SentrySafe QAP1BE Gun Safe NOT opening properly - FIXED! 

After watching your video, I used the link in your description and we were able to fix the safe! It's working perfectly again. Thank you!!

Thanks, Brandon. I had saw the struts on Amazon but I wasn't sure how they matched the Sentry Safe connections, so I didn't want to order them. Thanks to your video for showing me how it works.

Thanks Brandon - exactly the information I was looking for. Excellent step by step instruction video. Well done & much appreciated!

Thank you!!! This issue has bothered the heck out of me for a few years. I'll do this fix ASAP!

Absolute perfect solution, thanks for taking the time to post this!

Thanks. Spent a good half hour trying to find the right strut. Your video was the answer I was looking for.

Just fixed mine. Wish I’d have done it sooner. Thanks for the super simple instructions!

You the man!!!! Thank you so much!!! Just bought the 2 pack and they'll be here tomorrow.

Just followed this video verbatim and my safe is now opening / working like a charm. Thanks for posting this fix!

Thank you so much. Excellent example. I have the exact same safe and my piston has been dead for a year. I didn't even think of changing it until I googled this and found it. The only thing different is I didn't remove the top bolt, just the bottom screw and I unscrewed the piston without the need of a ratchet set. Phillips head screwdriver was all that was needed. I really appreciate your video. Thank you again!

great video I already purchased these replacement struts and was about to give up because the fittings were wrong thanks for this!

Thank you very much for providing the information on the gas struts. I couldn't tell which ones I had to buy based on force or length. Very helpful.

Worked perfectly! Thanks. (FWIF, Sentry also wanted to charge me $20.00 for a replacement piston.)

Done! Thank you sir for this quick fix and the link to the struts on Amazon. Fixed the safe this afternoon and working flawlessly now.

I ordered the part and fixed my safe! Great video!

Great tutorial and info. Got my strut from Amazon and installed it with ease. Thanks.

Thanks so much for the video...very concise and detailed. Mine didn't even open at all before changing the piston. Although I wish the new piston opened more, it opens for plenty of access like you mentioned.

Thank you for the info on replacing the Strut. I ordered the replacement off the link you posted. In a couple days it should be working again.

Just what I needed, thanks man!

Thank you for this video, and the link to the product.

Thank you very much for this very informative video! I followed your instructions and now my safe works perfectly again.

Thanks for all the positive feedback! Be sure to check out the comments below for some additional tips and ideas on getting your safe working again. There's a lot of good community input here, so if you've got solutions to share - Let us know! And here is a follow up video about how these replacement struts are working out a year later and some other (hopefully) useful tips and ideas you could consider for your SentrySafe: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HVugxs0nTnM.html

Awesome clear and concise instructions! Thanks a ton!

Excellent video - of course sentry safe doesn't have anything on this and when I tried to put in my model number for the product manual it said it did not exist! What a company! Thanks for the help here!

Thank you very much. Great video, now I fixed my safe. A couple of tips to share here: 1) I didn't tighten the bottom piece completely so the strut is a little longer that allows the safe to open wider 2) you don't have to unbolt the top piece, just pull it sideway to separate it from the bolt.

Great video! Showed me exactly how to easily fix it for $12. Thanks!

Thank you Brandon for the informative video. I just replaced it and it works great.

Well this video is 2 years old but the link to the new pistons still works! I got a 4 pack coming tomorrow and removed my old one easily. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have a working safe again. My piston was so weak I couldn’t even get my fingers underneath the front of the lid. I had to open it from the side near the front where a little “v” shape forms on the lid. It’s been so bad I haven’t even been using it lately. I’ve just been putting my handgun in a holster and then in the drawer on my night stand. Thanks for the great info!

Had the same problem. Just called the company and they sent me a new piston the next day. Great customer service.

Thanks for posting this helpful and well made video! I have the exact same biometric pistol safe, and my gas spring has been nearly dead for a long time. Amazon, here I come!

Wow...this was so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

Worked like a charm. Done in 5 minutes!

