i'm an idiot - but how do i take the front of the lock off?

[mccammog]

So I want to dissasemble and remove pins, but none of the guides tell me how to take the frontmost metal plate off so I can get to the inner workings.

My lock looks like this from the front right now:

http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/SchlageFront.jpg

So how do I remove that big plate?

I know - I am an idiot!

Thanks in advance,

Cameron

[Shrub]

Click the picture on my post and look for Illusions repinning guide,

You dont take the front plate off, you remove the plug,

[mccammog]

That explains it... haha.

thanks again.

[Romstar]

Yeah, what Shrub said.

Romstar

[Raccoon]

I do hope you have a plug follower.

[illusion]

I couldn't find my plug follower several days back and did it fine using a rolled up toilet paper tube.

You roll it up, and then let it expand inside the lock - perfect size. The bummer of this is that it's kinda fiddly to use, but if I ever get stuck again, I know where the bog roll is.

[horsefeathers]

The bummer of this is that it's kinda fiddly to use, but if I ever get stuck again, I know where the bog roll is.

'Bummer' + 'bog roll'

Very good Ben

Not suggesting that you have an anal fixation mind!

regards

[Shrub]

Ask Aqua about useing rolled up paper or card

If its not right you can soon get in a mess, try a wooden spoo from the kitchen if your stuck

[mccammog]

for a plug follower I just use a marker with the cap on - shockingly it is pretty much perfect.

one question though guys - once i put the plug follower in and cover the first pin i put back in, i find it impossible to put in more than just one more!

Anyone know what I mean?

Normally I do this:

1. put spring and driver in one side with tweasers.
2. put a pick through the other side to hold the driver down so it doesn't just shoot back up and out.
3. set down tweasers, while still restraining pins with a pick.
4. slide my pinky in the side i put the tweasers in until it is on the pick, then slide the pick out.
5. slide the plug follower through the side my pinky isn't in, and once it reaches my finger just move my finger and the plug follower will hold it down.

so the problem is that once i have one spring&driver set in, i find it impossinble to put in more than one more - leaving me stuck practicing on a 2 pin tumbler!



thanks for all the help up to now, any help on this problem?

[Shrub]

You seem to be making a mountain out of a mole hill there buddy,

1) Insert all springs,

2) Insert plug follower into the back of the lock so its just on the edge of the last hole,

3) With you tweezers insert the top pin in the last hole and hold it down,

4) Slide the follower in over that last pin,

5) With your tweezers insert the next pin and hold it down,

6) Slide the follower over that pin,

7) Repeat until all the pins are in,

Insert your pins into your plug,

9) Insert the plug into your lock at an angle of rotation more than 10',

10) Whilst pushing the plug in you should be pushing the follower out,


Hope this helps,

[Raccoon]

I also recommend a good pair of pin tweezers. Lockmasters sells the one I use for $11 (i think). They're pretty hefty tweezers, but they have the necessary reach to get to the back of the plug, and a groove to hold the pin.

The groove is also perfect in that the back side of the pin is still exposed so that your plug follower can push against it, "binding" the pin in place so you can release it and push it down into the chamber, allowing the follower to move over it to the next chamber.

Once you've master keyed a building, you become VERY proficient at this.

[mccammog]

thx racoon and shrub - i guess i just need more practice at holding pins down with the tweasers after dropping em.

thx - il let you know how it goes when i get 3 in.

[Raccoon]

Another thing I learned is, I need more plug followers. I had to drill out my acrylic follower from Kwikset so it could accept the cam (shaft?) that was riveted onto the tail end of the plug. So hollow plug followers definitely belong in your toolbox.

[mccammog]

done- and picked~

and thanks for the tip.