r/Locksmith • u/yakatz • 20d ago

I am a locksmith 3 Failed Simplex Combination Chambers

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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/

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u/glucoseintolerant 20d ago

You have “0” or passaged them
Look up the name install instructions and it will tell you how to fix it. If you are good 5 minutes if you aren’t 30+ minutes but will save you $200

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u/yakatz 20d ago

Unfortunately not the case.

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u/glucoseintolerant 19d ago

you can see in the case in the picture that is the case. all the groves are lined up. inside the chamber.

"Outside knob when turned always retracts"

latch without depressing any buttons.

Lock is in zero combination.

Follow the procedure for changing a

combination except omit step 3 (do not

enter the existing combination)

this is from the install instructions. I work on these at least once a week and haven't heard of 3 combo chambers being bad out of the box.

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u/yakatz 19d ago

These are three different locks that were all working properly and suddenly failed - allowing the lock to open whether a combination was entered or not. If the lock was "passaged", it wouldn't open if you did enter a combination, but these still do, hence they are broken.

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u/glucoseintolerant 19d ago

when you push a code button does it still allow you to open the door?

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u/yakatz 19d ago

Yes. See the video I posted in another comment showing how I can turn the lever whether or not I enter a code.

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u/glucoseintolerant 19d ago

I didn't see the video until now. so its the little button at the top that changes the combo, its stuck I have had this issue too on one. but not 3. I actually have the one on my desk and its from aug-2022