Ditto that. My problem with a dial combination lock is I can't work it in the dark or without my glasses.
Cannon safe won't open, LEO needs help
- Thread starter Shield 9 WV
- Start date
For a few years before I retired I had to change all the combinations of the office annually! As I remember there were about 70 to do... We had S&G dial locks and one newfangled electronic unit. I managed to set it up but it was a pain to do. We had one S&G on a walk-in safe that was about worn out and really needed replacement. I doubt it had been serviced in 50 years.
When I finally got a good safe I made sure it had an S&G dial lock. 24 years now and it still works fine.
When I finally got a good safe I made sure it had an S&G dial lock. 24 years now and it still works fine.
Got the same thing on my FT Knox. There is a button on the hinge side that has to be pushed in to allow the door lock mechanism to work. (Sort of like the gizmo that turns off the refrigerator light) Look over your door close area and you will find it. Any time I change batteries or reset the control panel I do it with door open!
Many of the digital safe locks that I have replaced were on gun safes. Others were jewelry chests and and some were cash management safes at fast food restaurants and retail stores.
Always an emergency since they didn’t have cash on hand when they opened for business.
A high percentage of the locks exhibited problems just before they stopped working.
So, if your digital lock does not open the first time every time or just acts funky, leave the safe unlocked if you can and have the lock replaced.
The same can be said for mechanical safe locks although much more uncommon. Mechanical safe locks should be serviced once a year with high use (opened several times a day). If you open your safe once or twice a day then every three to five years should be good. I’ve seen mechanical safe locks go for twenty years without service that worked just fine. But the wear on internal parts was evident due to lack of service. The oldest safe lock I ever serviced was 80 years old. Original parts and a lot of wear but still worked fine.
Always an emergency since they didn’t have cash on hand when they opened for business.
A high percentage of the locks exhibited problems just before they stopped working.
So, if your digital lock does not open the first time every time or just acts funky, leave the safe unlocked if you can and have the lock replaced.
The same can be said for mechanical safe locks although much more uncommon. Mechanical safe locks should be serviced once a year with high use (opened several times a day). If you open your safe once or twice a day then every three to five years should be good. I’ve seen mechanical safe locks go for twenty years without service that worked just fine. But the wear on internal parts was evident due to lack of service. The oldest safe lock I ever serviced was 80 years old. Original parts and a lot of wear but still worked fine.
kwselke
Member
I keep many pairs of Dollar Store reading glasses scattered strategically around my home too.
This is an interesting thread. I take it that the Cannon brand safes with digital locks do not provide a key "in case". I have two Stack-On Elite safes for ammo storage with digital locks and they came with a key to use behind the key pad. Those keys are kept in my big safe with a combo lock of course...lol.
jeffsmith
Member
This thread also Prompted me to Action
I have a Stack-on Pistol Safe and went to get the Key where I last left it
Of Course, even after tearing my place apart, I couldn't find it
Fortunately, Stack-on sells Replacement Keys
I have a Stack-on Pistol Safe and went to get the Key where I last left it
Of Course, even after tearing my place apart, I couldn't find it
Fortunately, Stack-on sells Replacement Keys
FWIW, I have four small pistol safes with electronic locks and every one of them has a keyed backup. I wouldn't buy one without the key option just because of the kind of issue the OP is facing.
I remember having to reset the combinations on the unit safe in the orderly room (they came set to a standard combination from supply.) When commanders forgot the combination the post Physical Security guys would come out to work on the safes.
Sawfish
Member
Same problem here. I took a Harbor Freight LED magnetic mount flashlight and stuck it on the safe door. One beam points directly down on the dial. Never had that problem again. Cost is nothing because HF gives them away with a purchase and coupon.
daddio202
Member
How do you do maintanance on an old fashion dial comibination lock? I have a cheaper brinks safe I have opened at least twice a week for over 10 years now and still seems to work fine but I would like to make it perfect.
crstrode
Member
According to my safe and lock expert the best thing a safe owner can do is nothing. I asked the same question about mine and he replied that Commercial Safe users open and close theirs several times per day, every day, every year for decades on end. He has seen safes in use continuously for 150 years that are no worse for wear with zero maintenance.
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
None of the above applies to electronic locks.
windypoint
Member
I have a couple of less expensive Big Horn safes I bought through Costco. They are bolted side by side. There was an issue with the lock and I called Costco. They gave me a contact at the Big Horn sales office and told me to let them know if it wasn't handled to my satisfaction. The locksmith came out and confirmed the problem. They sent him a new locking mechanism and instructions on how to drill the safe from the side. It took him about an hour once he knew where to drill. The company paid for it all. I am lucky it was the safe on the easy side to get to as they are bolted and the other would have been a bear to fix. I know they are less expensive safes but with Costco support and my other alarm system, I think these are worth it.
gman51
Member
I have an American Security safe and it came with an electronic keypad. Just under 3 years old the keypad started to fail. It happened several times in a week time so I said the heck with this. I got the keypad to work to open it one last time and I left the door open. I called a safe locksmith that works on my safe. He installed a new dial lock assembly at a cost of $380. If I had no been able to get the safe open then it would have cost me around $700 to get it open and replace the lock.
After having the electronic lock out I was checking it out and found if I wiggled the wire from the keypad to the lock then it would unlock. Due to a stinking loose wire inside the keypad the lock failed.
So I suggest you try wiggling the keypad wires to get the safe to open perhaps one last time. I still have the electronic lock and it does work sitting in the box the new one came in.
I was told when I bought the safe that it had a lifetime warranty but it figures when I needed it I found that was a bit of a lie. The keypad and lock assembly are only warranted for one year. Old saying anything is only as strong as the weakest link and the weakest link usually fails first.
Try wiggling the keypad wires then try to open it. That worked for me anyway.
After having the electronic lock out I was checking it out and found if I wiggled the wire from the keypad to the lock then it would unlock. Due to a stinking loose wire inside the keypad the lock failed.
So I suggest you try wiggling the keypad wires to get the safe to open perhaps one last time. I still have the electronic lock and it does work sitting in the box the new one came in.
I was told when I bought the safe that it had a lifetime warranty but it figures when I needed it I found that was a bit of a lie. The keypad and lock assembly are only warranted for one year. Old saying anything is only as strong as the weakest link and the weakest link usually fails first.
Try wiggling the keypad wires then try to open it. That worked for me anyway.
Well since you brought up the wiggle wire! I had an issue with one of the Stack-On Elite keypad. Change battery, this, that, called CS and sent a new key pad which I have not installed yet because I found the issue! A keypad wire was grounding out. The wiring is behind the door panel and discovered this while looking at replacing the key pad. Wiring was routed as if a blind person did it. I rerouted and secured the wiring as it should have been and it has been working perfectly. Really piss poor job from the factory.
Safes such as Brinks, Stack On and others made overseas primarily use locks that are not made near as well as American made. Less moving parts and very loose tolerance which don’t require much service.
American made safe locks require periodic cleaning and lubrication.
No offense, but the key override is a weak point. That’s why most American made gun safes don’t have them.
There isn’t a lock made that I can either pick open or bypass with power tools.
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