How does a change key work exactly?

[Eazy123]

I have cracked a S&G safe dial and the new Sparrows vault. One thing I managed to botch up on the latter is changing the combo. I inserted the key and turned ccw, and not sure how, but wheel 3 got loose and stayed that way even after turning the key cw again.

I managed to fix it myself but am wondering how exactly does the change key actually work when changing a combination?

[billdeserthills]

The change key unlocks the wheels so they will spin freely on their hubs, allowing you to change the placement of the gate in each wheel, which controls the actual combination. When you have selected the position or combo you desire the change key is rotated back, locking the wheels into position (on a properly functioning lock)

When the gate in each wheel is aligned in the proper place, the fence will be allowed to fall into the gates, which then pulls the bolt back and allows the safe to be opened

[Eazy123]

So when I put the change key in, it's interacting with the hub instead of the wheels themselves?

[GWiens2001]

Here is a Very detailed answer to your question as you read down you will see how the whole thing works.

Gordon

[Eazy123]

Here is a Very detailed answer to your question as you read down you will see how the whole thing works.

Gordon

Awesome, thanks Gordon!