Working Around Broken Electronics (Bad Solenoid) On A Sentry Safe

My electronic sentry safe was jammed and would not allow me to open it using the handle even after inserting the correct code.

Here’s a fix that allows you to work around the bad solenoid and only require the key going forward. Once the digital keypad component is rendered useless, the safe still works like a normal one does.

[leandermueller]

Thank you Vance. I had bought the magnet but my safe the solenoid is in a different position and when I watched your video I saw where your solenoid is located and I was able to open the safe. I took out the solenoid and I am now using the key only.

[vancegulickson]

Thank you Peter. It’s always nice to know the finer details.

Now I just wish they’d make something that doesn’t break so easily since the safe gets opened only a few times a year.

[deperu]

Thank you for posting this video. It inspired me to try fixing my own safe. When I called customer service, I was told that I needed to purchase the solenoid and keypad for $100 because the locks on my safe would not remain locked. Meaning that the locks would engage and disengage just by turning the handle. When I opened the back, I found that a piece of the fire protection material for the door had broken off and fallen into the area where the plastic switch retracts. This was preventing the switch from retracting all the way, which in turn caused the safe to not remain locked. Your video was extremely helpful. Thank you for posting it.

[susanjones]

Thank you Vance for the video. My Mother has a s3517; it was locked OPENED. Though she entered the code to the safe, the lock would not disengage for her to close the door. You video gave me some insight of the sentry locking mechanism. I broke off the back cover, sprayed WD-40 on the gears, and pushed in the white round release level while lightly tapping the locking mechanism bolts. After a few taps on the bolts, the locking mechanism released. I entered the code and the locks disengaged. I repeatedly locked and unlocked the safe to ensure it was properly working (There is a little slip due to the WD-40 and the back cover is broke on the left inside, but overall the safe works!). She is happy for she was able to throw the safe out. Thanks again!

[davidrader]

Thanks so much for sharing. I have the exact safe and my keypad / solenoid died. I opened mine with three blows with the rubber mallet with it sitting upright and impact on door directly opposite the solenoid. On the third strike with the mallet I pushed down on the handle as soon as I hit it. If you have pressure on the handle before you strike the door it puts a load on the solenoid pin which makes it hard/impossible for the solenoid to retract. This might help in your quest to open your safe. Good luck!

[dimitricostiuc]

Thank you very much. Same issue. stuck solenoid. I was hoping to find some instructions how to properly drill it out and then found your video, pulled my rubber mallet and got it open.

[sequoyamaisonblacque]

I didn’t drill... just kept beating the front of the door with the mallet and within about 8 mins it finally opened! thanks for the vid.... saw a few other before this stating trash it, your statements are better - just disco and use the key. Perfect!

[irwinyuen]

Thanks for the video. I had an issue with the mechanical switch that locks when closed. The metal tab was hitting the bar to low and caused the safe to not open. This is noticeable if your handle goes about 75% and the safe won't open. Taking a file to grind down the bar lip fixed it. I will share with everyone the most difficult thing is gett the cover back in. Used a dremel to open up the holes since the lid did fit back as tight. Added some screws to keep the cover more secure.

[vancegulickson]

If your safe is locked and you cannot push the silver handle down it is being blocked by the solenoid tip and the safe is as clearly jammed as mine was. Laying the safe on its face, not its back, may help since gravity is your friend in this case. You also need to make sure that the mechanical lock (key) has been used to unlock that portion of the mechanism and then pound down on the silver handle with a rubber mallet until the handle breaks free.

Pushing the silver handle down with the safe door open moves the bars as in as far as they will ever go. They do not clear the plastic back at any time. You will most likely break one or two of the small plastic pieces located in the corners of the plastic back. I see nothing you can do to prevent this as you carefully pry the back off but when you put the plastic back back on it pops back into place and shows no ill effects whatsoever from the process. You can see one of the plastic retaining pieces above the nearest upper silver bar at :43 in the video.

Note: Please understand you have to break the solenoid tip off to ever use the safe again since it blocks the handle from opening as shown in this video and that part is metallic so it will feel like you are about to break something if you are doing it correctly...because you are.

[mavelous]

I haven’t played with mine yet, but laying the safe on its back helps open it regardless of my problem……
Thank you for your excellent video. Mine happens to be the larger model a5835

[huddarudda]

wow, I'm going to try that I'm in the same 5 beep problem thousands of others have. Cant believe this company is still in business. they need class action against them to take notice

[kristinaengleka]

Thank you. I tilted the safe so the face was almost touching the floor and it opened. Your advice was instrumental in opening my old model s3517 that didn't have a key. The electronic code worked but the lever would not budge.

[gaerongbh]

I have this problem but my safe doesn't have a key. I tried lubricating the solenoid and hooking it up to more power without success. But the rubber mallet worked the first time! Thank you!

[donniejohnson]

You went right to the problem I was having and the fix was simple. Thank you!

[Falcantar]

I wish you would have shown how to remove that back plastic cover. That would have been helpful.

[mattwalker]

This actually worked!! A few firm hits of a hammer left and right of the door. Voilà!
Thank you!!

[cebuanoz]

I had figure out why the solenoid won’t release the handle, mine did the same thing!
Its because if the handle is press down while you put your code in it catches the solenoid and prevent the solenoid from releasing the handle.
To fixed this problem is to hold the handle up, or make sure the handle is lifted up and not press down while putting the code in!

[joseandjenbeech]

Thank you it worked for me. Mine was so dead with new batteries. Tried 9volt energizer and 4 AA Duracell no sound Dead.

[PatRose-pi]

I was told by Sentry that if you hit underneath the Y of the name in front of the safe 20 times with a rubber mallet and then enter the code it will work if your batteries are okay. My leads were a little coroded where the batteries go so he had me disconnect them and attach a 9-volt. I think I'll just hide things under my mattress versus dealing with this again but first I will try using the key as suggested

[KevinEnSoraya]

you can open it with a big magnet . you pull it upwards in a sock and it will open every safe with a digital combination system