Meilink safe combination?

npjsw...@gmail.com

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May 26, 2020, 1:07:47 PM5/26/20

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Hello,

I have an OPEN Meilink safe given to me by my father years ago but I do not have the combination. Is there any way to retrieve it?

Thank you.

Jay Hennigan

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May 27, 2020, 4:14:17 AM5/27/20

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On 5/26/20 06:07, npjsw...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have an OPEN Meilink safe given to me by my father years ago but I do not have the combination. Is there any way to retrieve it?

It's best to lock the door in the open position so that no one will
accidentally close it.

Look at the back of the door. Is there a small opening shaped like a
diamond with a tail coming from one corner directly behind the dial? (It
looks kind of like a kite.) Also, does the dial ring have a mark at
about the 11 o'clock position? If yes to both it's relatively easy.

Norval Wallen

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May 30, 2020, 8:23:12 PM5/30/20

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On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 11:14:17 PM UTC-5, Jay Hennigan wrote:
> On 5/26/20 06:07

Inside the door I found a panel held in place with six screws. I removed that and found a bellcrank that connects to the three bolts that lock the door. To the left of the bellcrank and behind the dial is a metal box with a cover held in place by two screws. It is connected to the deadbolt that secures the bellcrank.

Thank you.

Jay Hennigan

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May 31, 2020, 8:08:05 PM5/31/20

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On 5/30/20 13:23, Norval Wallen wrote:

> Inside the door I found a panel held in place with six screws. I removed that and found a bellcrank that connects to the three bolts that lock the door. To the left of the bellcrank and behind the dial is a metal box with a cover held in place by two screws. It is connected to the deadbolt that secures the bellcrank.

The actual combination lock should be directly behind the dial. On most
safes it's a rectangular box slightly smaller than a pack of cigarettes
with rectangular bolt that extends from the short side about half an
inch. This bolt engages the mechanism that extends the three bolts in
such a manner that the bolts can't retract until the small bolt on the
lock is withdrawn into the lock body.

Does this metal box you described have an opening like I described that
looks like a diamond with a tail? Is there a brand name or logo on it?
On the outside of the door, does the ring surrounding the dial have a
small line or mark at about the 11 o'clock position?

Pictures would help. Can you upload to an image sharing site such as
imgur.com and post a link here?

Norval Wallen

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May 31, 2020, 8:34:56 PM5/31/20

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Photo: https://imgur.com/VJlFycv

Jay Hennigan

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Jun 1, 2020, 4:02:51 AM6/1/20

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OK, you have an older lock where the combination is set by hand rather
than with a key. The vertical bar on the top right of the lock and
spring mechanism in your photo is a relocking device. If someone were
to forcibly punch in the dial in a burglary attempt, it would be pushed
back and release the spring-driven bar into the notch in the boltwork
preventing opening. When you take the back off of the lock, you'll need
to reset it to its present configuration when reassembling.

If you remove the two screws and the back cover you can see the inner
workings which are a series of notched wheels and a lever with a bar
called a "fence". It's best to have a second person turn the dial while
you observe the mechanism. As you spin the dial you'll observe how each
wheel has a pin (called a "fly") that engages the next wheel. Turn the
dial several times until all wheels are moving. When the notch (called
a "gate") in the last wheel is directly under the fence, note the
number on the dial. Change direction of rotation until the gate of the
next wheel is directly under the fence. You'll probably need to turn
two full turns and a partial turn. Note this number. Change rotation
again until the notch in the last wheel is under the fence. Note this
number. Then turn until the fence drops into the gate and keep turning
until the bolt slides back. That's your combination.

If you wind up with the last movement of the dial going the wrong way,
start all over but begin turning in the other direction.

There are several YouTube videos that go into some detail should you
want to change the combination. Here's one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6L_jQJRQXQ Google "hand change safe
combination lock" for others.

Note that once you figure it out and have a working combination,
reassemble everything and test it at least TEN TIMES with the door open
before you lock the safe. It is FAR easier to fix things with the door
open than with it closed.