S&G Dial on LaGard lock

[8550jim]

As I recall, the spindles on S&G and LaGard dials are splined at different numbers. I have been asked to install a LaGard 3390 lock using an S&G Dial. I have seen safes with this done, but never looked at the details. Where are La Gard spindles splined? Can anyone give me some advice? Thanks

[MartinHewitt]

The current La Gard dials are splined at 43. La Gard uses a thicker spline keys so S&G spline keys are a bit loose in La Gard locks. Not sure what the best is in mixed situations.

[8550jim]

Can anyone give me some guidance on how to deal with the spline key issue? Thanks

[MartinHewitt]

You can put a bit tin foil into the gap. Or you can use a light hammer with an edge to slightly widen the La Gard side of the spline key at a few points. The second solution is good when there is not much missing, but I had also a case where I had to stuff in quite a lot.

[Kaesekopf]

I have bent the spline key slightly to make it fit snug when it was loose, it has worked well for the one lock I have had to fix this way

[8550jim]

Would it be reasonable to use a small file and widen the keyway on the S&G spindle? Widen it to the point that I could use a La Gard spline key and a la Gard lock?

[MartinHewitt]

I would not do it unless with a mill or lathe done properly. Not doing it properly increases the chance for the spline key to become loose which changes the combination slightly, but very likely so much, that the safe won't open. The spline key may fall out when loose, but I think the chance is very low.

[8550jim]

Can anyone tell me the size of the S&G and the LaGard spline keys? I am still not sure just how to install a S&G dial on a LaGard lock body, Thanks

[Squelchtone]

As I recall, the spindles on S&G and LaGard dials are splined at different numbers. I have been asked to install a LaGard 3390 lock using an S&G Dial. I have seen safes with this done, but never looked at the details. Where are La Gard spindles splined? Can anyone give me some advice? Thanks

In my opinion, as the safe and lock professional, it's up to you to make the recommendation on what the customer should install, not to move heaven and earth to install mismatched parts to please the customer's fancy.

Is there a reasonable idea behind why the customer wants a Lagard lock body and an S&G dial or is it purely aesthetical?

Install an S&G 6630 Group 2M lock and dial as can be found here: https://www.lockmasters.com/sg-6630-ser ... -sg6630adj and call it a day.

Squelchtone

[8550jim]

The owner of the safe is a fussy fellow - me. The safe in question is set up for two locks. One of them is now a S&G 8550, the other, if I can do what I want to do, will be a La Gard 3390 with bolt position switch. I have to go with the La Gard because S&G no longer makes a lock with the bolt position switch. I really want the lock dials to look the same from the outside. I have seen another similar safe that came from the factory with this set up and I want to duplicate it. I have never installed mismatched parts and am not sure just how to proceed. However, at this point, I am giving serious thought to just putting a nice La Gard dial on the thing and calling it a day! I just have to face the fact that I don't have the skill to do it with the S&G dial.