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!
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by sign216 » 8 Nov 2023 13:35
Working on a vintage circular door by Major Co. The underside of the dial has a stud (see red arrow) that is preventing the dial from moving beyond 360 deg either way. The stud hit the black mount, allowing only 359 degrees of movement. Is the design correct, or is it missing something? Is it possible that the spring keeping the dial "floating" is worn, or missing something? Joe P.S. I got this without the hinged handle that pulls the door in/out of the safe. Where's a good place to get a replacement handle? 
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sign216
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by MartinHewitt » 8 Nov 2023 14:20
I think the dial ring and the dial don't match. The dial ring is the current version, the dial not. The current dials have a stud near the spindle. You see in the center of the ring a plastic ring. This plastic ring has a gap at 100. At this location the stud of the current dial is moving in, when the dial is pushed.
And AFAIK Major safes don't have a lock that needs to be pushed in and had a completely different dial from factory.
If you want to use the parts you have, then check if the drive cam screws properly onto the dial spindle, then check if the dial would run properly inside the ring if the stud would not be there, and finally remove the stud on the dial. This is not the best solution as the dial can be pushed in, but it should be a workable and cheap solution.
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by sign216 » 8 Nov 2023 15:44
Martin Hewitt, Thanks for your learned info. The parts might be mis-matched, as I could tell from the interior that the mechanism has "been around the block." The dial does screw in correctly w the right length, so I'll see if I can get it to work by grinding off the stud. Does that sound reasonable? Billdeserthills, The part I'm looking for is the large handle that connects the round door to the hinge on the safe body. Like this one pointed w the arrows: Any idea where I should look for that? [image]  [/image]
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sign216
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by billdeserthills » 8 Nov 2023 15:52
I'm sure your local welder can bend a piece of round stock for you
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by sign216 » 8 Nov 2023 16:19
billdeserthills wrote:I'm sure your local welder can bend a piece of round stock for you
Bill, It's just more than that. there's the round handle, the connection to the hinge, and the hinge itself. Obviously it's easier to buy a used unit, esp. since it's got little value without the safe body or lid. I'll continue to search..... Joe
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sign216
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by sign216 » 8 Nov 2023 16:54
Thanks BillDH, The safe lids seem to be out there, but the safe bodies and attachments are a struggle to find. To be expected, with vintage equipment, eh?
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sign216
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by billdeserthills » 8 Nov 2023 17:12
sign216 wrote:Thanks BillDH, The safe lids seem to be out there, but the safe bodies and attachments are a struggle to find. To be expected, with vintage equipment, eh?
I hear ya, the Major floor safes must be rare, I've seen a handful of Major lift-outs but your floor safe is the first I've seen by Major
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by sign216 » 9 Nov 2023 9:02
billdeserthills wrote:sign216 wrote:Thanks BillDH, The safe lids seem to be out there, but the safe bodies and attachments are a struggle to find. To be expected, with vintage equipment, eh?
I hear ya, the Major floor safes must be rare, I've seen a handful of Major lift-outs but your floor safe is the first I've seen by Major
BillDH, I have two. They are bigger and heavier than the normal Major lids, approx. 20cm across. Both are made not as "lift out" lids, but to be swung out on a hinge. Unlike the smaller lids with parallel sides, these larger units have sides with a slight tape or slope, probably because the hinge lifts the lids out at an angle. Joe
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sign216
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