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Posted: 1/5/2016 11:06:24 AM EDT
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I've had a small stack on fire safe for about 3 years.
Last night it wouldn't open. I usually open it at least once a day and its never gave me trouble before. I tried and tried and eventually it did open after a period of time. I closed it and tried to open it again and it again wouldn't open. I probably could get it to open again but it isn't going to work to permentanly spend 10 minutes repeating the combo for it to open and I am afraid it could get worse. Not sure exactly how a safe works inside, but something must be wearing out. Has anyone had a problem like this with a safe and is it fixable ? Not sure if stack on will help me or not I just sent them an email from their website. Also what would cause this to happen ? My wife says I must use it to often. I usually spin the dial a few times then try the handle after I shut it to make sure its locked. Is that harmful to a safe ? Thanks. |
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Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction.
Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. |
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Quoted:
Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. I did that it's definitely not on my end. Can these things usually be fixed or do I need to buy a new safe? |
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Quoted:
Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. Is spinning the dial after locking it going to cause significant wear and tear? |
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Is spinning the dial after locking it going to cause significant wear and tear? Quoted:
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Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. Is spinning the dial after locking it going to cause significant wear and tear? It can, I wouldn't do a fast spin. I would just rotate it a few revolutions counterclockwise keeping your thumb on the dial the whole time. |
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I did that it's definitely not on my end. Can these things usually be fixed or do I need to buy a new safe? Quoted:
Quoted:
Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. I did that it's definitely not on my end. Can these things usually be fixed or do I need to buy a new safe? Locks can be replaced. Open the safe, take off the back of the door, and get more info on the type of lock you have. Most locks are a standard footprint and can be swapped out with a digital or mechanical lock. Parts are usually less than $150, depending on what you get. What is the manufacturer's warranty on the safe? |
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It can, I wouldn't do a fast spin. I would just rotate it a few revolutions counterclockwise keeping your thumb on the dial the whole time. Quoted:
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Quoted:
Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. Is spinning the dial after locking it going to cause significant wear and tear? It can, I wouldn't do a fast spin. I would just rotate it a few revolutions counterclockwise keeping your thumb on the dial the whole time. Why keep your thumb on it ? I'll definitely try to not spin it as much, I didn't realize it might damage something. |
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Quoted:
Locks can be replaced. Open the safe, take off the back of the door, and get more info on the type of lock you have. Most locks are a standard footprint and can be swapped out with a digital or mechanical lock. Parts are usually less than $150, depending on what you get. What is the manufacturer's warranty on the safe? Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. I did that it's definitely not on my end. Can these things usually be fixed or do I need to buy a new safe? Locks can be replaced. Open the safe, take off the back of the door, and get more info on the type of lock you have. Most locks are a standard footprint and can be swapped out with a digital or mechanical lock. Parts are usually less than $150, depending on what you get. What is the manufacturer's warranty on the safe? I think the warranty is 5 yrs, not sure. I sent an email, hard for me to call during the workday. |
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Why keep your thumb on it ? I'll definitely try to not spin it as much, I didn't realize it might damage something. Quoted:
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Safes are mechanical devices, and yes, wear and tear can cause them to malfunction. Stack On uses/has used a variety of locks on their safes. Without knowing which lock is in the safe, it is difficult to say what is happening. Make sure you're dialing slowly, accurately, and in the proper sequence. Is spinning the dial after locking it going to cause significant wear and tear? It can, I wouldn't do a fast spin. I would just rotate it a few revolutions counterclockwise keeping your thumb on the dial the whole time. Why keep your thumb on it ? I'll definitely try to not spin it as much, I didn't realize it might damage something. To keep you from spinning it fast. |
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If I pay someone to come fix it, are they going to know my combination or can they fix it without knowing ? Just curious as I'd be more comfortable if I didn't have to give me combination to a stranger. Try dialing one digit off of your combo to both sides for each digit. If that works, change your combo. Old mechanical locks sometimes slip. |
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My old safe did that. I'm not a locksmith so I don't know the correct names of the parts.
