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Posted: 7/21/2024 8:35:07 AM EDT
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Good morning, I have 13yo Dakota safe with a manual dial lock. I'm unsure of the brand so I will look today. I open the safe maybe once a week and it has been working fine. My concern is that some day, it won't. Is there any maintenance or checks I should be doing to keep it going? Thanks |
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If you feel the urge to lube something, do look first if there is a mechanical issue. I had a safe where the screw holes for the door's back cover were so misaligned, that the bolt work just would not work when all screws were tightened due to bending the door frame. One thing not to miss lubing are the hinges. Here is a hinge pin of a inner safe door after 30 years of use, causing the door to sag. Turning the hinge pin over and lubing it a little solved the issue.  There are many different hinge constructions. Some can be disassembled, some not. Very few have grease zerks. The usual manufacturers recommendations are to put a few drops oil into the gap. On old safes it can be "monthly", but I think that once a year is probably ok. But I am not sure if oil put there really reaches the spots which are rubbing. The rubbing spots of the bolt work can be lubed too. Checking once a year together with mechanical checks like "are the screws still tight?" is probably a good idea. And the final item is the lock. I think in usual situations I would not open it, unless there are issues or it feels different. This is my limited experience. |
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In case you do really want to open a mechanical combination lock or need to diagnose issues S&G has a great guide: https://sargentandgreenleaf.com/knowledgebase/knowledgebase-2018-01-25-mechanical-safe-lock-guide/ It explains the lock and all its parts, lists things to try in case it won't open, and at the end are instructions on how to lube the lock. |
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