Stuck Pin in Tubular Lock

[briandpatterson]

I have a tubular lock (7 pin) and one of the pins is stuck all the way in (depressed). I sprayed it with WD40 and gave it a few gentle taps. The pin seemed to come out a bit but went back in when tapped more. It's almost as if the spring is broken behind the pin. I can't tip the lock forward to get the pin out so I need another way to get this pin out. My assumption is that if I can get it all the way out - then I can insert the key, get the lock open and get the lock fixed. Does anyone have any suggestions on fixing a stuck pin?

[unlisted]

Got any photos?

And this may be best left to a locksmith..

[briandpatterson]

I could take one but my assumption is that even macrofocus on my camera wouldn't show the pin clearly.... ? It's essentially flush with the back of the cylindar.

[unlisted]

More interested in the type of lock, side/back of said lock...

[KokomoLock]

If the spring is collapsed under the pin it will fall as you describe. The only way I know to remove the pin is to disassemble the lock and remove the pin. I have seen the pins "pop" out of place on very worn tubular locks, but I don't think you could very easily pull one out the front of the lock.

[Engineer]

Yes, it does sound a bit like the spring may have gone behind that pin. It does happen, but it is pretty rare.

Have you tried pushing on it with a short piece of wire or something like that? If it is just stuck, sometimes that can free it. If the pin feels "hard" (no movement at all) then it could be stuck fast. If it is a broken pin, it *might* still feel hard, but shaking the lock (face down) and slowly tilting it back up towards you, should reveal the pin has come out - And if you push it back in, it should just slide in with almost no resistance.

[Raymond]

Check the key for the approximate depth the pin should be at to open. You just have to get it back to that level to get it apart. The top pin next to the spring is probably what is stuck. Wiggling the center post may dislodge it.

1. Slap the face of the lock with a light plastic hammer or a small regular hammer onto a piece of wood held on top of the face of the lock. You just want to use the inertia to bring the pin forward.

2. Put a trace of super glue on the end of a tooth pick and pull it back out.

3. Using a very, very small piece of wire with a sharp edge on the tip, run it around the edge of the pin hole. In picking, you might have scratched a bit of metal from the hole inward that is holding the outer pin captive.

LOL

[briandpatterson]

The pin pushes in with no resistance. I used two needles and pulled it all the way forward and then inserted the key hoping I would then be able to open the lock but it just pushed the pin all the way down again.

Like I said - I can't tip it forward so at this point I'm not really sure what to do except maybe drill just that pin out?

My new theory is that I could pull the pin all the way forward - super glue it in place. Then take a copy of my key and use the bench grinder to make the "slot" in the key deeper and wider so it doesn't touch the pin as I insert the key. Since the spring isn't working my assumption is that the pin is of no consequence in preventing me from opening the lock so glueing it would be ok. I'm sure a locksmith could drill the whole thing out fairly quickly but it just bugs me that a simple little pin keeps me from opening it and there is nothing I can do about it.

It is an Ace lock, 7 pin. It isn't an Ace II, but rather original (old) lock. It's on a storage unit that my uncle owns. I typically do all his maintenance at the facility (even have 7 pin tubular pick which work great on the locks usually) but when locks break I usually beat myself up trying to get in before the locksmith can get out.

[unlisted]

Okay, lock you don't own. Thread locked. PM me if you wish to discuss this more. You should call a lockie, or do what you wish with it. But we don't offer advice here for people to pick locks they do not own. (or locks in use)