Schlage Securekey, unreliable...

[FarmerFreak]

I've been hearing issues that the Securekey can abruptly stop working. Which got me thinking, why would it stop working?

Then it dawned on me. The problem lies between the tabs that stick out from the pins and connects to the notches in the sliders.

Under normal use, when you put the key into the lock it lifts the pins in turn the tab lifts the sliders. There is no friction on the sliders and everything works fine. However when the cylinder is turned the sliders are locked in place by the sidebar. So if the cylinder is turned and someone tries to pull the key out. The slider can't move and the only the pins from moving are the tabs that are locked into the sliders.

To the point, if the cylinder is turned and someone pulls on the key. A few things could happen. First, the notches/teeth in the sliders could strip. If this happened, you could likely pull the key back a half space and it may turn again. Second, the tab where it sticks into the sliders could strip. If this happened then any of those positions will turn into a 0 depth when the tab makes its way to the top notch. Thirdly, the tab could crack and break off. If that happened, you'd be screwed as the pin is no longer in contact with the slider...

NOTE: I haven't tested this as I only have one lock and don't wish to break it. In the future if I end up with a second lock and feel a little destructive I will though.

[globallockytoo]

very interesting but also very confusing. i am not quite sure what you said. More info please.

[datagram]

He's saying that when the plug is turned there is great risk of a user trying to remove the key. If that happens there are various possibilities of the connection between the wafer and the guide pin being severed or damaged.

dg

[Schuyler]

What we need is to find out how much force is required to ruin the cylinder at that moment. If people can damage it with a gentle tug that's pretty awful.

[datagram]

Hey guys I just found this website http://www.lockpickingforensics.com where the owner will accept donations. I'm sure that guy (some cunning genius, surely) would be happy to test all of these things if new Secure Keys or money with which to buy new Secure Keys was donated to him. And look, a helpful Donate button is right there on the front page!

dg

[FarmerFreak]

I'm sure it would take more than a gentle tug. ...But most people that are used to pin tumbler locks pull on the key when they get close to where the key is suppose to come out. Which isn't what they should be doing on a sidebar lock. They should wait for the sidebar to come out before pulling on the keys. That said, the question is how will it hold up over time if someone is always pulling (even if not very hard) on the key everytime they try to rotate the plug to the neutral position, until the key comes out?

Of course if the sidebar gets held up for a second (lack of lube? not quite the right position?). A frustrated person would likely pull really hard on the key to get it back out of the lock. ...Kind of unrelated, but I'm sure Globallock has seen vice grips attached to keys when all the customer had to do was push the cylinder in with his/her finger while pulling the key out.

And sorry about this being a little confusing Globallock. I was trying to cover the different possible scenarios, and quite possibly over explained things. I would like to have pictures to better explain it, but right now I don't have any. If you have the luxury of having one of these locks in your hands. And could take it apart, this would be easier to understand.

[FarmerFreak]

I should probably also mention that this problem could also happen in the Kwikset Smartkey locks. It's probably the cause of the typical pin being disconnected from the wafer problem... We've probably been chalking it up to other issues and missed this one. Of course the Schlage key is a stronger key than the kwikset key...

[lockinabox]

Hey guys I just found this website http://www.lockpickingforensics.com where the owner will accept donations. I'm sure that guy (some cunning genius, surely)

I would not trust that guy or his website. Everything on the site seems very sketchy! Also, what kind of parents would name their kid "datagram"? Too many red flags for me! I mean, really, who would put locks and pins under a scope thingy????