Cylinders, Pins and Springs

[Billy]

I have a bunch of old 1895 Yale cylinder locks and old cut keys that don't match. Iplan on picking the locks and removing the pins and springs.
My question is: How do I assemble the pins and springs in the cylinder to match the old keys. That would be one key per lock.
Thanks, Billy

[Sipe]

if you dissasemble the cylinder there will be two parts one with a key hole and one with the top pins and springs in it. take all the pins out and insert the key(into the one with the key hole) place a pin in the first hole if it sticks out of the hole or is not perfectly even with the top of the metal thing remove it and put aside. repeat this process with all the pins untill one lines up perfect with the top of the round thing with the key in it. once you have a pin thats the perfect size place a small strip of tape over it and move on to the next hole.Try all the pins in this hole until one is lined up perfectly*, tape it and move on. repeat untill you have taped pins in every hole. once you have this done undo the tape be carfull the pins dont fall out. now use tweasers to replace all the top pins and the springs into the other piece(the one without the key hole) then slide the one with the key in it into the piece that now has the top pins and the springs in it. after this is done (and the cylinder is reassembled) replace it into the lock and remove the key. then lock it and try your key. *If none of the pins fit then you might have to either obtain aditional pins(from a cheap padlock or with a pinning kit) or file down existing pins

[McSwede]

Billy...locate a key gauge for Yale...this will be your easiest method...i would also advise to replace all the pins and springs with new after you've cleaned the parts(shell and plug) thoroughly...it may take some time to get them all done but well worth it to have cylinders that will function properly for years to come...just start with one at a time...hope this helps...good luck.

[McSwede]

by the way...Yale's first patent on the pin tumbler cylinder lock was in 1861 then again in 1865...you have some very old locks...be careful when cleaning them...i'm not a collector but the locks you have may be worth something to someone that does.

[Chucklz]

From the alt.locksmithing faq

One person who is willing to offer free advice about
old doors and door locks is Dr. Dorlock (keyl@airmail.net) who tells us,
"My only interest is saving old doors from "butchery" by professionals
who do not know new solutions to old problems."

I assume that by 1895, you are referring to the vintage of the locks, not a specific model number as my quick search has failed to turn up any model information.

If your locks are indeed that old, don't attempt to rekey them yourself, in fact, dont do anything to them. Contact the lock museum http://www.lockmuseum.com/ to see what should be done for your locks. Whatever you do, don't file a darned thing!

If infact, you are referring to a model of lock, still dont file plug/pins, far better to purchase what you need than to do a poor job of it.[/code][/quote]

[Billy]

I want to thank everyone for their replies. Just to let you know these locks are from an old postoffice that was renovated thirty years ago in San Francisco. They are lock boxes that I make coin banks with. New keys are hard to get for me. I had a locksmith who would do them for $7.00 each X 250 locks is a lot of money for this old fart.
Thanks again, Bill

[Chucklz]

Woah, old post office! You may have the fabled reverse 8 keyway. Almost impossible to get a blank/duplicate made. In fact, its illegal in the USl I do beleive. You should be able to get a Yale pin kit for about 50-80 dollars US, or you could try rearranging all the old pins. You are going to need some kind of plug follower. Unfortunately I dont know what diameter follower you need, as Yale has made locks that require different diameters. PM if you want more info on that.