Problems with a lock

[Kriss]

Ok, so I got my picking set two days ago.. Today, I went to the local hardware store and got myself a lock, 7 pin sylinder lock produced by a national company called "Triowing"... But anyways, with my pickset followed a book written by Charles Edward Remington III. In the first pages of learning how to pick, he says that you should open your lock (the ones described there is 5 pins) and remove all but 2 pins.. Problem is that I don't have the faintest idea on how to open this particular lock. I have some photographs if it might help:

This is my pickset and the lock:


Top of my practice lock:


Backside:


Backside overwiev:


So.. Does anyone know how I can open this lock without destroying it, do I have the correct tools (I assume so)?

Thanks for all help, Kristoffer.

[Einzee]

There appears to be a "C" clip on the backside. If you remove the clip, the plug will come out when all of the pins are at their shearline (either by key or pick). I would use a plug follower to keep the drivers in their place. If you remove the plug without a follower, the drivers and springs will fall out of place. After the plug is out and the follower is in its place, simply remove the follower slowly and release one driver/spring at a time. Do this cautiously because the driver and spring will fly away and may never be seen again.

Now the very important part. When putting this back together, make certain that whatever drivers/springs you leave in the lock will have pins in the same holes in the plug. When inserting the plug, turn it 90 degrees first and then push the follower out using the plug. Turn the plug to the "locked" position and re-install the "C" clip and you are ready to start.

Take your time and study what parts go where and be sure to retain all parts for future use in your practice lock.

Good luck!

[illusion]

Click my signature and find my guide to taking apart a lock... Covers it nicely.

Cheers..

[Einzee]

Yeah. What he said.

[keysman]

Interesting method.. and it would work VERY well if you just needed to rekey the lock.
I don't understand how you could remove SOME of the top pins / springs without having them all drop out.
How would you go about reloading the top pins and springs?
I suppose you could use the plug to hold the top pins/springs in ,if you are careful.

Wouldn't it be much easier to just find a piece of tubing,or dowel the correct diameter and make a follower?

Do a search for plug follower , I am sure you will find at least a dozen 'household" items that will make a suitable follower that will allow you to replace some or all of the top pins/ springs

[p1ckf1sh]

Wouldn't it be much easier to just find a piece of tubing,or dowel the correct diameter and make a follower?
[...]
Do a search for plug follower , I am sure you will find at least a dozen 'household" items that will make a suitable follower that will allow you to replace some or all of the top pins/ springs

I don't know if it is on the list yet, but on locks with the back end open (i.e. no euro-profile double cylinders) you can use a Micro-Maglite (the one that takes just one AAA battery) very well. It is almos exactly the size of an europrofile plug. Remove ring, turn plug, push plug out by inserting the micromaglite. All the pins are securely in place. Pull back the micromag slowly until the first pin appears, push down on it with something, pull back, slowly allow pin to some up by rising "something"-tool, rinse, repeat. Repinning works just the same, other way around. The benefit I see? Well, you get a well lit working area during repinning . Requires a vice, though, or something else to secure the sylinder in.

Works great for me.

[maxxed]

Follower tools can be made from hollow brass tubes available at local hobby shops. Measure the diameter of the core of the lock and find the matching diameter. If there is no exact match for the diameter then go 1 size larger, cut a slot lengthwise in the tube so thet it compresses in the lock. This will stop it from sliding out on its own.

[mh]

Do NOT take the C clip out yet!

Hi Wrenchman,

Your hairclip tool is very useful if you have a double cylinder, and you can't insert a plug follower from the back.

But if the back of the lock is open, like in the original post, it's quite easy to keep the pins and spring in by inserting something from the back that follows the plug - a plug follower...

Before I read about plug followers, I thought that pins and springs that fly around are part of the game...

[raimundo]

the hair clip tool is very interesting, I had never seen one before, on the lock pictured, it sits very nicely on the flat outer edge, but to use it on the round curve of the lock pictured in the beginning of the thread, I would suggest that it be secured in place with rubber bands so that it wont slip sideways on the outside of the lock. Does John Falle make and adjustable hairclip ?Just be sure to work on a towel or other surface that will immediatly dampen the bounce and roll of any pins and springs that get away.

[Varjeal]

Stickied post by Wrenchman here: viewtopic.php?p=141541#141541

[Wrenchman]

Thanks Varjeal.

I´ll be making more guides, well I have one in mind, but I´ll let it be a surprise.