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Dozer In-Floor Safe Door / Head

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.

Dozer In-Floor Safe Door / Head

Postby sign216 » 18 Oct 2026 6:53

I am rehabilitating a Dozer in-floor safe door, similar to those sold by Star or Major. The fence arm has a spring to pull it in, once the combo is dialed. Instead of the usual leaf spring, or a coil spring, this one has three small wire springs, held in position merely by spring pressure. That's it! They went flying when I took the lock apart, but I luckily found them.

When I'm finished, I was going to glue the spring wires into the post, so they don't come out again. Or, should I leave them be, held in just by spring pressure? Could there be a reason that the spring wires aren't fixed in place?

Joe



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sign216
 
Posts: 226
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Re: Dozer In-Floor Safe Door / Head

Postby billdeserthills » 18 Oct 2026 15:18

I have seen the same three-wire system on an old STAR safe when rebuilding it 20+ years ago. I don't think losing a wire is a big deal-- if you have some spring steel wire, it is easily replaceable.

The safe head I rebuilt is still in service as far as I know, so gluing the wires in isn't necessary


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billdeserthills
 
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Re: Dozer In-Floor Safe Door / Head

Postby sign216 » 19 Oct 2026 9:19

Bill DH,

I recovered the orig. wires, and I plan on re-using them. You think it's okay letting the wires remain unsecured, except by spring pressure?
This safe's been around 50+ yrs like this, so I guess so. Just doesn't feel right having a vital part floating loose, but it's hard to argue w decades of performance.

I'll put it back together, as designed.

Joe
sign216
 
Posts: 226
Joined: 5 Feb 2019 6:54
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