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Dialing a Mechanical Safe Lock

Click the play button above to view Safe Dialing Video

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Below I've written a description of what is happening in the video.
After viewing the video, if you're interested in a more detailed
explanation, you can read about it there. I'll be posting images
of the parts mentioned in the description in the near future.

If you would like some music while reading it, click play button
below and listen to The City Champs tune: The Safecracker

The Parts of a Safe Lock
The lock is comprised of the following:

A dial which is outside the safe.
A spindle which passes through the door to the lock inside. The lock body mounted to the inside of the door. The lock body contains the wheel post, the driver, the wheels, the lever and the lock bolt.

The dial is attached to the spindle which connects to the driver. Both the dial and the driver are splined onto the spindle. When turning the dial, they move a a single unit.

The spindle passes through a tube which is called the wheel post.

There are 3 wheels which rotate on the outer part of the tube (wheel post). One rotation of the dial turns the driver which then begins to move the closest wheel. This is because the driver has a "pin" on the backside that engages what is called a "fly" on the front side of the nearest wheel. One more rotation of the dial allows that wheel to begin moving the center wheel and another turn begins to turn the wheel farthest from the driver.

Each wheel represents one of the combination numbers. The wheel farthest from the driver is always the first number of the combination. The wheel closest to the driver is the last number.

Riding on the circumference of the driver is the nose of the lever. The driver has a "gate" which the nose of the lever will enter once the combination has been dialed. The lever and driver will then retract the lock bolt.

The nose of the lever can not enter the driver gate until the 3 wheels are lined up by dialing the combination. The lever has a bar called the "fence" that extends across the top of the wheels.

Each wheel also has a gate and when all of the wheel gates are lined up, the fence will be able to enter the gates as the driver gate arrives at the nose of the lever on the final turn.

Common 3 Wheel Combination Lock
The Way it Works:

It doesn't matter where the dial is positioned when you start. The act of turning the dial 4 times left will "clear" the combination. In other words, it gets all the wheels moving.

Turn the dial 4 times left (CCW) to the first number of your combination, stopping the 4th time without going past it. Your first number wheel gate is now set.

Now you are going to turn right (CW) 3 times to your second number. The very first time you come to it will not be a full turn of the dial but it counts. When you get to the second number the third time, stop without going past it. Your second number wheel gate is now set.

Now you are going to turn left (CCW) 2 times to your third number. The very first time you come to it will not be a full turn of the dial but it counts. When you get to the third number the second time, stop without going past it. Your third number wheel gate is now set.

All the gates on the wheels are now set and all that remains is to turn the dial slowly to the right (CW) until it comes to a hard stop. As you do, the fence on the lever will be able to enter the lined up wheel gates and the nose of the lever will be able to enter the driver gate. This allows the lever which is attached to the lock bolt to retract it.

The safe can now be opened.

The short-hand for this verbosity is:

4X Left to (1st Number)
3X Right to (2nd Number)
2X Left to (3rd Number)
1X Right - Slowly to STOP