Need help fixing or installing a lock? We welcome questions from the public here! Sorry, no automotive questions, please.
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Afternoon - Somewhat new at this. Bare with me. I have a Diebold teller safe that I could not open with it's original 3 number combination. Tried for days. No Luck. Had to cut open the back of the safe, removed the door linkage to expose the lock. I ended up tracking the the 1st and second number of the combination to where the gates lined up properly. However, when using the 3rd number, the gate #3 wheel no longer lined up properly where the "fence", that little arm would not fall. After tracking the third wheel to find what dial number corresponded to having #3 gate lined up properly to be able to throw the bolt, I found that #3 wheel, or the number chosen years back for this last number - had changed some seven digits. I've used this newly altered number multiple times now, and it appears un-mistakeable that the 3rd wheel somehow changed numbers without a re-set key. So, I now need to re-weld the back of the safe to close it up, but - before I do this, I need to know what happened to the lock's 3rd wheel that would have caused it to change numbers on its own. The lock does not appear dirty or gummed up. The dial turns freely, the wheels and every mechanical part moves freely. So, I am trying to understand how and why this wheel changed numbers. Without this understandng, my concern is that it would happen again, perhaps on another wheel or all the wheels. I recall that I would "slap" or spin the dial rather hard in the past. Could this force of a strong spin have caused the reset on the 3rd wheel to have moved or been altered. The safe is likely from the 1980's - could it require a cleaning.? Could an old wheel's number be altered by lack of lube or perhaps, brass creates a slight gumming over time - could the third wheel have been altered by to much or too little friction, moving the reset to a different number???
Sounds like you caused that slipping wheel some damage by playing rough with it. I have many times simply reset a safe combo lock to a new different combination and had it work fine afterwards, without having to replace it
I like to explain to my customers that their entire safe lock is being held together with a very tiny spline key and rough use is a real bad idea
Morning - What else, other than fast spins of the dial may have caused this 3rd wheel to independently change numbers? Is there a test, inspection of sorts that I could do to observe any damage to this wheel. What might I look for? Would you disassemble the lock, clean it , re-assemble and change the combo?
In your experience, do you feel the wheel is still trustworthy? If use a change key to reset the lock to either a new combination or the old combo, would your experience suggest problem solved?
How does one best lift the key stake so as to remove the wheels?
What should the wheels and things be cleaned with? Is it safe to use compressed air on the wheels?
My solution gets you away from everything you can do wrong. By using a change key and changing your existing combination none of the things you suggest will be needed. If you want to take apart your lock and play at being a safe man, you are taking the chance that it will never work again
If I did this correctly, the 1st photo shows a floating brassplate removed exposing a clearer view of the trip arm. 2nd photo should show this floating brass plate re-attached. This plate tends to float or move along with the drop arm. What is the purpose of this brass plate??
Last photo, is one of the locks back plate.
Hope these photos came through.
Thanks for your help. Looking for the proper change key for this lock.
The floating plate is a gate cover for zero change locks where the dialing index and change index are both at 12 o'clock on the dial. Does your dial ring have a crow's foot at high noon and no other dashes or is there a white dash on the dial ring at 11 o'clock as well?
As for your wheel being off by 7 numbers, you may have a wheel that is unlocked, or possibly a stuck fly that needs some lubrication. To pull the spline key out, use plier or vice grips and pull it out by pulling away from the wheelpack. You can leverage it up with a pocket slotted screwdriver to get it started.
Evening - The back plate for the front dial has only one index. This being at 12:00 o'clock. From your description of this plate, and your mentions, if this lock was to have it's combination to be re-set, then my dialing of both old and new numbers would originate from this one dial marking at 12:00.
You mention something of a "stuck" wheel mechanism on this 3rd wheel. If' I was to disassemble this lock, what would be used to clean the brass, and wheels. Can you use compressed air to blow out any solvent?
Can you adequately clean these wheels without dis-assembly.?
Do the photos illustrate a particular change key that is designed for this lock? How does one reference such a change key? Are there stock numbers??
Do you know of a source/vendor that would carry this specific change key?
Watch this video first, then follow the instructions below:
Remove the spline key, unscrew the brass cam, and see if you can move the fly back and fourth with your finger or screw driver tip. if it rotates back and fourth easily in the grove that it rides in, then that's not the cause of your number being off by 7.
Afternoon - Connected wit MBAUSA this morning. Odered a change key and a spline key. I'll be taking many photos, and notes so that I can re-assemble this puppy correctly.
Other than wiping down the wheels and things with a clean cloth - is there a solvent that is used to clean the inside workings of the wheels?
What would I be looking for in checking out these parts - scratches, dings, wear, chips...?????
Once the parts are cleaned - is there a recommended lubricant to be used - or is it best to leave the parts dry.
Wish to thank you for your help and especially referring me to Mbausa.
Homeowner2u wrote:Afternoon - Connected wit MBAUSA this morning. Odered a change key and a spline key. I'll be taking many photos, and notes so that I can re-assemble this puppy correctly.
Other than wiping down the wheels and things with a clean cloth - is there a solvent that is used to clean the inside workings of the wheels?
What would I be looking for in checking out these parts - scratches, dings, wear, chips...?????
Once the parts are cleaned - is there a recommended lubricant to be used - or is it best to leave the parts dry.
Wish to thank you for your help and especially referring me to Mbausa.
It isn't explicitly stated here, but DO NOT apply grease to the flies (little washers inside the wheels with tabs that connect the wheels together). Those must be kept dry.
Thank you. I sort of recall reading a few blogs, lock comments...etc., while doing my searches - they had mentioned using DOT3 Brake fluid to clean clock and lock parts. Is using brake fluid to clean lock parts still a consideration or recommended?
Thank you for the S&G lube guide - I'll be looking for a lube to close this puppy up when.
Is Tri-flow still considered as a wipe down lube??
Brake fluid?!. Mister, please stop reading other random blogs and just ask us here instead. I have never in 15 years heard of cleaning safe locks with brake fluid, that's some home brew BS one guy out there probably does.
