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Removing stuck key?

Information about locks themselves. Questions, tips and lock diagram information should be posted here.

Removing stuck key?

Postby dboeren » 2 Jan 2008 23:49

Something odd happened earlier tonight. I inserted the proper key into my Schlage deadbolt, and could not get it out. It's definately the right key, as it turns freely and I only own one Schlage anyway.

No matter how hard I pull at it, the key will not come out even a little bit. I can turn it in either direction, and I feel a small click when it lines up vertical, but it doesn't pull free. I was thinking of removing the cylinder for a better view, but it comes out the back and the key won't pass through the hole. I'm not sure it would gain me much anyway.

Any ideas what the problem might be and how to get the key out? I would prefer not to destroy the lock. It may be possible to use a plug follower and take the core of the cylinder out the front of the lock, I didn't want to try anything else until I asked here since I don't know what might be happening.

Thanks for any suggestions!
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Postby Beyond » 3 Jan 2008 13:03

Did you try to re-key the cylinder?
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Re: Removing stuck key?

Postby keysman » 3 Jan 2008 15:09

dboeren wrote: No matter how hard I pull at it, the key will not come out even a little bit. I can turn it in either direction, and I feel a small click when it lines up vertical, but it doesn't pull free.



Sounds like the tailpiece is not tight enough ... pinch the key against the face of the lock and pull the key out while holding the cylinder in .
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Postby Afisch » 3 Jan 2008 15:23

If nothing else works, try removing the C-clip, then pushing the cylinder out with a plug follower, then you can have a better look, and have your key back.
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Postby MBI » 3 Jan 2008 15:42

It's uncommon that a regular key would get stuck in a lock like that. When this happens it's usually due to a back-cut key or a bump key that has the ramps cut too steep. In any case, most likely you have a tumbler that is jammed and won't lift to allow the removal of the key, It could be scratched up from being picked a lot, grit in the lock, or lack of lube. Or lock gremlins.

This is the point at which I would recommend to most people that they call a locksmith, and/or replace the lock. If calling a locksmith isn't an option, or if you're simply determined to get yourself in even deeper, continue reading...

Get a can of a good quality lock lube, with the little straw attachment. Try to squirt a bit of lube into the keyway along the sides of the key. Then gently rock the bow of the key up and down a bit to try to loosen things up and spread the lube around. After rocking up and down for a minute or so, try gently wiggling the key in and out of the lock while continuing the up and down movement. Don't be forceful. You're trying to free it up, not jam it worse. Be patient, and try this for a minute or so. If the key still won't come out, move to the next step.

Get a long, thin shim. Something like a Weiser Shim (pictured below) or a Peterson mini-knife. You'll need to cut a corner off the tip of the shim so the front edge is around 45 degrees, so it's like the ramp on the front of the key. You're going to try to use the angled tip of the shim to lift the pins. The next instructions assume your schlage deadbolt has the "C" keyway, which is the standard keyway Schlage uses on household locks in the US and Canada.

On the right side of the keyway there is a single ward that protrudes into the keyway. Hold the shim level to the ground (the long axis of the shim should be parallel to the horizon, like in the picture below). Make sure the slanted edge you cut on the tip is facing upwards. Insert it right above the ward. You'll probably need to keep the bottom edge of the shim resting on the ward to use it as a guide. Slowly insert the shim into the lock; you may need to wiggle it up and down slightly as you get to each pin in order to lift it. You'll probably encounter more resistance when you get to the stuck pin. When this happens don't force it, but continue to wiggle the shim up and down a bit to try to free the pin. If needed you can gently (VERY gently) pry with the shim, using it as a lever with the ward as the fulcrum to pry against. If you're able to fully insert the shim as far as a key, you should be able to remove the key at this point.

If you're not able to remove the key, remove the shim and try again on the left side of the key. There are two longitudinal grooves in the left side of the key. Insert it along the upper groove using the same procedure as you did on the other side. This will insert the shim slightly higher into the lock, and allow you to lift the pins even higher that you did on the other side of the keyway. Continue until the shim is fully inserted or you're able to remove the key.

If this doesn't work, hide all evidence that you tried to fix it yourself and call a locksmith like you probably should have done in the first place. Good luck. I hope this helps you out.

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Postby linty » 3 Jan 2008 16:33

i'm with keysman. I usually see this as a result of a loose cap and the solution is to push in on the plug while you pull out on the key.
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Postby freakparade3 » 3 Jan 2008 16:43

The weiser shim is a wonderful tool. It's uses are nearly endless.
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Postby Proctor » 3 Jan 2008 17:00

I have this problem with 1 of my locks, if i get a torch and look into my lock right down at the bottom of the lock is a spring..

This makes the lock unturnable..but i can put the key in and take it out but sometimes it gets stuck a little bit.
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Postby freakparade3 » 3 Jan 2008 17:33

Proctor wrote:I have this problem with 1 of my locks, if i get a torch and look into my lock right down at the bottom of the lock is a spring..

This makes the lock unturnable..but i can put the key in and take it out but sometimes it gets stuck a little bit.


Turn the lock harder. I have yet to see a spring that would not shear off. Why don't you take the lock apart and fix it?
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Postby Proctor » 3 Jan 2008 17:37

Not sure how to..not sure if u have read another of my posts but i said that i have a lock with a " rectangle 2 on the end of the lock where the pins are located and i thought that was how to take it apart..but its not.
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Re: Removing stuck key?

Postby MBI » 3 Jan 2008 18:07

keysman wrote:Sounds like the tailpiece is not tight enough ... pinch the key against the face of the lock and pull the key out while holding the cylinder in .


Geez, it's been so long since I've had that happen it didn't even occur to me. There was only one reply to the original question when I started writing my reply up above about using a shim. You must have written yours and submitted it before I finished writing my long winded answer. I wish I had seen your solution before I hit submit on mine. Your idea is probably more likely the cause, plus it's a much easier solution to test out.
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keysman MBI

Postby raimundo » 4 Jan 2008 10:14

to elaborate on what keysman and MBI are saying, if you have a loose tail piece, when you start to pull out the key, the plug pulls out a bit and this makes the holes the pin columns are in become offset at the shear line so that the bottom pins cannot go up into the cylinder. the harder you pull at it the more likely that you will cause one of the pins to put a dent on one of the 45 degree angles that it should be riding up. If you cause such a dent, you are creating another problem that could have the same result. Tighten the cap on the back of the plug to finger tight, then back off a click or two of the little retainer pin rack on the inner part of the cap. then try to remove the key. examine the key for dents along the pull out slopes. If you tighten the cap, and still have the problem, you may already have caused the dents, with the cap tightened as mentioned, put slight pulling pressure on the key and rap the cylinder upsidedown on a piece of softwood, (common two by four pine) which will cause the pins to jump away from the dent. the pine wood should prevent damage to the cylinder.
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Postby dboeren » 4 Jan 2008 21:13

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions. I think the tailpiece sounds like a likely candidate so I'll try that first. This is just a practice lock, not a door lock, so if I can't get it out it's not really a serious problem. Not enough to warrant a visit from a locksmith anyway. If in the end I can't salvage it I will just cannibalize the pins and write it off.
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Postby dboeren » 8 Jan 2008 10:21

Turns out that the tailpiece was indeed the problem. As a test I pressed the cylinder against the face of the lock and was able to remove the key. After determining that this was the problem I tightened the tailpiece and now the key can be inserted and removed normally.

Thanks!
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