Manual Dial Locks and Electronic Locks - What do you folks want to know?

[ZigZagZeke]

It can be a pretty tough install. especially if the safe was chinese made or it was hand made (dial alignment on them is pretty crucial for longevity, and so it rotates smoothly).

I had no trouble reconfiguring my old mechanical dial lock, but I have 30 years experience as an instrument technician. I'm used to working on complicated and delicate small electronic and mechanic equipment. A lot of the stuff I worked on was so old there were no replacement parts available, so we had to make the parts ourselves, like custom fit screws and linkages.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

The left side relocker hole on the titan is is really shallow and you cannot install a screw in it that touches the bottom. It will bulge the inside of the case and the lock will stop working.

I think I remember running into that with the lock that's in my safe now.

 

[billdeserthills]

Inside a lock near any wheel packs, I would only use Shell 22 (there is only a few places you can put it). On the cam and dial bushing I would use super lube.

Don't use teflon grease inside a safe lock

Does it make a difference whether the actual locking lug is a sliding bar or a pivot block for fitment and operational purposes?

View attachment 1492094View attachment 1492095

It only makes a difference if your bar has a second hole that the slide bolt falls into (rounded nose). In that case you would be better off using the deadbolt (square nose)

I have always thought these digital safe locks cool-- They are electric but use no batteries. To open, you turn the dial back & forth 3-4 times-- this powers up the lock & when it lights up, then you enter the combo & it opens.

I've had the vertical model on a safe for almost 20 years-- These are not made for a beginner to install

dormakaba - Electronic Combination Safe Locks - Safe Lock Auditcon 252

The Electronic Combination Lock Auditcon 252 was developed to address the security requirements of a broad range of retail, commercial and industrial

www.dormakaba.com

 

[Spitpatch]

Some safe owners (and even some Locksmiths) may not be aware of an important safety feature that comes with any gun safe equipped with a mechanical dial combination.

After 5 beers, I can't get into my safe even (literally) to save my life.

 

[crstrode]

Changing the combination on a dial lock is very easy.
I once worked at a very large government site with security safes in a large percentage of the offices. When one's job required a safe, they were required to change the combination themself. Before doing so, they received a 5-minute training session that included actually changing the combination on a lock. Everyone had to do it, and failures were very few and far between.

If a run-of-the-mill government employee can do it, you can too . . . unless your IQ is way below par.

 

[gmerkt]

My safe is 40 years old, the manufacturer is no longer in business so I guess the combination is on file nowhere. My concern re. security isn't so much about the integrity of the lock. My concern is more about a burglar ripping the safe out of the floor and carrying it away intact, to some other location where it can be easily broken into, perhaps without regard to any kind of lock.

Re. school lockers. Around here, most schools no longer allow students to use them. School administrators don't want kids to have a hidey-hole where they can potentially store contraband items.

 

[billdeserthills]

I paid two tweekers to load up my 1885 pound safe into their rickety trailer and transport it from my business to my house & put it in my house-- where there is a will, there is a way

of course Florida Man has done it all already

Men arrested after being caught trying to pry open stolen 5ft tall safe

Two arrested after breaking into Naples home and throwing a 5-foot-tall safe down the stairs before stealing it.

nbc-2.com

 

[billdeserthills]

Changing the combination on a dial lock is very easy.
I once worked at a very large government site with security safes in a large percentage of the offices. When one's job required a safe, they were required to change the combination themself. Before doing so, they received a 5-minute training session that included actually changing the combination on a lock. Everyone had to do it, and failures were very few and far between.

If a run-of-the-mill government employee can do it, you can too . . . unless your IQ is way below par.

It's all easy until something goes wrong

 

[jbett98]

It's all easy until something goes wrong

Isn't that the American way. Do it yourself and take the responsibility.

 

[crstrode]

It's all easy until something goes wrong

You can't fix stupid.

 

[billdeserthills]

You can't fix stupid.

What usually happens when something goes wrong is eventually the lock cover is removed & the door gets closed and the relocker goes off-- That's when it starts getting expensive

 

[Snopczynski]

Does it make a difference whether the actual locking lug is a sliding bar or a pivot block for fitment and operational purposes?

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You want the pivot bolt, which is the one on the left. The one on the right is harder to install and the battery replacement is a pain in the neck.

 

[Snopczynski]

What usually happens when something goes wrong is eventually the lock cover is removed & the door gets closed and the relocker goes off-- That's when it starts getting expensive

We had a guy this week fire a relocker, and sink a door panel screw into a locking bolt when he changed his lock out. So, the relocker had to be defeated and the bolts punched to get past the door panel screw. It was an expensive ordeal, and he got some extra holes drilled in his safe.

 

[billdeserthills]

I bet he's glad he did it himself--
just look at all the time & money he saved
/s

 

[ZigZagZeke]

You want the pivot bolt, which is the one on the left. The one on the right is harder to install and the battery replacement is a pain in the neck.

That's the one I ordered:

Sargent & Greenleaf S&G Model 2006-102 Titan Pivot Bolt Electronic Safe Lock

 

[Flamingo]

What would be a good way to get some information for setting up a safe servicing/combination change?

 

[Snopczynski]

Shoot me a message and I can get you squared away. I was out in Poulsbo, Bremerton, and Gig Harbor a day last week doing calls.

 

[Twodogs]

Neighbor was locked out of their safe for 2 years, I opened it up for her.

 

[Flopsweat]

Neighbor was locked out of their safe for 2 years, I opened it up for her.

View attachment 1732709

Including replacing the safe with a used one, is that cheaper than a locksmith?

 

[Twodogs]

Including replacing the safe with a used one, is that cheaper than a locksmith?

Safe had no value to her,locksmith quote was $400+ new key pad.