AMerican Lock Shackle Stuck

[Divinorum]

I recently got an American 700 series lock from a friend. When I pick it open and the shackle pops but it doesn't want to turn left or right unless I wiggle it aggressively back and forth up/down left/right. I figured the lock was just frozen shut rusted and dirty. After soaking for over 24hrs in WD40 it's still exactly the same. Any ideas why the shackle is stuck? Next step when I get some time is to take the bearings and actuator out and try to remove the shackle.

[GWiens2001]

Think it may be that a bearing is rusted in place (on the shackle side that does not leave the lock) or some of them could have the cam installed backwards. The difference was very slight, but the bearing on the same side as above could not fully retract. The flat milled part of the shackle would move up to the bearing, but there was little enough clearance that the shackle could not turn.

Didn't a couple of them have different sized bearings? (That may not have been American padlocks with the differing bearing sizes in the same lock).

Gordon

[nite0wl]

As far as I know the 700 series uses the largest bearing that American usually supplies. It seems most likely that there is some fouling or rust preventing the heel end bearing from retracting fully. If you can manage to fit a screwdriver past the toe of the shackle you should still be able to unscrew the retaining nut and dump the core. Once you have done that you can remove the cam and bearings with needle-nose pliers and clean those parts up.

[Divinorum]

Thanks for the advice. I took the entire thing apart, soaked it, and cleaned it in an ultra sonic cleaner. It moves more now but not like it should. It also still gets stuck from time to time. I will have to take it apart again and fully inspect it. There's got to be something worn out or stuck.

[nite0wl]

I would pay particular attention to the shackle spring, and the channels on the heel-side of the body (the shafts for the shackle itself and for the bearing on that side) as those seem like the most likely places where wear and debris would have this effect. Checking the cam and it's spring would probably also be advisable since it is possible that the spring could be forcing the cam to return to a partially locked position if the spring is damaged or the retaining ring is misaligned.
It is normal for the 700 series for there to be some resistance and stiffness when you first turn the shackle to either side but the resistance should become much lighter once you get past 45 degrees or so.