Help Figuring Out a Combination on a Diebold Antique Lock

[djed]

I’ve had trouble figuring the combination for the four wheel Diebold lock pictured below. I believe the sequence should be R - L - R - L - R (to fall into the drive wheel).

It seems every time I try dialing what was the combination in my last effort the combination changes (empirically the first number for wheel one is 3 less than the last time).

Am I doing something wrong or is the lock damaged? The wheels are in order (4 is visible below the drive wheel followed by 3,2, and 1).

As always thank you.

[Squelchtone]

Sounds like you have a wheel unlocked and it is drifting while you pick up the other wheels. Can you take the wheel pack apart and see if the change key cams are all aligned the same way or if the cam on wheel 1 is out of phase/unlocked?

Your dialing order is this, right?

Rx5
Lx4
Rx3
Lx2
Rx1 to open


Squelchtone

[djed]

Yes - that’s the dialing order.

I’ll take the wheel pack apart in the morning.

[MartinHewitt]

You can also check by turning the dial so that the full pack is moving and then holding each wheel with your finger tip. If the dial can't be turned more it is locked. Otherwise it is unlocked.

[djed]

Squelchtone,

Thank you. 3 of 4 wheels were unlocked.

Lock now works.

Dial is interesting as it seems to be removable. I’ll take it apart and post pictures one day.