S&G 6810 removal

bagpipes

I’m looking to remove the S&G 6810 from my safe door in order to clean it up, polish it up, hopefully help it to operate smoother, etc. My question is, is there a preferred method to this so that I don’t end up with a mess of parts on the floor and wind up screwing up the combination? Also, how is the dial removed so that I can polish that up as well.

I’m sure it’s a simple thing to do but, I’ve never done it and I don’t tend to mess with moving parts without a manual - which I am obviously without.

Cheers and thanks for reading.

wylk

I’m immediately confused, the model number 6810 is currently unused but would refer to a key-operated lock, not a combination lock. The number 6810 was first used in 1927 for a combination lock (previously designated the C-66) which was retired long ago. Pictures would probably help a lot.

Generally speaking you can take the installation instructions and run them backwards. This will of course vary somewhat depending on the lock but in general terms you will first remove the back of the lock. Next you VERY VERY carefully remove the spline key so you can re-use it. For an older lock you probably can’t find a replacement. This then allows you to unscrew the dial/spindle assembly from the drive cam. At this point you could probably remove the lock case from the door but there may be no point.

Details will vary, for example your lock may be a hand-change model instead of a key-change model.

You sound unfamiliar with safe locks, a good tutorial on modern ones is http://www.crypto.com/papers/safelocks.pdf

Here is a PDF of modern S&G installation. It’s dissapointingly brief but may be useful –

630-738-3-wheel-install.pdf

78kB

wylk

Here is the 1927 catalog page for the 6810 –

Huw Eastwood

http://www.antique-locks.com/showthread.php/2726-Newbie-question

I’m guessing this will be the old 6810 on the J&J Taylor safe that bagpipes posted in the ‘Newbie Question’ thread some time ago. I’ve added link above but don’t know if it will work from iPad..

wylk

Bingo. I had not remembered the earlier thread regarding the lock and safe.

bagpipes

wylk wrote
Bingo. I had not remembered the earlier thread regarding the lock and safe.

Yes, that was me from some time ago. That beast of a safe never made it home - it’s still sitting where those pics were taken but the building was sold and the new owner wanted it as part of the sale (and now has no idea what to do with it and is contemplating agreeing to the same arrangement as the last guy that was going to give it to me)

Anyhow, I have acquired another J&J Taylor safe; much smaller and in much worse shape visually - but that can be rectified. This new safe looks to have the identical lock which is why I asked about that one specifically. At the present time, I don’t have the box but I do have the door and managed to figure out the combination in less than 60 seconds. The box is at a very good friends warehouse so it’s just a matter of getting it loaded and unloaded into my truck and the fun should begin shortly afterwards.

I’ll have a look at those links later tonight and see if they can get me started. I’ve attached a pic of the lock and the etching below it “AH Jan 1 1903” The scratching in the paint was done with a sharp object and has left the scratch marks on the metal behind. The etching above - not so much.

Looking forward to getting the dial off and the rest apart and polished up.

[unknown]

Chubby

At risk of stating the obvious, peg any aed before removing the lock!

Riyame

I do not know your level of knowledge so I am going to try to explain it as simply as possible.

Start by pulling out the metal piece (spline key) that is pushed into the threaded metal rod (spindle) that is in the middle of the combination wheels. Use a pair of vice grips or wide pliers to try and grip the whole thing and once and pull it STRAIGHT out. Try not to twist or wiggle it or you could break it off and then really have a problem.

Once it is out you can unthread the dial and remove the bolt and lever and the drive cam which is the part that is threaded onto the spindle.

Once those are out you can unscrew the bolts from the 4 inside corners and it should pop right off.

Doug MacQueen

When a spline is very tight ,which they often are, its best initially just to pry it out a tiny bit at a time. I have a pair of diagonal side cutters that I ground down the sharp cutting edges to reduce the chances of nipping off the end of the key. End nippers and Vise grips can also used. The idea is to grip the end of the key and brace part of the tool against the drive cam to lever the key back a fraction. Pay attention not to pry out only the flag itself where it extends out over the cam. Sometimes you might have to repeat a couple times before it is free.

bagpipes

Doug MacQueen wrote
When a spline is very tight ,which they often are, its best initially just to pry it out a tiny bit at a time. I have a pair of diagonal side cutters that I ground down the sharp cutting edges to reduce the chances of nipping off the end of the key. End nippers and Vise grips can also used. The idea is to grip the end of the key and brace part of the tool against the drive cam to lever the key back a fraction. Pay attention not to pry out only the flag itself where it extends out over the cam. Sometimes you might have to repeat a couple times before it is free.

Thanks for the help. It’s much appreciated. Slow and careful seems to be the way.

[unknown]

Tom Gordon

The AED is the anti explosive device.
It is something which when disturbed, independently locks the safe -independent of the lock that is.
It could be a piece of metal or a wire and would normally be activated by removing or disturbing parts of the lock or attacking the door.