure if that will work but it does in mine. I think the tumblers get worn after several years.

You have nothing to lose by trying 

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13 minutes ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

Whatever happened to that guy in Houston who got a house with a floor safe in it and couldn't open it?  I was hoping for a Geraldo-type ending but we kinda got submarted, I think.

He got in the safe, but then couldn't get out.

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I've got a couple of big Liberty safes with dial combination locks and found this troubleshooting tip from their website....

Try dialing 1 up or 1 down from each number in the combination, while recording each attempt. 

Edited by immortal13
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I was going to suggest that. If the tumblers are worn (I'm sure AB rarely unlocked the cookie jar) you could have some slack you have to compensate for. Figuring out which tumbler(s) have the slack and where the happy spot is going to be the challenge. Mine has an electronic lock so I only have to deal with that set of fail headaches.

Edited by RPM
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19 hours ago, RPM said:

I was going to suggest that. If the tumblers are worn (I'm sure AB rarely unlocked the cookie jar) you could have some slack you have to compensate for. Figuring out which tumbler(s) have the slack and where the happy spot is going to be the challenge. Mine has an electronic lock so I only have to deal with that set of fail headaches.

brat probably shoved some viagra dust into the keyhole to firm things up

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This happened to me - pissed me off.  I bought a digital combo safe and took it to Cothron's and had them install a mechanical dial lock - thinking I wanted something that would work basically forever and not have to mess with batteries. Fast forward 7 years and I can't get in the damn thing. Had to call a locksmith to open it.  

Silly me for thinking an American made combination lock would last in a temperature controlled setting basically forever - I thought that tech was basically worked out. 

Had them replace it back with a digital the second time. 

Anyway, no advice other than what's already been posted. Go past the numbers, bang on it, etc. 

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Whatever happened to that guy in Houston who got a house with a floor safe in it and couldn't open it?  I was hoping for a Geraldo-type ending but we kinda got submarted, I think.

I remember this except I thought the poster was in Galveston because the mob angle was being played up.
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After fiddling with the combo dial for a week, including dialing the “numbers up & down” method, I was on the verge of admitting defeat and ready to call a locksmith.

However, Mrs. Brat asked to try it using the alternative numbers up thing, and voila... it opened!

Am a happy camper!

Now to make sure it will function properly, what additional steps should we employ?

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After fiddling with the combo dial for a week, including dialing the “numbers up & down” method, I was on the verge of admitting defeat and ready to call a locksmith.
However, Mrs. Brat asked to try it using the alternative numbers up thing, and voila... it opened!
Am a happy camper!
Now to make sure it will function properly, what additional steps should we employ?

Replacing the damn thing.
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On 5/27/2020 at 2:30 PM, Armybrat said:

After fiddling with the combo dial for a week, including dialing the “numbers up & down” method, I was on the verge of admitting defeat and ready to call a locksmith.

However, Mrs. Brat asked to try it using the alternative numbers up thing, and voila... it opened!

Am a happy camper!

Now to make sure it will function properly, what additional steps should we employ?

That's Great! I told you that trick in post #21. I have been doing that for years on my last number to the right.

Nothing more to do but remember it is one digit past the original number.

 

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