Forgot The Gun Safe Combination Again

One of the signs that you haven't taken the big toys out in too long is when you can't remember the gun safe combination.  I had this happen several years ago, but eventually, all the synapses gathered themselves together, and remembered the numbers.  This time, I eventually remembered all the numbers by going out to the safe and turning the dial until my visual memory of opening the safe took over... but even though I was sure that I had all three numbers, it still would not open.  Why?

It is a Sargent & Greenleaf lock on a Browning safe (yes, I did not cheap out on the safe), and here are the detailed directions for opening such a lock that I found through the miracles of the Internet:

Clear the lock by turning the dial clockwise, a time or two will do. You can stop at zero if you like or go on past slightly, it doesn't make a difference on mine.

1st number - turn counterclockwise & past the number 3 times, stop on the number on the 4th turn

2nd number - turn clockwise past the number twice, stop on the number on the third turn

3rd number - turn counterclockwise past the number once, stop on the number on the second turn

4th number - turn clockwise until stopped

I was apparently not doing enough counterclockwise turns on the first number, or perhaps I was not clearing the lock in the first step before trying the rest.

Needless to say, I have found a way to have the numbers and instructions readily but stealthily available.