Safecracking for Everyone part 8 (LaGard Manipulation)

[@pdouglas4831]

I love this series. I wouldn't turn down a real-time demo of you determining a combination. You know: "Here's what it looks like all put together, when an expert goes to work without pausing to explain anything," ideally with a split screen showing the back of the cutaway lock in action. That would be very cool.

[@Mainswitch55]

like Jeff Sitar - may he R.I.P.

[@brianhignett8954]

Most manipulators believe the LaGard wheels to be oval in shape, however they are not more or less "oval" than say the S&G 6730 series. The problem with wheel shadowing etc. in these locks is the fact that the LaGard wheels are more "sloppy" on the wheel post than other locks. Without going to far into it, and I'll just talk about wheel 3 as an example. If you carry wheel 3 one way, you will pull it away from the fence, for say half of the circumference, continue turning and you will push the wheel into the fence, for roughly the other half. If the gate is in the area on the wheel being pulled away, it more often than not will not indicate. If however the gate is in the area being pushed toward the fence, it will more likely indicate. Do this test on a LaGard, and watch wheel 3, you will see how obvious this is. It also applies to all wheels, and relies on the wheel pack tension washer to hold the wheels in place while testing contact points. Regards, Brian.

[@Hebdomad7]

Thank you so much for this extra information. You've cracked a bit of sanity back into me. I was struggling with this one.

[@Hebdomad7]

1:05 - the bastards! I knew it! These wheels can run so high you actually lose you contact point completely! I thought I was losing my mind! Thank you!

[@vasiovasio]

LA GARD 1947 UL Group 1, EN1300C, VdS Class 3, 4-wheel combination lock has entered the chat! ;)

[@TallanPick]

Hi, great video again! one question please: the method you use with the La Gard 3330 can be used with the S&L 2M locks? do you ever manipulated any of these 2M locks? thanks

[@HerbertSimonDachs]

Thank you! It would be very interesting to See your actual Go to method when you pick a combination as you would do of it was Not a Tutorial. I guess it would be quite quick. Great Videos!

[@danielgallant2202]

These are great! Thanks so much. One thing I'm having trouble with is getting my hands on a good variety of dials to manipulate. Any suggestions? I've got the 3 that are on MBA locks online already and picked up one beat up one from a local locksmith but that's it. Hoping to find some more.

[@lockmanipulator]

Asking safe technicians to call you if they come across any is a good idea. Also just keep an eye out on ebay as things pop up there from time to time

[@danielgallant2202]

@@lockmanipulator I've gotten pretty good at my S7G 6730 and LaGuard 3300 what would you recommend as the next couple to learn?

[@lockmanipulator]

@@danielgallant2202 The Diebold 177-23 is a nice lock! It's got a U shaped cutout from the drive cam so you'll need both contact point readings on that one.

[@danielgallant2202]

@@lockmanipulator Awesome Thanks! Where would you say Yale fits in to the learning curve?

[@danielgallant2202]

I used to have a list I wanted to work through but I've long since lost it

[@bencrawford3261]

I have a Vanguard vs200 that belonged to a great grandparent and I had a combo after running through this whole series that seemed to catch the cam but didn’t get it. Now the nose piece seems to catch past the left contact point no matter what position the dials are in and the whole contact area moved almost a whole number to the left. Any ideas? Could the latch have moved slightly just seems unlikely that the latch wouldn’t return fully when reversing the dial.

[@lockmanipulator]

If the contact area is moving so drastically then that might suggest a broken spline key, the part that locks the dial to the drive cam. Even with the combination it would be hard to open, and maybe impossible to crack. You would probably need to have it drilled at that point.

[@bencrawford3261]

Dang. It is weird that it has a permanent catch feeling almost a grind feeling when you turn the dial to the right and go past the contact. Literally was all fine through the whole process till I was going through every other number for the last wheel and landed on one that felt like it was catching but let go then it has this problem. I was afraid something had gone terribly wrong. Haha