Finally took the inside panel off so I could see the lock mechanism and watch all the pieces turning. On the last turn, there is a little spring loaded arm that is supposed to snap into the mechanism and cause the combination to lock up and give that solid clunk that then unlocks the safe. That little arm wasn't moving far enough to do its job due to the spring on the arm not having enough tension. I could barely touch it and it would work correctly so I bent that spring slightly to create more tension and it has worked ever since. |
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Mechanical locks need to be serviced, just like any other machine with moving parts. How often depends on the type of lock, the frequency of use, the person using it, and the enviorment its in.
-Higher quality locks need less service, but even the best brands still need a service call once in a while. -The more you use it, the more frequent it needs service. A pro like Frank could give a better idea of how often, but if I was opening my safe every single day with a mechanical lock, I would probably have a safe tech check it out every 2 years at a minimum. -If you unlock it by carefully turning the dial using your fingertips, and then lock it by the same method, it will stay tight much longer than someone who spins the dial 10 times before spinning the combo in as fast as they can, and then locking it by spinning it another 10 turns. -And if the safe is in a nice dry cool enviorment, the lube will stay intact and the parts corrosion to a minimum. In a harsh, humid enviorment with wide temperature swings from 10 degrees up to 95 degrees (think unheated garage in NY near the water) the lube will gum up and if the humidity is also bad near the ocean, then corrosion could be an issue as well. To the OP- if you get it open, leave it open and call a safe tech to come out and either service (if its a good quality lock) or replace it. The cost will be significantly cheaper if the door is already open vs the safe tech having to open it before service. |
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I am probably going to hire someone to fix it. My wife is calling stack on today to see what they say. If I do have someone come fix it can they do so without me giving them the combo? depending on the lock get the combination seting key and after he leaves set it to what you want. When I called a locksmith to replace a dead combination lock on my safe it was going to be 550-650 estimate to repair it and it was open. I did it myself by buying an exact copy of the lock that was on it from ebay for under 100 bucks with the tool to set the combo. If its a stack on safe it might be cheeper to just replace the safe than have it fixed. |
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depending on the lock get the combination seting key and after he leaves set it to what you want. When I called a locksmith to replace a dead combination lock on my safe it was going to be 550-650 estimate to repair it and it was open. I did it myself by buying an exact copy of the lock that was on it from ebay for under 100 bucks with the tool to set the combo. If its a stack on safe it might be cheeper to just replace the safe than have it fixed. Quoted:
Quoted:
I am probably going to hire someone to fix it. My wife is calling stack on today to see what they say. If I do have someone come fix it can they do so without me giving them the combo? depending on the lock get the combination seting key and after he leaves set it to what you want. When I called a locksmith to replace a dead combination lock on my safe it was going to be 550-650 estimate to repair it and it was open. I did it myself by buying an exact copy of the lock that was on it from ebay for under 100 bucks with the tool to set the combo. If its a stack on safe it might be cheeper to just replace the safe than have it fixed. I did not realize you could change the combo. Looks like it is probably under warranty so I probably will not be paying |
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I am looking at the inside of the safe now, took the back cover off and looking at the lock.
I am wondering if I could fix it doing something like this ? https://www.ar-15.co/threads/29222-change-the-combo-on-your-gun-safe Would a new number fix this problem ? I don't know... |
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If the lock is loose or out of adjustment, changing the combo will not fix it... If it needs a basic clean up and service, and the door is already open, it should be a $50-100 charge at most to adjust and lube.
I had mine serviced a couple years ago and the local safe company charged me $75 to come and clean and relube everything (lock, bars, bolts and the dial) and adjust the lock itself to tighten up the inner tumblers. I figure $75 every couple years was worth it to never have an issue with my safe. |
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I know it's common with some car mechanics, and certainly with doctors. It's also common with those of us in this business. A good chunk of our business is correcting issues made worse by do it yourself work. A broken safe with the door open is much less expensive to rectify than a broken safe with the door locked closed.
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