Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 10/11/2009

Question
I have a Meilink safe that is fairly old, just purchased from an antique shop. I have other Meilink safes and have reset the combinations. After taking the out the locking mechanism I discovered that this is totally different from my other combination dials. There are here disc with numbered holes around the edge. A washer with a small arm locks into a numbered hole. I have re set the combination many times, but not to the combination I want. The hub that turns the disc is marked one through for. I need to set the pins on each disc to get the combination I want. This in its self could take a lot of trail and error. What I need to know is how to set the pins to get the combination I want. This is what I found out by trail and error. Dial three the one furthers away from the dial turns first. If I set that pin on say 80 the combination number on the dial is 24. The numbers I gave you are just an example and are not correct. What I need to know is on disc 1 where do I need to set the pin to get the number on the dial I want, and so on for the other disc.
That is 80= 24 90=30 or what ever. There must be a list of pin numbers equaling dial numbers. HELP!  

Answer
Don,

This is one of the reasons that I all ways recommend that you have a trained safe technician reset your combinations.  If they have the correct training and are knowledgeable they would be able to quickly figure out what the problem is with your lock and either repair it or ensure that what ever adjustment is necessary is made so that they can quickly and accurately change your combination.  Changing combinations is not as easy as it sometimes looks - you need to have a COMPLETE understanding of every part, how it is suppose to operate, and how it affects every other part.  If you don't have this understanding changing the combination is going to be a problem.

I'm sorry but this is a hands on problem, requiring a hands on solution.  Without knowing why your lock is not reading correctly, I can't offer you a solution.  There are a number of possiblities ranging from something that you have done wrong to a mechanical problem with the lock.

There are no "LISTS" that the manufactures have coded.  The numbers on the wheels are the numbers that should work when you set them, it's that simple!  If it's not working then instead of wasting time trying to figure out some magical math to make the numbers work, should be more interested in the "WHY" the dial and lock components are not talking to each other.
Remember there are only three reasons a lock will not dial up correctly:
1.  Incorrect dialing sequence,
2.  Incorrect combination,
3.  Mechanical problems.
Your lock has one of the above problems, you are going to have to determine which one.

Imagine having a phone that translated everything you said into spanish.  As long as the person at the other end speaks spanish you are ok.  If you and the other person both speak english, its going to be a problem.  Well, thats the problem that you have with the lock - the numbers on the dial and the numbers on the wheels are not communicating.

If you cannot diagnose the problem and come up with a solution, then you are going to be stuck translating between the dial and the wheels - so start learning spanish!

Your other option would be to have a trained safe technician inspect the lock to determine what the problem is and correct it.

Sorry, I know how frustrating this, but without having the lock in my hot little hands, I can't be of much help in this case.

Andy