Sentry Safe Loose Dial

[robinmiss11]

I have a Sentry S3110 with the combination. can’t get it to open. as you turn the dial in either direction, you start to feel some resistance, but as soon as you begin to turn in the opposite direction it’s very loose. it will spin almost one complete rotation before you can feel where it connects again. for example, if i turn the dial to the right several times and stop at 0, when i spin to the left, i don’t feel it connect again until im at 95…so almost one full rotation. help please!

[MartinHewitt]

What you describe is totally normal for a mechanical combination lock, but not that you can't get it open.

You can see here the lock of a similar enough Sentry. The serrated wheel is connected directly to the dial. It is called the drive cam. When you turn it right several times it takes with it the other two dials, which creates friction. When you stop at 0 and start to turn left only the drive cam is moving. The other dials are not interacting with it. At around 95 it connects again with the next wheel and picks it put. Then after another nearly full turn (so probably around 90) it connects also with the other wheel and both wheels turn again.

https://youtu.be/XKBkBoomb20?t=1036

There is an explanation how to dial. Even experts forget sometimes necessary details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYv5gh9lu_k

[DeanR]

I agree with Martin. What you are feeling is the drive wheel, with its gate, rotating around and picking up the next wheel. It has a protrusion that, when rotated almost one full rotation, will pick up the next wheel. Thus the free movement. ie. Situation normal.

To manipulate these locks you only look at the angle of the key. This changes when the gates (slots in the wheels) line up with the lever being pushed in by the key.

You could start here. Scroll down to the "Direct Entry" locks, and look at the videos listed.
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=68049

Cheers.

[Raymond]

If you know the combo and it used to work, but it doesn't now, the drive wheel may not be picking up a combo wheel. Try setting the safe between two chairs with the combo down and dialing the combo. Also lay the safe on it's back and try the combo. Try smacking it with a rubber hammer while dialing.