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Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Forgot how to dial the combination on that old safe? Think you got the right numbers but the handle is stuck? What safe should you buy? Ask your safe questions here!
Forum rules
You are posting this in This Old Safe, a public area of the forum.

Safe manipulation discussion is allowed, but safe drilling or other destructive entry is only allowed in the Advanced - Safes and Safe Locks area.

If you are a guest of the forum and have a safe you need to open, but you do not have the combination, we cannot tell you how or where to drill it.

Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 12 Jun 2024 14:16

Someone is selling an old McCaskey Register Safe. The door is opened but locked. The bolts are out. The inside of the door is exposed and available.
They do not have the combination.

Will I be able to reset the combination if the door is opened and I can remove the plate. How difficult it it?
How old might this safe be?
It is 31" tall
I am attaching pictures.
Thanks
Bruce Tuchman
[image]
https://ibb.co/ZxfMTZq
https://ibb.co/g78WdhH
https://ibb.co/m4Yg3Dg
https://ibb.co/Wc89T4s[/image]

Also there have been some comments about asbestos in the McCaskey safes.
Is that typical of all mcCaskey safes?
Btuchman
 
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Raymond » 12 Jun 2024 15:23

I don't have any specific references or info about a McCaskey Safe but from experience there are two places that may contain asbestos. The most common is a seal around the door. The second is where asbestos may be mixed in with the other fireproofing material poured into the door and all walls of the safe. If you don't drill into the safe there should be no problems. With care, the seal can be removed whole, sealed and delivered to a location for disposal. Just make sure not to physically scrape off pieces, saw, or otherwise break it up into aerosol particles.
Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool. Wisdom is not just in determining how to do something, but also includes determining whether it should be done at all.
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 12 Jun 2024 15:36

Thank you. Now I need to find out about resetting the combination.
Thanks
Bruce
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Squelchtone » 13 Jun 2024 16:41

Your safe is more than likely rebranded.. I've never heard of a McCaskey safe but hey, maybe they just didn't make enough safes to be well known for them.

we need to see a photo of the other side of the door, is there a round metal cover about 3 inches in diameter or just a metal plate covering the back of the door?

remove the plate to see the lock mechanism and then we can tell you much more on how to change the combination, but with the current photos we do not have enough info to go on.

Thanks
Squelchtone
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 13 Jun 2024 17:19

Thanks. Will do
Btuchman
 
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 16 Jun 2024 9:49

Btuchman
 
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Squelchtone » 16 Jun 2024 9:58

Looks like a Mosler, you'll need the change key, sometimes the cover has the number of the change key required, it will also show you the profile shape of the key needed. do you have a photo of the cover that was on that lock?

Thank you,
Squelchtone
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 16 Jun 2024 18:42

If I can find the original combo that would be fine too.
Bruce
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Squelchtone » 16 Jun 2024 21:30

Your lock's dialing order will be:

Right 4 times to the first number
Left 3 times to the second number
Right 2 times to the third number
Left 1 until dial stops turning and the lock bolt is retracted


Since your lock is in the open state right now, start by clearing the lock. This will push the bolt out to the lock position, and it will start the wheels turning so the combination is what we call "cleared" Turn the dial Right at least 4 full times around and then stop turning the dial.

You do not have to start at 0 or anything like that.

Steps to figure out existing combination:

1. Start turning Right and watch the mechanism inside the door as you do so, first the drive wheel will start turning, then it will pick up wheel #3, keep on turning, this will then pick up wheel #2, and then finally as you keep turning it will pick up wheel #1. As you keep turning Right (Clockwise) watch the lock mechanism for wheel #1 (the one deepest in the wheel pack, and watch when it's gate (the cutout in the wheel) is aligned with the flipper fence, which is that spring loaded boomerang shaped piece that rides along the outer perimeter of the wheel pack.

2. Stop dialing Right just as the wheel gate of wheel #1 is aligned with the fence.

3. Look at the dial and make a note of what number is on the dial at the opening index dash, which should be located at 12 o'clock. Write this number down, it is the first number of your combination.

4. Now start turning the dial Left (Counter-Clockwise) and you'll see the driver wheel start turning, then it will pick up wheel #3, and as you keep turning the dial Left, you'll see wheel #2 start to turn.

5. Turn the dial slowly because you do not want to overshoot where the wheel #2 gate aligns with the flipper fence. You may need a flashlight on the wheel pack to see things better.

6. Stop turning the dial when the wheel #2 gate is aligned with the fence.

7. Look at the dial and write down the number at the opening index at 12 o'clock. Next we'll find the third number of the combination.

8. Now start turning the dial Right, and watch the drive cam start turning. As it starts to pick up wheel #3, dial slowly, so again you do not overshoot where the wheel gate aligns with the fence.

9. Keep turning the dial until wheel #3's gate is aligned with the fence. Stop turning the dial and make a note of the number the dial is on on the opening index mark at 12 o'clock. At this point you should notice that all 3 combination wheels have their gates aligned with each other and the fence ready to drop into them.

10. Lastly to allow the fence to fall into the wheel gates and to then retract the bolt, start turning the dial Left and you will see the drive cam start turning, keep turning it slowly until the fence falls into its gate, and into the wheel gates, and continue turning until the lock bolt is retracted.

11. If at this point, the fence falls into the gates, but the dial stops and you cannot retract he lock bolt, you may have encountered a security mechanism called a Relocker, which is meant to trigger like a trip wire in the event a burglar somehow removed the back cover of the lock.

12. If your lock has a relocker, it will have a spring loaded metal tab under the bolt, and you'll need to push on it with a screwdriver, while at the same time turning the dial Left to complete retracting the bolt.
If you have the cover and the cover has a thin round metal post welded to it, that post is what presses on the relocker to keep it from getting triggered. Using location of that metal post welded to the cover will show you where you need to depress inside the lock to overcome the fired relocker.

You have now figured out the combination to your lock.

Squelchtone
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 16 Jun 2024 22:36

Thank you.
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Re: Reset the combination on McCaskey Safe

Postby Btuchman » 19 Jun 2024 11:32

I brought the safe home last night and will start working on it in a few days.
https://ibb.co/ky9dZBV
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