Thank you! Ordered the parts, looks like an easy fix.

THANK YOU - I was able to fix my safe.

Fixed my totally stuck SentrySafe right up, thank you!

Excellent video!!! I followed everything to a T and fixed my safe!!

That’s exactly what mine is doing now. Thank you

thank you sir for making this video, i was at the edge of getting a new safe. Thank you :)

Great video. While making this repair I noticed my model had a strange secondary opening issue. The piston (both the factory and replacement) was getting hitched on the front-left screw that holds the exterior facade to the structure. The top of the piston should pass right by the screw head but in my case was not. Taking this screw out solved another opening issue.

You’re a lifesaver man, thank you!

I replaced their spring for heavier compression springs, and left the piston alone, pops open nicely now. Thanks! Repair costs under $5.00

Thanks so much! Fixed it quick and works great!

Thanks for a great repair video! Worked perfectly.

Thanks Brandon! this video was very helpful

Just fixed mine. Thanks for this.

Really appreciate this video I almost went out and bought a new safe!!!!

Thanks for the link and video. Easy fix

Worked great, thanks for posting!

Thank you good Sir I just fixed mine with your instruction. Cheers!

Just wanted to say thanks and also I realized you can just unscrew the old one and screw in the new one without removing the bolts! Literally 30 seconds. Thanks for the tip

Thanks I’ve been trying to figure this out. Ordering the part today

Awesome video! Thank you for the Amazon link

Much appreciated Brandon!! Problem solved!!!

Thank you for the video. It helped me alot.

Today I replaced my husband's Sentry gun safe. Good, follow along instructions video. 👍

Thanks hesitated because didn’t see a matching gas piston but saw you used the old screw off parts nice

Works great! Thanks man!

Solution works! Thanks.

Thanks for this video! Paid a lot for this safe and mine won’t even open… it does a little bounce when it unlocks, lol, that’s it..

Live saver dude! Thank you!

Excellent video. Thank you!

Thank you! Mine barely opens up now, defeats the whole purpose of a ready to grab gun from a safe premise. Without your video I was ready to go through contacting the manufacturer which is always a big pain in the ass.

Awesome.....Exact same problem. Was gonna goto Sentry, Screw it, Amazon Gas Strut to the Rescue

Good video brother!

Super helpful. Thanks !

No tools required you can unscrew the piston with your hand twist the top first then the bottom. Thanks for the link to the new piston.Edit you will have to apply pressure down and once the piston goes down a tad bit the top can be screwed in without unscrewing the bottom. This takes less than 3 minutes from removal to install.

Great video, thank you!

thanks for this. 5 stars!

Outstanding, thank you!!!

This is great. Mine has never worked properly. Hoping a new strut will last, as I don't open my safe all that frequently.

Honestly one of the easiest things I've ever fixed and the linked pistons work great. As others have pointed out, no need to undo the top bolt. Just take out the screw from the bottom connection point, unscrew the old piston from the connection at the top and remove the connection from the bottom of the old piston, remove the plastic connections from the new piston, put the old bottom connection on the new piston, screw the new piston into the old connection that is still attached to the safe, and screw the bottom of the connection back to the safe.

Mine unlocks but doesn't open at all, ordered the piston, Thanks for the video!

Thanks nice too know that there replaceable .

Thank you!!

Great video. Thanks.

I fixed mine by replacing the spring with a generic longer spring from the hardware store. Works great now!

