Disassembling a Kwikset lock -- help plz!

[Wavesonics]

I bought a Kwikset deadbolt as advised by http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/ and have taken off the cosmetic face plate. Now the tutorial shows the back of the lock completely exposed



But mine looks nothing like that and I cannot see how to remove anything to get down to that.

Mine has a rather large housing that extends back with a tail of sorts (moves with that actual lock) that extends even further (it's black metal).



Now I searched the FAQs and found something on Kwikset locks but it talks about cut aways and notches and looking at mine I can't decern what their talking about. I think it maybe a different model.

On mine however there is a little metal cap which is easily removed exposing the springs and bolts. So I removed the 2nd - 5th springs and bolts (as advised in the tutorial).

Now the tutorial talks about retaining pins and all this other crap, do I still need to remove more of this lock or am I ok to start from here? Also is there a way to remove the tail piece? and is there even a point to doing that?

[mcm757207]

There should be a small "U" shaped retaining clip thingy that keeps the plug from falling out, you have to spread it apart to pull it off, then pick the cylinder over or put the key in and turn it, and use a plug follower to follow it out. Sorry if i'm very vague... it's sorta hard to explain.

[Benroy44]

If you go to the Kwikset web site you can download there manual for repining there locks.
http://www.kwikset.com/website/Asp/KW_n ... alZone.asp
and the best thing is it's free.
Cya Duane

[Eyes_Only]

If you still have the whole housing intact this is what you can do. Take a safety pin with the sharp tip cut off and use that to depress the retaining pin. Now dont let go of the retaining pin yet, keep it depressed and using your fingers unscrew the plug nut. When thats off you can let go of and pull out the retaining pin, theres also a spring in there too so careful not to lose it. Once all of thats done you can pick it or whatever to turn the plug and then you can remove the plug itself with the aid of a follower. Btw, are you sure thats a kwikset lock? It looks more like a schlage lock to me by the use of a retaining pin and plug nut unless kwikset started to use that configuration too. Well anyways, I hope I understood your situation correctly and that my lil rant offers some help.

[technik]

There should be a small "U" shaped retaining clip thingy that keeps the plug from falling out

Thats what hes talking about above, their called cir-clips.

Circlips look like this:



If yours has holes in the top, you'll need a special plier-type tool as seen below:



They have points that go into the holes, and spread the ring apart, allowing you to remove it.

Similarly, you can use a 2 screwdrivers (takes a bit off practice) to pry each side off (do this if the tool is unavailable or if the clip doesnt have holes.)

Good luck, have any queries or problems give us a shout

HTH.

[HeadHunterCEO]

There should be a small "U" shaped retaining clip thingy that keeps the plug from falling out

Thats what hes talking about above, their called cir-clips.

Circlips look like this:



If yours has holes in the top, you'll need a special plier-type tool as seen below:



They have points that go into the holes, and spread the ring apart, allowing you to remove it.

Similarly, you can use a 2 screwdrivers (takes a bit off practice) to pry each side off (do this if the tool is unavailable or if the clip doesnt have holes.)

Good luck, have any queries or problems give us a shout

HTH.

thank god there are NO cir clips in a KW or ultramax lock

[technik]

yup, there the most annoying fastener around. Plus, you usually get s frustrated you either cut them, or bend them so warped you'll never be able to use them agen. Stupid invention if u ask me

[skeleton_keys]

Like they said, remove the circular retaining clip, and simply doing that will allow the tailpiece to come right off. Yeah, there is a point to that, as you asked, because without removing the tailpiece you can't remove the cylinder from the housing. The picture you showed of the back of a lock is just a different kind of retaining device, that's all. With that one, you'd use a thin wire or screwdriver to press down the retaining pin (it's springloaded) and unscrew the plug nut, allowing you to remove the lock cylinder.

Once you've got the tailpiece and clip off the back, insert the key into the lock and turn it 90 degrees to the right. Place your follower against the back of the cylinder and slowly slide it out of the housing, never breaking contact with the follower. It's horrid for a beginner if the pins and springs all pop out. Leave the follower in the housing while you do whatever you're going to do to the cylinder. When you go to put it back in, remember to keep the cylinder at that 90 degree angle, or else the pins might jam. Reattach the tailpiece and retaining clip, and voila! You're done. Hope this helped.

[skeleton_keys]

P.S. Forgot to mention. . .it can be really tough to get the circular clip on and off the cylinder. . .since you probably don't have the special tool so gracefully provided in the picture above, you can use two thin screwdrivers as mentioned, or a pair of needle nose pliers. . .brace the ends of the pliers against the ends of the clip, and try to spread it and push it off. It's tricky, and you may slip a few times, but eventually it should pop.