Stuck Key-Sargent&Greenleaf 833

[Noxlox]

I have a Sargent&Greenleaf 833, the "Control Key" is stuck in the lock and I cannot disassemble the lock for maintenance.

[datagram]

How is it stuck? Is the handle broken? A picture would be very helpful.

[n2oah]

Send it to me, I'll fix it.

[Noxlox]

No, the key handle is not broken.

OK, here's the full monty... I opened the lock with the "Control Key" (not knowing what the control Key was all about) I set the lock down and the two pieces of the lock came apart. Knowing little about this type of padlock, I slid the two pieces back together, with little effort and tried to lock it back. It would not lock and the key is now stuck...

[mitch.capper]

It most likely was put together wrong, make sure the shackle is fully down, also try getting the key out with it apart as the cylinder should be rotatable then.

[Noxlox]

Mitch,
I'll agree it was surley put together wrong. the shackle does go down all the way but the key won't turn to lock it in. when I open the shackle and turn it 90, the lock body will not seperate, at all.

[Squelchtone]

Mitch,
I'll agree it was surley put together wrong. the shackle does go down all the way but the key won't turn to lock it in. when I open the shackle and turn it 90, the lock body will not seperate, at all.

Slam it on the counter. I had this happen to my 833.

and like mitch.capper the wise shaoman of 833 padlocks said, make sure the shackle is fully down.

compare this pic to your lock and let us know which state it is in. If you can lift out the shackle all the way, slam it home with the palm of your hand, it should go lower than it is.



Squelchtone

[Noxlox]

squelchtone,
thanks for the pix. the lock shackle is NOT seated all the way, tried slamming it, it feels real solid. I can hear a loose piece inside, I think one of the steel ball bearings is loose, maybe sitting below the shackle keeping it from closing fully. I guess the key won't release until the shackle is locked, but what is keeping the lock body from seperating?

[mitch.capper]

Make sure you have turned the control key the right way. As one way it will only allow the lock to operate like normal not come apart. Obviously making sure you tried turning the key completely the other way. Also the body will only come apart when the shackle is fully pulled as far out as it can go.

Try those two things and hoepfully one will work.

[Squelchtone]

squelchtone,
thanks for the pix. the lock shackle is NOT seated all the way, tried slamming it, it feels real solid. I can hear a loose piece inside, I think one of the steel ball bearings is loose, maybe sitting below the shackle keeping it from closing fully. I guess the key won't release until the shackle is locked, but what is keeping the lock body from seperating?

Can you yank on the shackle and actually pull it up all the way and open the lock? And can you still slide the two lock halves apart? If so you can just check and make sure everything is properly put together. Here are some pictures of my 833 in pieces. Compare to yours. Another pitfall is the green lock cylinder not seating all the way down, which makes the round grey part with the ball bearing indentations not seat all the way down.

http://nynex.s5.com/TOOOL-US-Boston/locks/SargentGreenleaf/833c/

So make sure the key is turned all the way to the left, and that the 2 halves which slide together are slid all the way together. Then open the shackle, turn it 180 degrees outward, slip the lock apart, find the loose part, compare to my pics, reassemble, slam the shackle home, and turn the key back to starting position and remove it.

btw.. the shackle... if you can open the lock and see the base of it, has a pin inserted through it so you can't fully remove the shackle. That pin isn't centered, but if the pin has shifted too much in either direction, it won't allow the shackle to slide down into the lower body of the lock. Make sure that part isn't loose

[Noxlox]

The shackle does come out all of the way, and rotates freely, but the lock body won't seperate. I just noticed that the key turns just to the point where it is inline with the lock body, it seems like it should have room to turn just a bit more to the left, but it stops hard in the "inline" position...

[Noxlox]

Gents... I cracked the code! rotating the shackel 90 open, then pushing it down hard enough, was the combo to getting the key to release the lock body.

Mitch, thanks for the back up!

squelchtone, thanks for the pics!

[mitch.capper]

Great to hear you got it all sorted.