Adjusting pins

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 2:07

Just managed to save up to buy a lock that has removable pins, and now I don't know how to remove them. Grrrrrrr.
It is a lockwood residential lock, called a Nightlatch, and is DIY installation.

The key cylinder (key plug and hull) is a single unit, with a longish flatish pole coming out the back, which eventually I am supposed to stick into the case assembly at some point, maybe.

Now, this lock advertises 78, 000 combinations for the "pin tumbler mechanism," which I presume to be the pins.

But when looking at the key cylinder from the rear, it just has the round plug which the key is inserted into, with a little case thingie extending upwards from the cylinder which the pins are housed in. At the top of this little protrusion, it isn't solid, but rather has a brass plate in it, so I don't have ready access to the pins, so I can adjust them. How do I remove this stupid plate, but without wrecking the inner workings? I am sorely sorry that I am unable to post pictures.

Any help will be appreciated. I'll hang around ready to answer any questions.

by **Chrispy** » 26 Nov 2005 2:16

At the back of the cylinder should be a little circular ring that you can unscrew. It might have a little piece of brass stopping it from turning, just push it down (there's a spring under it) and unscrew the cap off the back.

Once the cap at the back is off, a circlip holding the shaft (the long flat piece of metal that you put into the nightlatch housing) will come off. Now you will need a plug follower of some sort and the key.

Put the key into the lock so that all the pins are at the shear line and put the plug follower at the back of the plug (where you removed the cap). Turn the plug 10 degrees or so and push the plug out of the lock, making sure you do not allow any space between the plug and the plug follower or else the top pins and springs will come out and get jammed.

Leave the plug follower inside the cylinder shell while you change the pin order or re-key the lock, or whatever you're going to do. But be warned, if you change the pin combo to something for which you have no key, you will have to pick the lock to get the pins at the shear line to change them next time.

If you do not have a plug follower, you can use a large pen, crayon or piece of dowel in it's place. If you have something that is that tiny bit too small, wrap it in electrical tape to thicken it up.

HTH
HTH.

by **Chrispy** » 26 Nov 2005 2:17

Awww geez.... double HTH. :oops:

by **vector40** » 26 Nov 2005 2:28

Alternately, if there's no screw-off cap, there'll probably be a C-shaped clip that you can push or pry off (probably with some effort). Same business.

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 2:56

God it. No screws on the back, and nothing that looks like a C clip.

Here, I'll try to describe it: You have the shaft coming out the back, and around that, resting along the edges of the hole it comes out of, is a metal disk, a bit like a washer with a chunk taken out of it (at the top).
Coming out of the hole as well, around teh washer, are 3, err . . . I dunno what they are.

Look, I'll make a picture in paint and see if I can get it posted.

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 2:58

Ok. You see? That roundish thing on the outside, witht he funny top, is like a washer and goes over the edge of the shaft hole. The three "things" also go out over the shaft whole 3/4 a millimetre of something, just with their lips over it.

by **vector40** » 26 Nov 2005 3:02

That washer-thing is the clip. Push it downward until it comes off.

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 3:13

$&$%^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just dropped half the pins! But anyway, thanks for your help guys. I got it. Very much appreciated. Now I'll just go and get my magnifying glass and electro-magnet . . .

by **vector40** » 26 Nov 2005 3:19

They ain't magnetic. If only.

But yeah, make sure you use a follower when you take the plug out, or there'll be trouble. You know what a plug follower is?

by **Chrispy** » 26 Nov 2005 3:24

The washer thing was the circlip I was talking about. And if you're trying to change the pin combo, you'll need a corresponding key.

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 3:27

okay, the plug is laying on the table, and ive only lost one key pin.

Im just having a whole heap of trouble stick the plug back in with only one set of pins in. I stick the spring in, but then I cant get the driver to stay there as I slip the plug in. Any pointers?

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 3:32

Oh jeeeeze. I managed to slip the plug in, a few degres off so the driver didn't get stuck in any of the empty holes, but then I heard this "click" and now the plug won't rotate, or move in and out.

Looks like 40 bucks down the drain.

I've gotta read my signature in future.

by **vector40** » 26 Nov 2005 3:35

Is the plug vertical (the normal "default" position)? Did a driver fall into a keypin hole?

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 3:37

yes. That is what happened. I turned the plug to soon, and it fell into teh hole before the one I wanted it to.

by **watchtherocks** » 26 Nov 2005 3:41

Looks like I am going to have to plug the drill in.

Adjusting pins

Adjusting pins

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