Rotary Dial Combination Safes

[ripnbst]

How do they typically work? My buddy got one that he bought from a guy, he has the combination, the guy showed him that it did in fact work, but he didn't pay attention to the sequence.

You turn right until you land on the first number, go left and pass over the second number and then stop on it and then go back right to the last number? It is 3 numbers btw. We have tried a few different things and cant seem to get it.

Anyone who has one please let me know what your procedure is so that maybe we can get this thing operational. At least its open and not locked shut!

 

[gillman7]

Not sure, but I think it has to be closed to work? But yes, at least 2 turns past the first number, then once past the second number, and then directly to the third number. Right, Left, then Right.

 

[Remington]

Try turning it a bunch to the right then stop on your first number and go from there.

This may help: http://www.wimp.com/woodenlock/ shows basic operation of a rotary combo lock.

 

[HMFIC]

PM hipshot. He's a safe-cracker.

 

[SMS]

Most I've seen are:

At least 4 turns left, stop at 1st number
Turn right, pass over 2nd num twice and stop on it the third time around
Turn left, pass 3d num once and stop on it the second time around
Turn right, stop on zero.
Open.

 

[Parks 788]

Most I've seen are:

At least 4 turns left, stop at 1st number
Turn right, pass over 2nd num twice and stop on it the third time around
Turn left, pass 3d num once and stop on it the second time around
Turn right, stop on zero.
Open.

Mine is exactly the same but just a little bit different.

If his doesn't work like SMS's try like mine. I do the first three steps like SMS; left, right, left. Then, when on the last number I have to turn to the right until the dial stops (about half turn of S&G combo lock) when the dial stops turning, turn the safe handle and it should open if it like mine.

Edit. Tell your buddy to pay the money to have a locksmith change to combination.

 

[criticalbass]

Mine is exactly the same but just a little bit different.

If his doesn't work like SMS's try like mine. I do the first three steps like SMS; left, right, left. Then, when on the last number I have to turn to the right until the dial stops (about half turn of S&G combo lock) when the dial stops turning, turn the safe handle and it should open if it like mine.

Edit. Tell your buddy to pay the money to have a locksmith change to combination.

This is how mine works. +1 on the combo change.

Again, left until you see first number the fourth time,

Right until you see the second number the third time,

Left until y ou see the third number the second time,

Right until you can't turn it farther.

Note--if at any time you go past the required number, you have to start all over. Mine is very unforgiving in this regard, and even half a number over causes a nonfunction.

When you say it;s open--you mean the door is open but the pins are extended in the locked position? How did you get it in that configuration? Most safes won't extend their locking pins unless the door is closed.

 

[jrguns]

This is the way mine works. Try it this way. I forgot the last step when I first got mine and could not get to open. Got the directions out and learned from them.

Mine is exactly the same but just a little bit different.

If his doesn't work like SMS's try like mine. I do the first three steps like SMS; left, right, left. Then, when on the last number I have to turn to the right until the dial stops (about half turn of S&G combo lock) when the dial stops turning, turn the safe handle and it should open if it like mine.

Edit. Tell your buddy to pay the money to have a locksmith change to combination.

 

[BallisticGuy]

Most I've seen are:

At least 4 turns left, stop at 1st number
Turn right, pass over 2nd num twice and stop on it the third time around
Turn left, pass 3d num once and stop on it the second time around
Turn right, stop on zero.
Open.

This is the way liberty's are! My fatboy has a 4th number you stop on!

 

[rr2008]

my 4 number combo safe is just like Park788 said. Do get a good safe guy out to change the combo. plan on getting him out every 3 to 5 years for maintenance also. Mine got so tumblers were not releasing unless it got a good whack, (i wasn't pleased with that development), The guy I got out to service it said that the safes needed periodic maintenance (of course). he said commercial use was an annual maintenance, and that light residential was 3-5 years.