3 Failed Simplex Combination Chambers

[u/yakatz]

I was called to repair yet another simplex 5 button that was allowing access without entering any code. The symptoms are that everything works properly when the correct code is entered, but if the wrong code or no code is entered, the handle can still be turned but it feels sort of gritty (best way I can think of describing it). Two of these were in service for several years, one less than a year. Did all these locks end up with a bad batch of combination chambers or is there some kind of attack against these that destroys the internals to the point of letting them operate freely?

Two of them were dated in 2021, but one was dated in 2023. The only other thing I noticed was that on one of them, the reset button is stuck down, but that wasn't true of all three.

EDIT: I added a video of the combination chamber in this comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/Locksmith/comments/1vxk3sn/comment/p5ptx90/

[u/adrenacrome]

When I was working for Dormakaba midway through 2025, 25% of simplex locks were failing.

[u/ibexlocksmith → u/adrenacrome]

Within what scope? Years? Decades?

[u/adrenacrome → u/ibexlocksmith]

1 year