Thank you so much! Just finished my install! It opens like a shotgun

Alright!!👍big help..thanks.😃

Thanks

Thanks for the video. First, I don’t like that is doesn’t open fully. This is an unacceptable risk in a self defense situation. There is a cheap fix however. Like many, I went to Amazon and purchased the same strut ($17/2) which is almost an inch shorter than the original (as you show in the video). This affects the full opening, which as I already said, was a no-go for me. Without researching if there is another strut of equal length, and since no one is working at Sentry Safe to get a replacement, my solution consists of two items, costing me less than $3: a coupling nut, size M6 x 1”; and, an M6 x 16 bolt that cost .89 cents. The coupling nut is size M6 x 1” and cost $1.69 (it was the shortest I could find) and an M6 x 16 bolt cost 89 cents. You can also use a set screw, but the shortest I found was M6 x 23 and cost $2.59 and I thought the set screw was too long for the project. I purchased both from Ace Hardware. First, install the coupling nut onto the lower end of the rod (the silver end, not the strut end). Then, cut off the the bolt head (in effect, making a set screw). File off the burr and install the cut end into the other end of the coupling nut. You might have to use some oomph to screw it in, thus cross-threading the bolt into the coupling- which is why I screwed the cut end of the bolt into the coupling nut and not into the nut that connects the rod into the (base) end of the safe. You now have an extension that will ensure your lid opens fully. Install the strut per the rest of the instructions. You will find that the strut is now just a hair longer than the original strut and will have to use very little finesse to get the strut end reassembled into the lid. But, it’s easy and once it’s assembled, it won’t hinder opening. Your lid now opens fully. If- IF- I get a little OCD, I might look to shortening the extension I made so the strut fits perfectly, but I’m not OCD enough, unless I find the hair-length affects opening. I have pictures and if I can figure out how to post them, I will. But, I think my explanation will work for most.

Lifesaver... Brother I have watched both videos and I used your link to purchase them. Hope you have it making you money at Amazon. Thank you for your video

Thank you sir.

awesome thanks!

Just ordered them from Amazon. Thanks!

Excellent video. Thank you. I have the same problem. Sentry should fix this for FREE (keeping a small pry tool by my safe because the lid will not even clear the top of the safe). Absolutely CRAP design given the importance of the operator to open this gun same.

Thanks for the link. Just a heads up though you don't have to unbolt/unscrew the strut to replace it in the future when you use the existing ends 😉. Thanks again

Hi Brandon, can you tell me, how to program the Push Buttons ? It's not described properly in the manual. Thanks.

Added two compression springs 5/16" x 1-1/2" x .020" (7.94mm x 38.10mm x 0.50mm) on top of the original spring and it works perfectly. Popped open like it's brand new. Hope this helps.

you the man! anybody ever find the perfect length gas strut? (still buying two though)

I replaced my springs with prime line products sp 9703 and they work perfectly. No binding or over pressure. The lid pops up 4-5 inches even with a bad gas strut.

Man. My safe did this after a year or two. Ordered a new one and that one CAME wirh the problem! Just ordered the 2 pack of struts, guess I'll fix them both and sell one to make up some money.

How is the new gas strut holding up for you? Has it remained strong? Thanks for saving us all hours of time trying to find a good replacement part. I've contacted Sentry Safe many times about the arm under their warranty and they have never once responded, so essentially the product has no warranty...

Brandon, I had deleted the last comment. I ended up changing the strut to the second one and it worked. Thanks again for the video.

Update: The Apex Stone pistons from Amazon are now $30. FJB!

I never found the link you said you were going to add of what the name the new piston etc. ?

Brandon, out of curiosity did you try to lube the strut before replacing it? Which replacement struts did you purchase on Amazon? Thanks.

Can you tell me what the Apexstone part number in Amazon for my Sentry Safe MODEL QAP1BE?

Has the new piston gone bad after you replace it on this video? (it’s been 4 years). I’m about to order a new one for my safe but still unsure if the Apexstone will give me a longer life than the factory one. Thanks for posting this clip!

When you go to the Amazon link, you have two options for 2 different struts. One is 80N and the other one says 8 inch… Which one am I supposed to buy to fix my century gun safe?

Brandon, I changed the gas strut out like you demonstrated with a strut I purchased from Amazon (manufacturer Vepagoo and advertised to work with a sentry biometric safe). Once a closed the safe with the new piston it would not open biometrically. It opens great with the key. Is this Vepagoo piston too pressurized to allow the safe to open without the key? When I try to open the safe with biometrics, I can hear a "click" but safe does not open at all. Anyone else have this issue?