Safe Deposit Locks - Key Changeable

Key Changeable Safe Deposit Locks

Safe deposit locks have been manufactured for many years but very few safe deposit locks have been more confusing than the Sargent and Greenleaf, Precision Products, and ILCO Unican key changeable safe deposit locks. The 4540 was the first key changeable safe deposit lock with a movable fence manufactured by Sargent & Greenleaf. Precision Products started to make their own version of the double key changeable safe deposit lock called the 5400 series. Precision products began to manufacture their 5400 series under the Sargent & Greenleaf name, also known as the Sargent & Greenleaf 4500 series. Sargent & Greenleaf began producing the 4543 key changeable safe deposit lock while Precision Products kept producing the 5400 series key changeable safe deposit lock. Sargent & Greenleaf also began producing the 4545 key changeable safe deposit lock. From the outside, it may be difficult to tell the difference between them as they look very much alike. From the inside, however, they are definitely not alike. The plugs, cams and covers may be different. Additionally, the guard plugs may be very thin, and the key blanks may be different. For all of these reasons, you need to know what lock you have in order to replace parts of locks when you are called upon to service them.

Below you will find some helpful descriptive terms for identifying these locks: 1) The Sargent & Greenleaf model 4545, double key changeable safe deposit lock from S&G. 2) The S&G model 4540 key changeable safe deposit lock. 3) The S&G model 4500 (Precision Products manufactured model 5400). 4) The Precision products model 5400. 5) The ILCO model 54000 safe deposit lock manufactured by ILCO Unican. This should help you with safe deposit lock identification in the field.

SARGENT & GREENLEAF 4545
   ( S&G’s current double changeable lock)
   - Incorporates two piece renters, plug and cam.
   - Has manufacturing date stamped in left hand corner of the lock case.
   - Uses 5/32” cap screw for changing both renters and guard keys.
   - Uses thick guard key.
   - S&G 4500 series stamped on back of lock case.
   - All levers are pocketed so the plugs go through the center of them.
   - Guard plug has no tail piece.

SARGENT & GREENLEAF 4500
    (Manufactured by Precision Product with S&G logo)
   - Incorporates single piece renters plug.
   - Uses thin guard key.
   - Uses 5/32” cap screw for changing both renters and guard keys.
   - Sargent & Greenleaf 4500 is stamped on the back of the lock case.
   - Levers are not pocketed, both plugs go into lock case beneath levers.
   - Guard plug has no tail piece.

SARGENT & GREENLEAF 4540
   (First double key changeable made by Sargent & Greenleaf)
   - Incorporates two piece renters, plug and cam.
   - 4540 series is stamped on the cover, closest the bolt.
   - Uses 3/32” cap screw for changing both the renters and guard keys.
   - Uses thick guard keys.
   - All levers are pocketed so both plugs go through the center of them.
   - Guard plug has no tail piece.

PRECISION PRODUCTS 5400
   - Incorporates single piece renters plug.
   - Precision model 5400 is stamped on the back of the lock case.
   - Uses 5/32” cap screw for changing both renters and guard keys.
   - Levers are not pocketed, both plugs go into the lock case beneath levers.
   - Uses thin guard key.
   - Guard plug has no tail piece.

ILCO UNICAN 54000
   - Incorporates single piece renters plug and cam.
   - Precision Ilco Unican Corp. series is stamped on the back of the lock case.
   - Uses 5/32” cap screw for changing both renters and guard keys.
   - Levers are not pocketed, both plugs go into the case beneath the levers.
   - Uses thick guard key.
   - Guard key has no tail piece.

The changing function s for all these locks is the same. To change the renter’s keys, the function is as follows:
   Step 1. Insert guard key and rotate clockwise until it stop.
   Step 2. Insert renters key and rotate clockwise until it stop.
   Step 3. Loosen renter fence clamp screw (on the back of lock) with change wrench 3 ½ turns counterclockwise.
   Step 4. Turn renters key clockwise and take out of lock.
   Step 5. Insert new renters key, rotate counterclockwise until stop.
   Step 6. Tighten renters fence  clamp screw clockwise.
   Step 7. Rotate renters key to locked position, remove key.
   Step 8. Rotate guard key to locked position, remove key.
Lock is now set to new renter’s key.

The changing function for changing the guard key is as follows:
   Step 1. Insert guard key and rotate clockwise until stop.
   Step 2. Insert renters key and rotate until stop.
   Step 3. Loosen guard fence clamp screw (on back of lock) with change wrench 31/2 turns counterclockwise.
   Step 4. Rotate guard key counterclockwise to lock position and remove key.
   Step 5. Insert new guard key rotate clockwise until stop.
   Step 6. Tighten guard fence clamp screw clockwise.
   Step 7. Rotate renters key to locked position and remove key.
   Step 8. Rotate guard key to locked position and remove key.
   Lock is now set to new guard key.