Resetting a Schlage SecureKey from the inside?

[Squelchtone]

I came back home from vacation, and my lock was working fine. The next week, however, I found that my dad was using the blue reset key as a spare key, so I got him a new key. This week however, he has put away the blue reset key, but the lock mysteriously does not let my key turn. It was unfortunate that I was late for school because of my unopenable lock. I need to find a way to reset the SecureKey from the inside. I have no lockpicking tools whatsoever, and I've heard that SmartKeys are unavailable for purchase now, as Schlage has infriged KwikSet's patents. Help would be appreciated, because a locksmith or a new lock would cost me at least $100+.

More information about my type of lock: http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Schlage_SecureKey

My lock:


http://iforce.co.nz/i/5qlvwxpl.hec.jpg


http://iforce.co.nz/i/xdaq1vky.5qd.jpg

[Squelchtone]

Easy enough. Take lock off the door and take cylinder apart, and allow the part that mates with the gates on each "pin" to reset and then insert change key, turn 90 degrees, remove it, insert new key, turn it back to 12, put plug back together and assemble lock. (I left out some details, but they will become obvious while you're taking it apart/putting it back together)

Please use these nice photos as a general guide to how parts fit together: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=47991&hilit=securekey

Good luck, you can do it!
Squelchtone

[FarmerFreak]

Squelch, you're losing your touch. You gave the change directions for the Kwikset Smartkey, you did link to a securekey thread though. Anyways, rekeying Schlage securekey requires it to be turned to the eleven o clock position with a blue key, not the three o clock position.

In all honesty. Don't even bother with trying to fix/repair the one you've got. You're only asking to be locked out again in the future. The best thing to do would be to replace the lock with a NON smartkey/securekey lock and have it keyed to your old key.

FYI, I'm not joking. If you do "repair" the lock and put it back in use, you really are asking to get locked out of your home. It will fail again. Consider yourself warned.

[manualf150]

I bought around 30 of these SecureKey locks... and returned every single one back to Schlage for a huge refund. At least they gave my money back. However, I had nothing but lockouts with these things. I had to drill 2 of them out and I go so fustrated that I went and spent the extra money on brand new Best cores and went with Arrow Grade 1 knobs along with some pinning/capping/punching equipment. I used to have the tried and true regular Schlage locks that never gave me any issues and repinning was easy. But SFIC makes it way easier now to recombinate and keep track of things. Plus it keeps duplication of my keys down by using harder to find keyways. Not to mention I got some SFIC padlocks to keep things secure too, all while using 1 master key that can get me anywhere in case of an emergency. Having SFIC is out of most people's price ranges/experience, but it does add for convienence.

However in your situation, I'd just go to a reputable locksmith and get some regular pin and tumbler locks, and I can guarantee you that you will never have a problem. In fact, there is a locksmith around here, that if you buy the locks from him, he will repin them for free, less the new keys. Now that's what I call service.

Just stay away from those big box store's locks too...

[cledry]

SFIC cores aren't expensive really. You can also use them in something less than an Arrow Grade 1 knob to cut costs, but you won't find them in consumer grade Grade 3 locks and may not find suitable styled hardware to accept them. Rekeying SFIC isn't difficult, but it is a bit time consuming. Something like a Schlage IC core is much easier to rekey and can offer good security and more reliability than SFIC which isn't without its own problems. If you want the magic bullet where you want to just pop a key or tool in and have a new key there isn't much available. U-change is only available in commercial hardware and is strictly controlled by the factory.

So if you want IC cores, all the commercial manufacturers make a variant, but IMO Schlage is the easiest to work with or possibly Yale. Corbin and Sargent are more complicated to rekey for the uninitiated.

[Evan]

@manualf150:

You were using SecureKey in rental units ? :-O

Wow, those things are VERY temperamental when used with poorly duplicated keys... If the key binds at all the forces applied work directly at bending those cool user changeable wafer pins which ends up jamming the lock eventually...

The SFIC locks are good in rental properties because a locksmith won't alter them unless presented with all three keys (control, master and operating) so tenants can not play games with the locks... Most locksmiths who encounter master keyed locks won't do anything with the locks except put them back together and ask who owns the building and can therefore approve changes to the locks unless the person supervising and paying for the work has possession of both keys which function in the lock...

@cledry:

I wouldn't recommend U-Change locks to anyone whose premises aren't secured by other mechanical locks before you get to the room secured by the U-Change cylinder... An alarm system for each area secured by U-Change would also be required... The user rekeyable method employed by U-Change is certainly much more durable than either the Schlage or Kwikset designs but is flawed in a rather critical way... If you know what you are doing they are too easy to defeat...

Schlage LFIC is the way to go simply because someone using Schlage LFIC only needs a standard Schlage pinning kit and a Pro-lok blue punch to be able to create and service their own systems... SFIC's are nice and all but they require experience to service and combinate the cores as specialized tools... The only drawback of Schlage LFIC is that any working key can be cut on the control blank which means that unless you are using a restricted or Primus keyway someone who really wants to mess around with your locks could do so rather easily if they were so inclined...

~~ Evan

[manualf150]

Evan -- Yes, I made the horrible mistake... luckily no one had anything stolen anything. It caused my tennants and myself a tons of headaches and some late night adventures.

