Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #131
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    127.0.0.1, Pennsylvania
    (Lancaster County)
    Posts
    20,351
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    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    Here are the guts of the lock I received yesterday.



    The PCB on the right is not the brain of the device. The white connector where the wires go in is the SCL/SDA slave to the other board inside the locking mechanism. The microprocessor is actually inside the locking mechanism and it appears it has some kind of tamper switch. The black plastic thingy in the upper right. I haven't done any decode of the communications between the two boards yet.

    This lock is actually working, kind of. I can unlock it, but I can't change it's combination. Reading through Winchester's site, there appears to be several different electronic locks from various manufacturers.

    Looking at how the mechanical portion of this works, the silver cylinder in the middle is a solenoid that's normally closed. When the lock is fired, that solenoid pulls a pin in allowing the plate on top of it to slide past when the locking bolt is rotated.

    I'll spend some more time on this later, I have several other things ahead of it.
    Rules are written in the stone,
    Break the rules and you get no bones,
    all you get is ridicule, laughter,
    and a trip to the house of pain.

  2. #132
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Posts
    945
    Rep Power
    2575134

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by God's Country View Post
    This thread needs to be a sticky.
    Not a bad idea, the views are comparable with some of the other sticky threads.


    Quote Originally Posted by stainless View Post
    And BionicMan should get a sales commission...
    Haha, I'm happy just to help folks out.

  3. #133
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Alexandria, Louisiana
    Posts
    14
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    I bought a S&G analog lock but decided to take the easy way out. Since solenoids are virtually bullet proof, I have bypassed the key pad and circuit board...Ops checked good. Solenoid unlocks as it should..But I will say that installing the S&G would be easy..Hardest thing is removing the door..Having a MIG welder will help in relocating the lock stop. The rest is easy.. But since I'm lazy in my old age I'm glad I opted for the easy way...
    CMSgt USAF (ret)

  4. #134
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Sheridan, Arkansas
    Posts
    1
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    0

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by BionicMan View Post
    I felt compelled to pass this info along to others that may own this safe . . .

    Back in 2013 I purchased the 2014 vintage model of this 24 gun Winchester safe from Tractor Supply:
    https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...g?cm_vc=-10005

    The electronic lock on this safe worked flawlessly for 2 years, and then I started having to enter the correct code twice almost every time in order to gain access. After about a month of needing to enter it twice it started requiring the code 3 times. At this point I realized there was an issue and I should contact Winchester. Unfortunately, I put it on the back burner until the lock would no longer accept our code at all. I replaced the battery thinking that was the issue, but it wasn't. We continued to enter the correct code sporadically for 5 days until we finally got lucky and it opened for us. And VERY lucky we were, as there are countless stories out there of owners with this safe never getting back in and needing to have it drilled. (and then obviously replaced)

    Once we got it open I called Winchester support first and they immediately said that it was out of warranty and that my only recourse was to call a locksmith. I called a local safe locksmith and asked if he could swap out the electronic lock with a manual one. He said it was no problem, came and looked at it, and told me that it would likely be around $380, but that he would get back to me in 24-48 hours with specifics. After 72 hours of nothing, I called him and he made it clear that he didn't want the job.

    At this point I pulled the locking mechanisms apart to figure out the make/model of the electronic lock and called LaGard, the manufacturer. The woman I spoke with was very forthcoming once I won her over with 20 minutes of idle chitchat . . . turns out that the Model 3710 electronic dial that these safes shipped with have a high rate of failure, particularly when any number is used multiple times in the sequence of your code. She also told me that 99/100 times an electronic lock failure is due to the dial/push-pad failing, not the actual locking unit. (The locking unit on this safe is LaGard part #LG4200) Since the unit was out of warranty she referred me to a company by the name of TimeMaster that specializes in lock replacement parts. This company only sells to distributors and locksmiths, so you need to make it clear that YOU are doing the work, otherwise they won't sell straight to the consumer.

    I called up TimeMaster, and they told me right off the bat that the 3710 unit is a piece of shit and they fail all the time. He told me that the 3710 unit is no longer manufactured and that the 3715 is the replacement unit. The only issue is that the 3710 mounts with bolts at 3 and 9 o'clock and the 3715 mounts at 6 and 12. Because of this, I ordered the newest and most improved version that mounts up with both patterns, part #3750. That said, my Winchester safe provided mounting holes at 3/6/9/12, so you can save $30 and just go with 3715 as a replacement. Once I got the 3750 ($90 shipped), I replaced the unit and found that the locking mechanism, NOT the dial itself, retains the code and decides whether to unlock the safe or not. I can't say for certain which was the offending unit, but after testing, I felt confident that the issue was with the locking unit and not the dial. With that, I called TimeMaster back up and ordered part #LG4200. This ended up being $100 shipped, but after a week of trial, everything seems to be functioning at 100% on the very first try, every time.

