Strange Garny combination padlock behavior

[MartinHewitt]

I do have a lock like that in the video on the right:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmLVNFMRnK4
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmLVNFMRnK4[/youtube]

It works like a normal combination lock with three wheels. The only difference is that the bolt is pushed into the locking position by a spring.

In my lock I can dial freely CCW, but when I turn the dial CW it starts to get harder to turn until it is stuck after 1 or 2 turns. With some force CCW I can get it loose again. It is set to the default combination 50. I can dial CCW to 50 and then unlock it CW.

Any idea what is happening there?

[jharveee]

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7476&hilit=Adrian+Weber

Perhaps you can get in contact with Adrian Weber? Worth a shot.

[MartinHewitt]

I know he has such a working padlock, but I don't think this is a common problem with this type of lock, so he has probably never heard about that situation. I was hoping some safe guy here would have encountered such a problem in the field.

[Oldfast]

In the case of a safe lock, such symptoms would indicate a dropped spline key.
The cam & spindle are still threaded but no longer connected with each other.
So the dial will tighten and loosen as it threads into and out of the drive cam.

However, I haven't a clue as to the inner-workings of a combo padlock like this.
Maybe you could dig up some patent drawings that would give you some clues?

[MartinHewitt]

It is a quite normal safe lock and this was might first thought too, but I can position all wheels reliably to 50 and create enough torque to pull the lever.

[MartinHewitt]

New observations:
It stops mostly in the range of -10 (gap between 100 and 1) to 5 and 70 to 85.
It stops after 1.1 to 2.2 turns.
How far it turns depends on where I start to turn right. At 100 it is 1.1 and increases then to 90 to 2.2 turns.
How far it turns depends on how I hold the lock. If I hold the lock shackle down, then I can turn it more until the resistance starts and it does never seize up. At this point there is a 30 number range without any resistance and I believe this range is shifting slowly with turning. Combination and opening still works well.

Perhaps some dirt stuck between the wheels?

[Oldfast]

It is a quite normal safe lock and this was might first thought too, but I can position all wheels reliably to 50 and create enough torque to pull the lever.

Yeah, that did strike me as odd that it consistently opens though. But I dunno, loose cam is about all I can come up with.

[GWiens2001]

New observations:
It stops mostly in the range of -10 (gap between 100 and 1) to 5 and 70 to 85.
It stops after 1.1 to 2.2 turns.
How far it turns depends on where I start to turn right. At 100 it is 1.1 and increases then to 90 to 2.2 turns.
How far it turns depends on how I hold the lock. If I hold the lock shackle down, then I can turn it more until the resistance starts and it does never seize up. At this point there is a 30 number range without any resistance and I believe this range is shifting slowly with turning. Combination and opening still works well.

Perhaps some dirt stuck between the wheels?

Any chance the lock was dropped on the dial face? Bent spindle?

Gordon

[MartinHewitt]

The dial doesn't wobble and turns CCW always supersmooth.

Now I can turn the dial with the padlock in any position also CW with some force.

[madsamurai]

is it possible there is wear or damage on one of the fies, allowing it to catch properly one way but overlap/wedge the other way? that could push one of the wheels out of alignment and cause it to rub or snag on the case perhaps...

[MartinHewitt]

It certainly is possible.