spool pins

[uklockpicka]

What are security pins?


Spool pins (Ways and means)

Spool pin are often found in Yale’s, Americans, Federals, Masters, Abus etc
Spool pins are just on of many security pins, they are called a spool pin because they look like a spool. They look like a capital letter (I). Thing is with these pins they are more frustrating than anything, because when you pick a lock without spools in, you can feel a see the slight plug rotation and the sound of the regular pin been pushed past the shear line and setting and dropping into place. Where as the spool pin gives exactly the same sounds, and feedback BUT when you feel like the pin is set really you’re stuck in a false set. Which means the spool pin is stuck at the shear line like this:
Here you can see a spool pin stuck at the shear line. You can identify a spool pin either by the false set they give round about 5 – 10 degrees plug rotation, or when you see or feel the plug rotate, at this point go back through the pack of pins and press down on every pin individually, the ones that are spool pins, when you press down on them they will make your tension wrench go anti clockwise, the opposite to the direction of which you are applying it. The way of tackling them is like this

• Firstly let the tension wrench go the way the spool wants it to, keeping the pressure on the wrench at the same time and push down on the spool pin, when the pin falls into the set position, you will feel the plug spring back clockwise, and that’s it set.


Tip

Light tension is best for spool pins, and to indentify set pins just give the lock a shake, the set pins will be loose and you can here them shake.


heres a vid on how the spool pin operates :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enFRn189Qo0

this is not my video by the way it is off youtube by tmax258

[datagram]

Good information, but if the lock is mounted you can't shake the cylinder A better method is to just lift pins. Those that are set will have no spring pressure on them and will move very easily.

dg

[racerboy59]

Thanks. That helped me understand much better. Now I have to find a lock with spools in it to practise.

[Olson Burry]

The yale 5 pin front door locks (UK) have usually have 2 spools in. I have a 6 pin yale that came with 3 in. I put another spool in there from an older lock that shakes things up a bit.

They can be pricey though, my new 6 pin genuine yale was about £20, 5 pins should be a bit cheaper. It is quite nice as if you open and turn the lock 180 there is a panel at the bottom that slides out allowing you to take the key pins out and switch them around easily without faffing with the springs and driver pins.

I've collected quite a few locks from friends and family after they knew I was starting a collection. Sometimes people change the locks on their house and throw the old ones in a draw or what have you so it's worth asking around.

[uklockpicka]

thanx mate allkeep that in mind i shudda thought on : )

[TheSkyer]

Abus padlocks tend to have spool pins (4 out of 5) and cost about 10 bucks. They are a real hastle to pick as a beginner, I suggest you try it It's not a huge amount of money and you get a great lock in return.