ACEII Cam Lock

[frollard]

Okay, just picked one of these up to replace a drilled out one that was on a pinball machine I got my dad for pop's day - whatever the case.


I've seen tubulars before, and I always thought that similar to regular pin tumblers, the drivers forced the pins all the way 'out'. (as far as they'd go). This isnt the case however - they all 'settle' less than a milimeter from the depth they are supposed to be sitting. Why is this? (Deep cuts on key = longer pin = protrudes most within housing. Shallow cuts = short pins = barely protruding within housing)


Second question = Picked up a definately NOT ACEII quality tubular, fashioned a wrench from an allen key. works good for tensioning, HOWEVER, once I get it picked 1 increment CW (the dir it should go), only about 2 of the pins bind. The rest are ROCK SOLID, will not budge a fraction of an inch/millimeter. even with no tension on it. even tried jiggling tension back and forth - those pins will NOT be pushed in. do they take copious amounts of force to push? (dont wanna push too hard)


Thanks.

[frollard]

<slaps forehead>

can someone please move to 'locks' forum.

thanks.

[Exodus5000]

I've been manually pin by pin picking tubular locks in the fashion lately as well. A few times I experienced the problem you're describing and though i'm not completely certain of the cause of the problem I find that after continuing to manipulate the lock for a while they give way again. Push down on the pin while working your allen wrench back and forth and see if it loosens up.

[frollard]

not to say "I've tried everything" because, it'd be working if I had, but honestly, I understand the make of the lock, the function of each part, and how it all jumbles together. but these pins, they literally sieze - anything from no tension, to jiggling back and forth tension, to HARD tension that pin WONT budge...that said, I have a ground-off-nub key and it works just fine inserting in the 'picked' position to reset the lock.

idea: its a brand new lock - lube? (smelled of oil out of the packaging, so I think it should be okay)