Master Ball Bearing explained

[sevesteen]

I'm relatively new to locks. I understand the typical ball bearing mechanism for padlocks--this appears to require that the key be used to re-lock. I just bought a couple of clearance Master locks at a local discounter. I was surprised to find ball bearing shackles in two of them, but I was also surprised to find that those were relockable without the key. Does anyone know of a diagram or disassembly of Master's ball bearing systems that explains how they work?

[GWiens2001]

It has to do with a non-key retaining cam.

Gordon

[sevesteen]

Had it explained to me elsewhere, then confirmed by disassembly of my 930. The center actuator (the part with cutouts for the balls) is spring loaded. When you operate the key, it is biased towards closing, but when the shackle is open it is blocked by the balls. When the shackle is fully closed the balls move into the shackle cutouts and no longer block rotation.