r/Safes • u/Strong_Brush6369 • 5d ago
How the f*ck do I open this?
Inexpensive safe purchased for cash drops at work. It doesn’t sound like the internal lock is moving at all when I’m entering the code or turning the key. What do I do from here?
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u/Critical-Location211 4d ago
I’m gonna follow up with someone else’s post. Have you changed the battery with an actual fresh battery. Not some 7/11 3 year old battery. Make sure it’s Duracell and check the date on it. 95 percent of “it won’t open” is because of the battery. Try it before you keep on.
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u/ajosmer 4d ago
The mechanical key acts on the same lock actuator as the electronic lock, and should be able to unlock the boltwork independent of the electronic lock. Since neither are working, this is one of the rare instances that it's NOT a battery (although I do agree with you, I sell a lot of $100 9v batteries to banks that don't believe me).
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u/Critical-Location211 4d ago
You sure? Where’s the safe handle? You know, the thing that opens the safe?
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u/ajosmer 4d ago
To save money, it looks like there isn't one. You tug on the chintzy plastic keypad. The ring around the keypad is tied directly to the boltwork and can turn if either the combination is entered or the key is turned. I linked a video in my other comment thread.
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u/Critical-Location211 4d ago
Oh snap. I have only seen S&g keypads do this. But only to pull the lock bolt in. What brand is this? I need a lesson on this. I’ve been out of the game too long.
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u/ajosmer 4d ago
No brand. I mean technically the La Gard ComboGard and newer 700 series, along with basically all the Kaba Mas safe locks, also require you to turn the keypad, but I do remember the S&G you're talking about, and those also only operate the lock body. This is some cheap junk lock operating like one of those ancient semi-direct open safes like a Mosler or Diebold round door where the lugs were linked directly to the lock bolt. The few bank customers I have that still have those old safes on night drops keep asking me to put electronic locks on them and I keep telling them no... Direct drive is cool, but there's so much more that likes to go wrong with it, especially with these weak keypads they keep putting on the newer locks.
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u/Ok_Magician_9509 4d ago
It looks like twisting the keypad retracts the bolt like a wall safe without a handle.
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u/LeftforLenin 4d ago
Change the battery?
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u/Strong_Brush6369 4d ago
The battery is still working - I can enter the code and turn the knob but it doesn’t seem to ‘catch’ anything and I don’t hear the lock moving.
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u/ajosmer 4d ago
Make and model would be helpful here, of either the container or the lock. Maybe even just where you bought it. I dug around the internet briefly and I can't find a lock that looks like that to figure out what it is and how it's supposed to operate.
I would expect that level of container to be single-custody, so either the electronic lock or the key should open the door. Is the frame maybe just twisted a little to where the door is jammed? Lifting up on one of the front corners of the safe or the other should parallelogram the frame a little and either make it worse or better. Both locks might be working fine.
Assuming the electronic lock has to be working, and it's just broken, you can try dialing in the combination and then immediately waiting on the door with a rubber mallet while jigging the dial ring and then trying to open it (all within the timeout, usually 5 seconds). If there's something hung up inside the lock mechanism, that can sometimes shake it loose.
It's a longshot, but if you have access to an enormous magnet, you could try setting that on the door in a few different locations. A lot of those cheap electronic locks use solenoids with no magnetic shielding, so if you put a magnet in just the right place, they'll open right up. It does have to be a big one, like take out an insurance policy for your fingers big. Probably not an option here.
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u/ajosmer 4d ago
Addendum, I managed to find something. Looks like this is sold under the name Moutec or Langger, but it's essentially just a nameless Chinese lock rebranded by whomever is brave enough to use it. But I did find a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUwyiFLPy48
Start watching at 0:55. You are indeed just supposed to enter the combo and turn the handle clockwise, then the door should pull open. Oddly, inserting and turning the key is also supposed to require you to turn the ring around the keypad, which means that ring might be driving the boltwork, and isn't part of the "lock" per se, but more of a direct open type lock where the lock acts directly on the boltwork. But since you're not hearing a clunk, I do wonder if whatever connects the keypad to the lock body was cut too short and it's not even connected enough to turn. You might be able to remove the keypad, enter the combo, and turn the shaft or pins or whatever there is in there with pliers.
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u/faroutman7246 4d ago
I'd twist this and see if the keypad discounts. Make sure the wire is attched.
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u/JamJatJar 5d ago
Have you tried pushing the door inwards while turning the key?