Customer Reviews

Combi-Bolt Chrome Lock

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have this, the brass version, and it's world-class for locking sheds and the like. Anyone who finds it too easy to change the combination neither read the instructions nor used common sense.

To change the combination, you must take a screw driver and loosen a tight set screw, then pull out and slide the unit. Then while it's in the slid over position, and with no reason to do it except to change the combination, one must turn one or more wheels. Does that make it sound impossible to go into change combination mode accidently? That's because it is. The reviewer who said his wife "accidently" changed the combination perhaps has issues with the woman that he's unaware of. It is impossible to change the combination without intending to.

And as others remind us, install these with your own No. 8 screws first to line everything up. Only after that should you make it a permanent installation with the one-way screws supplied. Once in, you will not get those screws out without drilling and an Easy Out. While one-way screw removers are available on Amazon, most user reports range from "doesn't work" to "didn't work" to the more forgiving "I couldn't make it work."

To make an even more secure attachment, use smooth head carriage bolts and nuts rather than screws. That has the added advantage of being able to get out of the shed if your wife locks you in. Accidently.

I do not recommend this item. It is very easy to accidentally reset the combination to a random unknown number. If someone who does not know how the reset procedure works, it is very easy for them to; 1) Open the lock using the correct combination. 2) Lift the handle up and slide it into the 'change' mode. 3) Change the combination rollers to a random number.
I also don't like this item because if you want to leave it unlocked for a period of time and don't want to leave the rollers on 'your number', you must roll off the number. Of course, then the bolt won't lock until you change it back to 'your number'.
This is where I got in trouble. We have this lock installed on a wooden gate. My wife accidentally did the procedure above. Luckily she only changed one number and I was able to reset the lock. I do not want to explain the reset procedure to everyone in my family that I give my combination to. So if this ever happens again, this lock is going to get the deep six...

I put this on my front gate and put the door bell next to it. This keeps strangers at the gate when they ring the door bell and not right at my front door. It keeps kids from accidently opening the gate as well when they are playing inside the yard. I've had it for over a year and its been great. When you unlock the gate spin the combo so people don't see your combination and this prevents someone from pulling the latch back and resetting your combination.

Unlike the other reviewer's report, there was no set screw in my Combi-bolt. The Youtube video demo of how to set the combination also shows no set screw. All you have to do is pull the lever back all the way. It is VERY EASY to reset accidentally.

My lock was reset by someone yesterday and now I can't get the bolt to slide closed. I contacted the company but they close at 5:00 PM Pacific time and I didn't realize the bolt was reset until 6:00 PM. I hope they can help, but last night I had to leave my gate unlocked and my neighbors were robbed a few days ago. The feature that one would normally think of as helpful, not being able to remove the lock, was actually a risk for me because if I could have taken the Combi-bolt off, I could have replaced it with a different type of lock. Now I'm stuck, at least for a while, with my gate open.