Old Yale safe. I have the combo. Can't open

[oldschool4511]

I have an old safe with a Yale lock on it. The combo says 4 turns right to 10, 3 turns left to 70, 2 turns right to 40, left to stop. I have tried this many times to no avail. Does anyone have any advice? The previous owner of the house was unable to get it open as well. It's driving me crazy! I want to know what's in it. Please help me. If your advice helps me open it and there's some good loot hiding inside, I promise I'll cut you in. Thanks guys.

[Squelchtone]

Hello and thanks for your question.

We've love to see the safe and lock so we can get a better idea of which model / year it is. Some older safes can have simple mechanical issues where parts wear out over time and combination has to be tweaked to adjust for this, so instead of 10 the first number may be 9 or 11 due to wear and tear.

to post a photo or two upload them to your favorite hosting server or to one like http://imgur.com/ and paste the link in here.

Looking forward to seeing what you have to work with. If you can take a photo of the instructions as well, sometimes folks do simple tricks like reversing direction or the order of operation, then 10 years later they forget the little trick they did and they try the combination as written which it may not be.

Squelchtone

[Relic]

Maybe more detail on the turns might help.

1. Turn the dial right (clockwise), stopping the fourth
time the first number of the combination aligns with the
opening index.
2. Turn the dial to the left (counterclockwise), stopping the third
time the second number of the combination aligns with the
opening index.
3. Turn the dial to the right (clockwise), stopping the
second time the third number of the combination aligns
with the opening index.
4. Turn the dial to the left (counterclockwise). Some resistance should be felt
as the mark representing “95” comes under the opening
index, and the dial should reach a positive stop near “5.”
The lock is now open, and any other action necessary to
open the safe should be performed.

Or, if the lock is opposite:

1. Turn the dial left (counterclockwise), stopping the fourth
time the first number of the combination aligns with the
opening index.
2. Turn the dial to the right (clockwise), stopping the third
time the second number of the combination aligns with the
opening index.
3. Turn the dial to the left (counterclockwise), stopping the
second time the third number of the combination aligns
with the opening index.
4. Turn the dial to the right. Some resistance should be felt
as the mark representing “5” comes under the opening
index, and the dial should reach a positive stop near “95.”
The lock is now open, and any other action necessary to
open the safe should be performed.

[74TR6]

Follow the directions given by Relic. Only suggestions I can add are:

If dial does not stop and bolt withdraw at 5 when turning to left for last number, wiggle dial back and forth from 2 to 5 a couple of times; possible help. No luck, continue turning slowly to left and feel for stop at 10, 12 or 15 I have found Yale using each of these. If turning right for last number, if no stop found at 95 continue to 90; I have found some use 90

A couple of pictures would help. One showing full front of safe and one close up of the dial-- brass dial and dial ring with Yale in center of dial?

[oldschool4511]

http://imgur.com/rdhWlTJ
http://imgur.com/YvnXZHZ
http://imgur.com/73Hxt5r
Thanks for all the replies. I'm sorry I haven't posted these pics sooner. It's just been a crazy week. I did try 9 and 11 instead of 10 to no avail. Hypothetically, if 9 worked, would I subtract 1 from all three numbers or is one number usually just affected? Thank you so much for the help. The fact that this save is difficult to open gives me hope that there still may be some stuff in it.

[oldschool4511]

I will say that the dial spins so smooth, you'd think the lock was built yesterday and oiled to perfection.

[oldschool4511]

Also, when it says turn right 4 times, should I first turn it left a few times to "reset" it before I start. I'm sorry, but I'm such a newb when it comes to these kind of locks.

[oldschool4511]

What's relic mean by the "opening index?"

[cheerIO]

What's relic mean by the "opening index?"

Most safe locks have two lines on the outside of the dial. One to dial to when you are putting the combo in to open the safe.

And one to dial to when you are "programming" in the new combination.

The opening index should be at "12 o'clock"

The other index, used to set the combo, is usually at around "11 o'clock" on the dial.

[74TR6]

The four turns to right is all needed to start process of combination. No other "reset" needed. The "index" is the mark on the dial ring at the 12 o'clock position.

You mention trying 9 and 11 rather than 10 first number. I would suggest increments of +/- 2. You can try this on any or all of the three numbers in combination. Make notes of what you try. You might try switching the second and third numbers: 10, 40, 70. Though the continued increasing number pattern may be frowned on, you note pattern of +30. Only takes a minute to spin the dial; worth the time. I have encountered situations where an owner switched numbers, or added to each number of correct combination to create a bit of security should the written combination be found

[Squelchtone]

What's relic mean by the "opening index?"

Most safe locks have two lines on the outside of the dial. One to dial to when you are putting the combo in to open the safe.

And one to dial to when you are "programming" in the new combination.

The opening index should be at "12 o'clock"

The other index, used to set the combo, is usually at around "11 o'clock" on the dial.

his looks like a zero change lock or hand change lock, where there is no change index at 11 oclock.

oldschool4511: after you dial the combination, where it says turn Left to stop, how far are you turning?

Here are you instructions rewritten a little bit, perhaps there is a fundamental thing you are missing.

Here is what you said is on the paper: The combo says 4 turns right to 10, 3 turns left to 70, 2 turns right to 40, left to stop.

So you walk up to the safe. It doesn't matter what number the dial is on currently, doesn't have to start at 0 or any other number.

Start turning Right (Clockwise) and let 10 pass under the opening index (that little tick mark at 12 oclock) 3 times, and stop on 10 the 4th time

Reverse direction and turn Left (counterclockwise) letting 70 pass under the opening index 2 times, and stop on 70 the 3rd time.

Reverse direction and turn Right (clockwise) letting 40 pass under the opening index 1 time, and stop on 40 the next time around.

Reverse direction and turn Left (counterclockwise) until the dial stops and doesn't let you turn it any more, it should stop by the time you reach 80, if it goes all the way to 40 again, the combination is not correct, something is wrong inside the safe, or the dialing procedure is not correct (left right left, right left right, etc)

[bitbuster]

the safe "appears" to be made by 'the safe cabinet co.' check the handle center to dial center. if the distance is 4-1/2" the lock is a mesh-change OC-5. if measurement is 3-3/4" it is a Yale 0402. for either one the turn sequence is RLRL , just as relic mentioned. i have found that giving the safe door a couple hand hits to the right of the dial after each number is dialed may help.

[oldschool4511]

Thanks for all your replies. I just got the safe for the first time and to my disappointment, it was empty. It was still exhilarating to turn that handle for the fist time not knowing what was behind the door. thanks for the help

[Relic]

What were you doing wrong? What worked in the end?

[Squelchtone]

What were you doing wrong? What worked in the end?

yeah, it would be nice to know which directions that we all posted were actually correct and or usable.

Thank you for the follow up oldschool4511!
Squelchtone