S&G keypad safe failure

[a1abdj]

Just curious, what type of maintenance. My Liberty with dial lock is about four years old, and I probably open it once a week on average. I don't plan on doing any "maintenance" on the lock personally, as I would prefer to leave it to the professionals. Just wondering what needs to be done.

It's not very complex, and usually costs less than $100. The tech will remove the door cover, and the cover of the lock. They'll nspect all of your boltwork, handle, detent, and relocker for loose or worn parts. They will also inspect the interior of the lock for excessive wear or play.

If the lock is in good shape otherwise, they'll remove all of the little moving parts, clean them, lube where required, and reassemble. In mechanical locks, if a particular part is worn, you can replace the part itself. It's usually better to replace the entire lock.

Electronic locks are not serviced, but merely replaced (usually after they fail). It's still a good idea to inspect the boltwork every few years. You can usually do that yourself.

It's not much different than changing the oil in your car. You don't do it because there is a problem, you do it to prevent problems. If you service your safe every 5 years, you'll get 20 years of servicing for the cost of one drilling due to a lock failure.

a1abdj, any chance you also post on Glocktalk with a different user name?

If not, there is a locksmith over there who gives almost identical advice that you do and seems to have a similar background.

It's not me, but I'd like to know who it is. I'm also on TFL, and SigForum, but it's good to know there's another safe guy out there that's into guns (there's not a lot of us).

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

If you have an electronic lock, I'd advise changing the battery(s) every year. Pick a date that's going to be hard to forget, like your birthday, and change the battery(s) as a matter of course on or around that date. Even if your birthday's coming up in three months, do it anyway. The cost of a couple of 9 volts is trivial compared to spacing out the length of time your battery's been used & having to call a smith to deal with the problem.

900F

 

[Feanaro]

I've been playing with computers most of my adult life. I enjoy computers. A lot of my work has been about or around computers and electronics.

When I bought an RSC just to provide some basic protection, I avoided an electronic lock. No amount of convenience is worth the problems and headaches those little silicone wafers can cause, IMO.

 

[AVESguy]

Thanks, guys, for the great info!!

 

[AVESguy]

Follow up

I called a local locksmith who services bank security equipment (I assume vaults), I found him on the web link to savta.org that you posted in December, he was the only one in my area.

He told me the S&G dial lock is lubed for life and should not need service. He said that if I felt it get tough, increased resistance, etc I could have it serviced but otherwise don't mess with it. He even said he had one at home and had never serviced it and didn't want to open one up unless it really needed work.

So, where does that leave me?

 

[tackleberi]

My electronic keypad LaGard gave up the ghost about a year ago; like the OP, I had to have a locksmith/safe cracker come out and spend hours drilling/attacking the safe to get in. It appears that the "relockers" had fired on their own, and there was no way I was getting in otherwise. I replaced it with a manual S&G lock when it was done; no problems since.

To Granite Safe's credit, they ate the whole cost of the replacement, to include overtime, 2 technicians, and a significantly upgraded replacement
lock without batting an eyelash. Terry and the crew at Granite really know how to stand behind a product.

 

[a1abdj]

So, where does that leave me?

It means he doesn't want to work on your safe for whatever reason.

didn't want to open one up unless it really needed work.

It's a little too late by that point isn't it?

 

[AVESguy]

Well, sort of. He said if I started seeing or feeling the action getting gritty or some other sign, it would be time to work on it. Does that mean that there is some sort of premonitional sign, like with a transmission or clutch, or does it just crump out just like that with no warning signs?

Thanks for the input.

 

[AVESguy]

duplicate post