    It should be noted that we're in/out of the safe at least 4 times a day, so although we suffered a catastrophic failure before 3 years, I imagine the lock will last longer for most people. That said, as soon as you start having to regularly input the code two or three times, DO NOT WAIT, BUY THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. Trust me, it's not worth not being able to get to your belongings. In my case, I bolted the safe into the floor, and the locksmith told me that it would have run us $400-500 to drill it open, plus the cost of disposal and obviously a new safe. So instead of the worst case of over $1,200, or the $380 the locksmith wanted, I spent ~$190 and did it myself. I will not publicly disclose how to dismantle and replace the lock, but if you're in a bind, PM me. I will note that the 3750 dial unit seems to be built MUCH better than the 3710 from both a security and craftsmanship standpoint, so I'm glad I upgraded. Please feel free to ask any questions regarding this safe, at this point I can probably answer the majority of them.

    ******* UPDATE *******

    It's been four years since I installed the replacement parts and they're still working perfectly!
    I have this same issue, but can’t get it to open at all. Any help.

  5. #135
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Posts
    945
    Rep Power
    2575134

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by Pauh20 View Post
    I have this same issue, but can’t get it to open at all. Any help.
    Please see my PM.

  6. #136
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Alexandria, Louisiana
    Posts
    14
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    I have worked up two back up ways to open my safe..I bought the S&G lock but what I have come up with is way less work.
    CMSgt USAF (ret)

  7. #137
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Portales1, New Mexico
    Posts
    5
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    0

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    My problem is that I have 2 24 winchester safes. 1 new from TS and the other from craigslist. TS one works great BUT on the used one it works great but when I put in a new combo from the default one I guess I fat fingered it. EVERYTHING of mine is locked in. The wife keeps telling me she can get to her guns in her safe. I have been trying to get into it to see my guns that are very lonely. It's been almost a year that they have been lock in. I am about ready to get a cutoff wheel for the grinder and come in throught the bottom to get my stuff out. I can use my good safe to look inside the door to maybe open bad safe. If I can open it I will replace electronic with oldschool dial lock and reweld a plate on the bottom. Any ideas before I start cutting?

  8. #138
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Posts
    945
    Rep Power
    2575134

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by goodwinm View Post
    My problem is that I have 2 24 winchester safes. 1 new from TS and the other from craigslist. TS one works great BUT on the used one it works great but when I put in a new combo from the default one I guess I fat fingered it. EVERYTHING of mine is locked in. The wife keeps telling me she can get to her guns in her safe. I have been trying to get into it to see my guns that are very lonely. It's been almost a year that they have been lock in. I am about ready to get a cutoff wheel for the grinder and come in throught the bottom to get my stuff out. I can use my good safe to look inside the door to maybe open bad safe. If I can open it I will replace electronic with oldschool dial lock and reweld a plate on the bottom. Any ideas before I start cutting?
    Wow, talk about patience. See my PM, I hope it helps you out!

  9. #139
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Portales1, New Mexico
    Posts
    5
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    Quote Originally Posted by BionicMan View Post
    Wow, talk about patience. See my PM, I hope it helps you out!
    Keypad worked great. I think I fat fingered combo when changing. Thats why I can't get in. It worked awesome with the 123456 combo the people put in before I bought it used. And the pain is the shut off function. After 2 - 3 wrong combos it shuts down for a bit. I have a spreadsheet of numbers. As we try them they set marked off the list. My numbering convention is always pairs of numbers so 3 pairs. Use numbers from old family street addresses, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. One day I will hit the jackpot and see my friends Smith and Wesson again!

  10. #140
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Posts
    945
    Rep Power
    2575134

    Default Re: PSA: Please read if you own a Winchester Safe . . .

    It shouldn't be possible to "fat finger" the combo when initially setting it, as you need to enter the same code twice. That said, if you can't remember the combo at all, your options are extremely limited. I hope you can remember the combo, the other options are a lot more messy.



    Quote Originally Posted by goodwinm View Post
    Keypad worked great. I think I fat fingered combo when changing. Thats why I can't get in. It worked awesome with the 123456 combo the people put in before I bought it used. And the pain is the shut off function. After 2 - 3 wrong combos it shuts down for a bit. I have a spreadsheet of numbers. As we try them they set marked off the list. My numbering convention is always pairs of numbers so 3 pairs. Use numbers from old family street addresses, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. One day I will hit the jackpot and see my friends Smith and Wesson again!

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