More Locksmithing Answers
Question Library
Ask a question about Locksmithing
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login
Awards
About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer
|
| |
|
|
| |
| | | |
About Terry Andreasen (Andy)
Expertise
Safe and Vault related Questions;
Antique Safe Repair and Restoration;
With over 37 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer.
Current Project: Restoration of three, 36 ton steel vault doors and drop floors, in the old Federal Reserve Building, San Francisco.
Experience
37 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
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
Awards and Honors
Retired US Army, with many decorations and awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Op Iraqi Freedom.
Past/Present Clients
Secret Service, FBI, Dept. of Homeland Defense, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Lawerence Livermore National Lab, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, various local banks, credit unions, state agencies, Jewelers, and many commercial and residential customers.
Service Area is Northern California (Fresno to Oregon and Western Nevada)
| | |
| |
You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Repairing Home Electronics & Small Engines > Locksmithing > Meilink wall safe Hercules SG-175
Locksmithing - Meilink wall safe Hercules SG-175
Expert: Terry Andreasen (Andy) - 11/6/2009
Question
Wall safe came with house purchase. Got combo from FKI. Worked initially but got increasingly "iffy" (opening sometimes but not others). Last time open sprayed lubricant inside and outside around the dial. Now I can't get open at all. Dial spins very freely. Tried the fractional/incremental number adjusting each way (especially on the third number) - no progress. Given age (?)and cost to open ($300-400) probably should just drill and replace with a newer safe? How do you drill one of these (or get instructions to do so)? I am good with tools and sheetrock would hate to spend the money on something I can do myself.
Answer
Mark,
The problem is the lubricant. When a safe technician cleans, lubes, services etc. he will lubricate the lock and then "WIPE IT DRY"! The excess lubricant acts a friction point between the wheels of the lock. As one wheel turns the friction beteen the wheel and the lubricant causes the next wheel to move slightly, misaligning the numbers on the previous wheels. You can try offsetting each wheel slightly to compensate for this "attraction" between the wheels, though without "seeing" the movement it is extremely hard to guess how much offset that you need.
Sorry, but we do not give out drilling instructions for safes. We have no way of knowing who you are or what your relationship to the safe is. Don't feel bad because I don't pass this type of information on to legitmite locksmiths either, unless they are doing a job for me.
Your other option would be to keep trying your combination. Hopefully you will eventually "spin off" enough lubricant to allow the wheels to dial correctly. If you do get it open, don't lock it again until after you have it clean, and serviced correctly by a trained safe technician.
Andy
Add to this Answer Ask a Question
|
|
)