S&G electronic lock problems?

[Martinjmpr]

Before I spend the $$ to call in a professional I just want to run this by the COAR15 "Brain Trust" to see if maybe I've overlooked something dumb.

Situation: Liberty Fat Boy Jr. Safe, purchased new in 2011 from Murdoch's on South Santa Fe. Safe was in our Englewood house from 2011 until early 2017 when we moved to our current house in the Columbine area of Littleton (just south of Columbine High.)

A couple of years ago I noticed the lock was getting "sluggish", as in, I'd punch in the combo and it would hesitate, then make a sort of groaning noise, and not open. If I keyed in the combo a second time it usually opened. I finally figured out it must be a low battery on the S&G electronic keypad. A new battery seemed to solve the problem.

So just recently it started doing the same thing - sluggish response, no opening. Put a new 9v battery in it, which happened to be from a pack of 9v batteries I'd gotten at Harbor Freight. After 5 or 6 tries, I finally got it to open, but it was still acting very sluggish and not wanting to open.

I thought maybe the el-cheapo batteries had lost some of their charge so just for fun I pulled the battery and checked it with a multi-meter - and it showed 9.6 volts, which seems to me to be fully charged for a 9v.

I swapped out another no-name battery and got it to work - once - but I haven't been able to get it to reopen since.

My next step will be to get a brand-new, "name brand" battery like a Duracell or Energizer or something and see if that works, but if not, what then? Does it mean the S&G lock is kaput? My understanding is that Liberty safes have lifetime warrantys but does that apply to the S&G lock mechanism?

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom or advice. We don't get into the gun safe that often but obviously we need to be able to access it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Opie, that's all one needs to do is contact him.

After you try a good quality battery AND clean any contacts you have access to.

[Martinjmpr]

Opie, that's all one needs to do is contact him.

After you try a good quality battery AND clean any contacts you have access to.

Yes, that was going to be my next post. I knew there was someone here who was an expert with safes.

[00tec]

If/when you get it open, try it MULTIPLE times before shutting the door. If any question about its function, leave it that way so Opie doesn't have to drill the door.

[MrPrena]

After online search, definitely call liberty.
Had similar issue with securam, and manufacturer replaced it for free.

[NeedMoreAmmo]

Had a similar issue. Remove the battery. Pry off the little S&G logo at the bottom of the keypad. Remove the screw underneath the logo plate. That allows you to remove the keypad. Do that, then reseat all the connectors on the circuit board. Carefully. Put it all back together and, at least in my case, the lock returned to it's normal happy self.

It's not difficult to do this, but if your safe / lock is under warranty perhaps that is the way to go. My S&G lock is on a Browning.

ETA - As mentioned below they can bind if the handle is rotated hard against the stop. Mine also did that but not frequently. Also, your battery might measure 9.6v but that does not show what it actually provides under load. Batteries last a long time in these locks, but your symptoms are also that of a weak battery. There is a battery low warning on these locks but perhaps your battery is marginal in that respect.

[Alpha2]

The only time mine showed those symptoms, I found that the earlier locks needed the handle to be in a "neutral" position to open. The newer one of mine didn't have the problem. Sounds like if your worked fine for a while, that's not likely the issue.

[spqrzilla]

Double check your warranty card details. You may find the electronic locks' warranty is different from safe itself.

[opie011]

Try a new fresh quality battery like energizer or Duracell. If that doesn't work, do what NeedMoreAmmo said and check the plug inside of the keypad and make sure it's fully seated. Also, check the plug on the lock body as well, will need to remove the interior door panel. If the lock is still acting up, it's probably going bad. Best advise is to do what 00tec said and leave the door open as it will be much easier to swap a lock without drilling and will save you lots of $$. PM or email if you need help with your current lock or if you need a new one!

[SAnd]

I have a safe with an S&G lock system on it. Originally it was electronic but I think it acted up a couple times. I got real paranoid it wouldn't open so I replaced it with a mechanical dial lock. I miss the convenience of push buttons but I trust the dial lock more.

You can replace your electronic S&G lock with a S&G mechanical dial if your safe is like mine. It's a Browning safe. S&G made the lock systems so that they 'bolt' right in the same mounting holes. If they sold your safe with both electronic and dial lock I'd bet that it is the same way. The conversion kit was less than $100.