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Can't open MOSLER safe

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.

Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby wellis » 30 Aug 2018 10:20

I have a MOSLER TL-15 safe, safe is approx 3' square made of 1+" plate and weighs around 1200lbs. 1982 vintage. Serial 26862-6 with a KABA electronic lock.

It was flooded on Jan10 and underwater for almost two months. It has taken months for the lock to finally operate. Although the lock now operates it will not release the locking mechanism.

We have tried; banging on the door and handle with a mallet trying to loosen the mechanism w/o luck. I'm just about to start cutting it with a plasma cutter. Are there any other ideas or options and if I do need to cut it what is the best way? I don't want to destroy the contents.

Thanks in advance.
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby Squelchtone » 30 Aug 2018 11:21

Hi,

got a pic or two?

has a safe technician worked on it yet? That would be a good step and worth $100 to get someone to try or at least give you an in person professional opinion.

good luck, cant wait to see this beast!
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby wellis » 30 Aug 2018 11:34

I can't figure how to upload pics.... I have contacted the dealer I purchased it from it's in a pretty remote location and he wants $700 just to look at it. I know how the door is attached and know just cutting the hinges won't get me in. Again looking for ideas to get in w/o destroying contents.
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby bitbuster » 30 Aug 2018 12:03

"I dream of a world where, chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned". Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby Squelchtone » 30 Aug 2018 12:53

wellis wrote:I can't figure how to upload pics.... I have contacted the dealer I purchased it from it's in a pretty remote location and he wants $700 just to look at it. I know how the door is attached and know just cutting the hinges won't get me in. Again looking for ideas to get in w/o destroying contents.



Upload pics to some free web service like photobucket, imgur, tinypic, facebook, etc and Copy/Paste the http://whatever.com/youralbum/pic.jpg here

Long ago an admin before my time turned off direct photo attachments to save on sever space so we dont offer direct uploading to the forum, which I wish we did.

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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby bitbuster » 30 Aug 2018 14:23

"I dream of a world where, chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned". Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby GWiens2001 » 31 Aug 2018 10:48

Having been submerged that long, i’d bet the actuator won’t work and/or boltwork rusted in place.

Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby wellis » 31 Aug 2018 11:34

GWiens2001 wrote:Having been submerged that long, i’d bet the actuator won’t work and/or boltwork rusted in place.

Gordon

I believe the bolt work is still free as I can move the handle a little. After code enters there isn't any clicking in the lock mechanism that releases it to unlock.
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby wellis » 31 Aug 2018 11:36


No. Mosler with KABA electronic lock. But my safe looks similar and in size.
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby billdeserthills » 31 Aug 2018 11:50

I don't know about using a thermal lance-- last time I had my welder cut open a safe it did burn up everything made of paper that was inside
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby wellis » 31 Aug 2018 11:55

bitbuster wrote:Your lock look like these?
http://www.kaba-mauer.com/en/solutions/ ... locks.html


Yes, it looks like Auditcon 252 and 552. I pretty sure just it's just a 52.

I could post a million pics if I could, but what good are pics at this point? The lock isn't working!
The real question here is; How do I get into it? And. Best way to cut it w/o destroying contents?
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby MartinHewitt » 31 Aug 2018 13:03

I believe on this side of the forum wall such things are not discussed.
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby billdeserthills » 31 Aug 2018 13:08

wellis wrote:
bitbuster wrote:Your lock look like these?
http://www.kaba-mauer.com/en/solutions/ ... locks.html


Yes, it looks like Auditcon 252 and 552. I pretty sure just it's just a 52.

I could post a million pics if I could, but what good are pics at this point? The lock isn't working!
The real question here is; How do I get into it? And. Best way to cut it w/o destroying contents?


Easy, just call a locksmith who opens safes
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Re: Can't open MOSLER safe

Postby Squelchtone » 31 Aug 2018 20:04

wellis wrote:I could post a million pics if I could, but what good are pics at this point?


Every safe is different and have different ways of getting into them. Without seeing your actual model how are we supposed to give you any useful details? Do you know how many different Moslers are out there? different dial and handle locations, door thicknesses, places to drill in order to open them.

Telling us you have a 3 foot x 3 foot Mosler doesnt cut it. It's like saying you have a 17 foot long Ford car, and asking which tie rod should you buy to fix that rattling noise?

We need more info in order to help you.

In a nutshell though, a qualified safe tech would remove the electronic dial, stick a drill into the spindle hole that the wire comes out of, drill into the lock case to get to the motor inside, insert a small rigid scope to see inside the lock case, insert some very special tools in order to strip the insulation off the motor wires, then use a spikemaster tool to apply voltage to the motor power cables and retract the bolt. If it is a worm gear drive, you could use a pointy tool to retract the bolt open a little at a time until fully retracted. BUT, with being submerged in water who knows what kind of corrosion or damage has been done to the inside working of that Kaba lock.

This is the work ahead of you, is it worth buying all that gear for a one time opening?

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