I have not had a single problem with my SFIC install, and I've learned a lot about Masterkeying over the past few months. Plus I get some great extra income off people who lose keys (like $100 if they lose the key). When that number hits them, they are a little more careful.

[manualf150]

SFIC cores aren't expensive really. You can also use them in something less than an Arrow Grade 1 knob to cut costs, but you won't find them in consumer grade Grade 3 locks and may not find suitable styled hardware to accept them. Rekeying SFIC isn't difficult, but it is a bit time consuming. Something like a Schlage IC core is much easier to rekey and can offer good security and more reliability than SFIC which isn't without its own problems. If you want the magic bullet where you want to just pop a key or tool in and have a new key there isn't much available. U-change is only available in commercial hardware and is strictly controlled by the factory.

So if you want IC cores, all the commercial manufacturers make a variant, but IMO Schlage is the easiest to work with or possibly Yale. Corbin and Sargent are more complicated to rekey for the uninitiated.

When you do the math it isn't... but the service equipment *can* be, depending on how far you want to go. I've got a Pak-a-Punch IC conversion along with a Pro-Lok IC punch, and the A1 1 ton capping press, 2000+ pins 0-9B & 2-19T, springs, caps, etc... that alone cost me too much... plus all the time and effort (hours and hours) it took me to turn into my own locksmith, which money can't put a number on.

I never had a problem rekeying my Schlages... problem was though, I didn't have a mastered system, merely because I put the locks in, and they worked, and didn't mind having a ring of labeled keys and if I needed to repin them, I would, then use my Pak-a-punch to make new code cut keys.

Although, people do like the great sense of security seeing a commercial/gov't grade core in their apartment door. But then again, the lock is only as good as the door and the frame if someone really wanted to get in. Locks just keep honest people honest.

[cledry]

SFIC cores aren't expensive really. You can also use them in something less than an Arrow Grade 1 knob to cut costs, but you won't find them in consumer grade Grade 3 locks and may not find suitable styled hardware to accept them. Rekeying SFIC isn't difficult, but it is a bit time consuming. Something like a Schlage IC core is much easier to rekey and can offer good security and more reliability than SFIC which isn't without its own problems. If you want the magic bullet where you want to just pop a key or tool in and have a new key there isn't much available. U-change is only available in commercial hardware and is strictly controlled by the factory.

So if you want IC cores, all the commercial manufacturers make a variant, but IMO Schlage is the easiest to work with or possibly Yale. Corbin and Sargent are more complicated to rekey for the uninitiated.

When you do the math it isn't... but the service equipment *can* be, depending on how far you want to go. I've got a Pak-a-Punch IC conversion along with a Pro-Lok IC punch, and the A1 1 ton capping press, 2000+ pins 0-9B & 2-19T, springs, caps, etc... that alone cost me too much... plus all the time and effort (hours and hours) it took me to turn into my own locksmith, which money can't put a number on.

I never had a problem rekeying my Schlages... problem was though, I didn't have a mastered system, merely because I put the locks in, and they worked, and didn't mind having a ring of labeled keys and if I needed to repin them, I would, then use my Pak-a-punch to make new code cut keys.

Although, people do like the great sense of security seeing a commercial/gov't grade core in their apartment door. But then again, the lock is only as good as the door and the frame if someone really wanted to get in. Locks just keep honest people honest.

True, but I already have all that, so never entered my thought when mentioning the cost. We do so many SFIC cores that one code machine is just used for them, we never cut anything else on that machine. Plus most suppliers will sell SFIC systems with cores, change keys, master keys and control key all set to go for very little money. One trick is that you can use a standard lab .035 top pin as a cap on Best IC cores, they are just as good and a lot cheaper. I use just a block to hold them for capping, the rest of the tools simply aren't needed. A small pin punch drives out old stacks and a pin punch will set the new caps.

[bjornnrojb]

You can without too much difficulty pick a Schlage Securekey to control and then put a blue key in and turn it back. I carry one blue key already cut in my bags just for lockouts. That cylinder gets reset and two minutes later that cylinder is in the recycling box in my bags. The blue keys are becoming rare, so as I replace these I am collecting them. I wonder who will be the last to have a working Schlage Securekey lock?
As for SFIC I got into it for less than $300, don't know what you all are on about it being so expensive. All you need is the capping block and a pin kit, I got mine for free with some sfic cylinders at a trade show. As others have said you can order systems pre-pinned (and stamped!) but it is nice for a quick turnaround if you can provide a new cylinder same day for some emergency.
I sell SFIC systems to clients with the promise that they can swap cylinders without even calling me, thus saving them a bunch of money. The convenience really only applies then to people who don't already know how to rekey locks then, I suppose, which is the majority of property owners I expect. Still, after a few years of not paying service calls it will pay for itself for those without the time or inclination to learn to rekey their own locks. As others have mentioned there is a cachet to seeing an SFIC lock on the door and the door and lock are the first impression. If I was a property owner with higher rent property I would definitely consider SFIC for this reason: it makes people think the property is worth more. You can charge more than the slumlord with a bunch of scratched Kwikset Tyro knobs and Defiant deadbolts on their doors.