Removing tailpiece

[frnak]

I bought a new MAG replacement cylinder today with the hopes of using it as a practice lock by removing the last 4 pins.

I've read through :this:, but it doesn't seem to make much sense or apply to the lock I have, neither do any of the topics which discuss tailpiece removal.




Any information on how to remove the tailpiece, if that's the right word, to access the actual cylinder would be great. Thanks a lot. I'm sorry if this has already been covered somewhere.

[hzatorsk]

Can't easily tell from your picture... but it looks like a snap ring is holding the tail piece in. Remove the (black?) ring and the tail piece should slide out.

[Guitar_J]

From the picture, it looks like there is a retaining ring around the end of the plug. Perhaps removing that ring will allow you to remove the tailpiece. From there you will want to use a plug follower to push the plug out through the front of the lock, Since you want to remove the last four pins completely.. you need to remove the last for springs and top pins too... Otherwise you'll mess up the springs and that's never fun.

You'll have to remove the plug... then carefully, pull the follower out, you might want to do this while holding the lock inside a clear plastic bag or someting similar... espically if you don't have replacement parts... when you remove the follower, a top pin and a spring should come out of the top of the cylinder body for each pin stack... so if you want to remove the last 4, then pull it out until you get 4 pins and 4 springs, then turn your plug so the keyway is horizontal rather than vertical... (90 degrees of rotation) and push it back into the cylinder body. if you forget to rotate it, the top of your pin stack will go into the hole in the plug for the 5th bottom pin.

If you let all of the pins out of the top.. or decide to reload the top.. just use a pair of tweezers and your plug follower... put all the springs into the holes in the cylinder using the tweezers, they should go all the way inside... if not.. you'll have to do them one at a time... anywho... either way.. push the plug follower in and get it at the edge of one of the holes in the cylinder body for a top pin to go in... put the top pin in and push it down with your tweezers, while keeping pressure on it with the tweezers, push the plug follower over top of it... repeat until you have all the pins loaded that you want...

Hope this helps.. cause I spent long enough typing it...

[Lockpick Dan]

that's what it looks like to me too, if that's not it i don't know, but it sure looks like that's the case

[frnak]

Sorry about the picture, wasn't sure what to really get in there.

Anyway, how do you actually remove the ring? I tried to pry it off with a small screwdriver but it doesn't seem to be budging whatsoever.

And I'll be very very thankful for that very helpful-looking walkthrough once I get this ring off, Guitar. Thanks a lot.

[randmguy]

Its not a snap ring. Its an E-clip...The folks at MAG install the thing with the center post in the top of the vertical slot and each of the end posts in the horizontal slots. The best way to get it out is to take a small (think jeweler's) screwdriver, pry one end out and then up above the horizontal slot. Once that is out, its easy to either pry it out the rest of the way or remove it with a pair of needlenose pliers. After removing the thing take it to the nearest hardware store and buy a new one because (Surprise!) the clips MAG uses are junk and prying it out usually warps it out of shape and its doubtful that you'll be able to bend it back without snapping it .

[WhiteHat]

yep - these types of clips are used quite a lot on lockwoods - I hate them.... it's a strong word but I do....

I just get my plyers/wire cutter and stick the lock in a vice and end up destroying the clip entirely by the end of it.... really good to take out your frustration....

[HeadHunterCEO]

those things suck

rock it up with a kwick set tool and slip a small driver in the top

it will pop off.

almost always needs to be closed up a little bit with some pliers afterwood.

if you are in a jam and need to reinstall asap throw the clip away and throw a loop of picture wire around it and twist it tight with pliers .

make sure whatever you are using as a follower cover the e clip groove or you will be in a for nasty surprise at rea ssy

[Luke]

Lockwoods, use C clips, Yales use E clips. Just a quick generalisation for Whitehat. You guys may have them mixed up. But Whitehat, to remove a C clip, push the ring around the plug a couple of times with the screw driver to losen it up, the with this end of the ----> C facing down, wedge the flat head screw driver in there, then twist the Screw Driver and just pull off with the screw driver.

[WhiteHat]

will have to try that..