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Expert: - 1/29/2009


Question
Terry, My cary safe will not open, I have the combination, I have tried over and over, with no luck. It has three numbers. I have tried alot of different directions (everyone elses opinion), so now I need an expert, who in San Antonio, Texas can help me?

Answer
Phyllis,

Well, by doggee, I can help!  Course the travel charge from California is going to be expensive!  But you could put me up at my sisters house!

Forget everyone else's instructions, use these.  Note:  you have to understand the dialing procedure correctly.  Incorrect dialing will not allow the lock to align correctly and the safe will not open.  Go slowly, and insure that you are not counting the dial rotations.  Also the "left/right" directions are the direction that you are physically turning the dial, not the apparant direction the numbers are moving in.

The correct dialing sequence for your Cary safe is:

4 times left to the first number
3 times right to the second number
2 times left to the third number
1 time right slowly, to stop.

Note:  Left is counter clockwise, right is clockwise.  Don't count the revolutions, count the individual number as it arrives at the index mark (12 o'clock).  For instance if your first number were 25, you would turn counter clockwise (left) stopping the fourth time the number 25 arrives at the index mark.  Be accurate!

Note:  If you have a 4 wheel lock the additional wheel would change the sequence as follows:

5 times right to the first number,
4 times left to the second number,
3 times right to the third number,
2 times left to the fourth number,
1 time right slowly, to stop.

If you think you have a four wheel lock but you only have three wheels, use the first dialing sequence above but change the 4 times, to 5 times.

If none of these sequences work then you may not have the correct combination.  There are only three reasons that a combo lock will not open:

1. Incorrect dialing sequence,
2. Incorrect combination,
3. mechanical problems.

I'm not too familiar with safe companies in your neck of the woods but you can try the following:

Acme Safe & Lock Company
11953 Starcrest Dr
San Antonio, TX 78247
(210) 495-7528

Also, check your yellow page listings under "Safes & Vaults".  Make sure that you are getting a competent safe company.  Tell them what you have and what the problem is.  They should be able to tell you what the cost is going to be and what their planned opening & repairs will consist of.  If you have any questions concerning their methods or charges let me know and I will see what other referals I can come up with.

Andy

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Terry V Andreasen (Andy)

Expertise

Safe and Vault related Questions; Antique Safe Repair and Restoration; With over 40 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer. Current Project: Restoration of two Tilton & McFarland Safes from the 1860's. Will answer Safe & Vault related questions concerning age, value, restoration, moving, opening & repairing, parts, operation and history. Note: It is not my intention to teach you to open safes or to provide information which may aid in the unlawful opening of a safe. I will not give out drill points or information which I deem inappropriate.

Experience

40 years in the Safe & Vault Industry. Service Manager for one of the largest Safe & Vault companies on the West Coast. Graduate of Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing, Safe lock Manipulation and Safe Deposit Lock Courses. Graduate of Locksmith Institute. Certified Instructor for the California Locksmith Association teaching Basic and Advanced Lock Servicing, Basic Safe opening and Repairing. Factory Trained by AMSEC, LORD Safes, LeFebure, Mosler, KabaMas, LaGard and Sargent & Greenleaf

Organizations
Safecrackers International and the National Antique Safe Association

Education/Credentials
Graduate of Locksmith Institute 1972 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing 1974 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Manipulation 1975 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Deposit Lock Servicing 1985 Instructor Certified - California Locksmith Association - 1985 Factory trained by AMSEC, MAJOR, STAR, Johnson-Pacific, Kaba-MAS, Allied-Gary, ISM, Lord, Brown Safe, EXL, Mosler, Diebold.

Awards and Honors
2009, 2010 & 2011 Listed in AllExperts top 50 Experts. All Experts Categories - Safes & Security Containers, Locksmithing, Antique Safes. Retired US Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), with 32 years of total service. With numerous awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. US Navy - 1971-1981 US Army Reserve 1984-2006 US Army Retired Reserve 2006-present

Past/Present Clients
US Secret Service, FBI, BATF, Local Law enforcment agencies, Diebold, Hamilton Pacific, Red Hawk Int., Chubb International, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Mechanics Bank, El Dorado Savings Bank, many Credit unions and smaller banks. McDonalds, Togos, BurgerKing, TacoBell, Carls Jr. FoodMaxx, SaveMart, Lucky's, Albertson's, Raley's, Safeway, NobHill, Bell Markets, PW Markets. Great America, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, UA Cinemas, and many homeowners and small businesses. Provide warranty service for lock and safe manufactures. Service area is Northern California - Fresno to Oregon, including western Nevada

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