Help !! Wife locked out of her suitcase !

[jon2223]

I am sure this sound sillly, but it is really something I need help on. It is a large suitcase "Frech Luggage" And has a 3 wheel combination lock . It came set at 0-0-0 from the factory and my wife reset it and xcan't recall the combination. She just came home from the hospital and needs to open it. I called the Edwards Luggae" where we bought it and she said we have to break it open.... It was a very expensive suitcase and part of a set, so I would like to:
1) Open it for her today
2) Not wreck it in the process.
please help me!!
Jon

[Ives]

Done this one:

0-0-1
0-0-2
0-0-3
...

Read this one
Or you can try to put a litle thin piece of aluminium (cola-can) on 1 side of the disk, and you should feel when the numer is set right.

By the way: I'm not shure of the second one, but i think a read that a few days ago on this forum.

[security_lock]

That's right. Just put a thin piece of metal or plastic and try to feel te axis on which the numbers are mounted. While turning the numbers, you should feel a smooth surface, until you reach the correct number. Then you'll feel a 'ditch' in the surface.
Do this for each number.
If you don't feel a ditch anywhere from 0-9, try the other side of the number-wheel.

Some more expensive suitcases can have a tricky extra security though. In that case, the ditch isn't right next to the correct number, but a few numbers off. Then you should move each number one step up at a time.

e.g. if you feel a ditch next to 1-3-5- but it doesn't open, try 2-4-6; if it still doesn't open try 3-5-7 and so on.........you'll get it eventually.

[digital_blue]

With a 3 wheel combo it takes about 6 minutes to run through all the possible combinations. If you apply pressure to open the suitcase under one of the locks and run through the combos you will get it, on average in 3 minutes. You'll know when you get it because it will give. Of course, it won't open up all the way yet because you havent got the other side. Unless your wife is a) a very creative thinker, or b) very concerned about security she will have set both wheel packs the same. If not, you may have as much as another 6 minutes work to do. I spent almost that much time typing this.

Hope it helps.

db

[omelet]

like digital blue said, you can run through all the numbers, since there are only 1000 permutations on a 3 combo lock. Just don't rush and you won't miss a combination...that would be frustrating.

[quickpicks]

:Wife locked out of her suitcase !

Or are you locked out of your wife's suitcase?

[hzatorsk]

Well... unless he has a wireless card in his laptop... It is pretty safe to assume he isn't locked *in* her suitcase.

[jon2223]

Thanks guys ! I will try all of your suggestions .
Jon

[digital_blue]

I wonder if we'll ever know if he got in, and if so, how long it took?

[vector40]

Maybe we'll get a post in a few days with "Help! Husband locked self in suitcase!"

[security_lock]

Personally, I prefer the 'feeling' method above trying all possible combinations.
The feeling-method is so easy, it's almost ridiculous..........

I am not a mathematical whizz-kid, and am wondering: how many possible combinations are there exactly on a three-wheel combination lock?

[security_lock]

Forgot to mention: a three-wheel combination lock with digits from 0 to 9 on each wheel........

[vector40]

It's just what it seems like, security_lock; you can have numbers from 000 through 999, so there's a thousand combinations.

[digital_blue]

There are exactly 1000. 000 thru 999. And you're right, the "feel" methos works great on some locks, but some more expensive locks have methods to prevent this. None of them can prevent trying all possible combos though. I have actually sat down and timed myself running through all possible combinations on a three wheel pack and, as I said, it's about 6 minutes. Since, on average, you only have to try half the combos, it means that a three wheel pack, regardless of quality, will be defeated in about 3 minutes most of the time.

db

[vector40]

Is it just me, or have digital_blue and I started bumping into each other at the question-answering door? We should take turns. Or keep score...