Schlage disassembly

by **sublime progie** » 31 Jul 2005 18:16

I just bought a schlage deadbolt, and i was just wondering if it is the same taking out the pins to a schlage as it is a kwickset. I don't want to mess my new lock up so that is why i am asking first :wink:

by **cracksman** » 31 Jul 2005 19:48

Kwikset is nice because you can just pop the little metal cover on top to have at the spring and pins. Schlage has a little metal sheet on top that is crimped in which prevents this. To be honest, I yanked out the little top piece of metal with some pliers, and dremelled the top. I then got a little clamp that I clamped over the top and bottom (placing a stronger piece of metal over the pins,without the crimp the one that came with the lock is too thin). I could then repin it in a matter of seconds, it's the lazy man's way, but if you intend to use the lock only for practice then I would suggest it.

by **sublime progie** » 31 Jul 2005 20:48

well, i was actually too impatient to wait for a reply and essentially did the same thing. I actually ended up breaking the crimps at the top sheet so it wont stay down :cry:

However, after i tried tape and stuff, i found that i can just hold the sheet on top and slide the whole lock back on to the origional housing which firmly holds the sheet in place

so now i am officially starting process of adding pins with security pins. the lock has 4 spool pins and one standard pin.

Wish me luck as so far i have only been defeated by security pins.

By the way, does it matter if you put in a pin from a different lock? i.e. I once put a spool from a padlock into a kwickset deadbolt. basically do certain locks require a certain pin model?

by **Minion** » 31 Jul 2005 20:53

Not "model" per se, just size. .003 is the most common, I believe.

by **cracksman** » 31 Jul 2005 21:09

Sublime, I assume that you don't have calipers, if you do use them to check the pin diameter. Many pins are interchangeable, many are not. I can pin my Americans with Masters, and I can pin pin my Kwiksets with Schlages. If you have a local locksmith, ask them, it may be a good in. I have met a locksmith in my area that will now order pins for me (wholesale). I can get 200 bottom pins (American/Master) for $3.49, I assume that is reasonable :?:

p.s. I used to use the white medical tape to hold down the top :wink:

If you can devote an hour a day (cumulative) for 2 weeks I think you'll get those pins mastered. I would personally suggest keeping your lock fully pinned and adding new spools by swapping out regular pins, instead of starting with the 1 or 2 pin idea, I wouls have saved some time had I done this.

happy picking

by **cracksman** » 31 Jul 2005 21:10

*would

by **sublime progie** » 31 Jul 2005 21:12

ahh man i so wish i could, but all i have is the schlage pins :cry:

I lost my old kwickset which had my other pins

by **fixer** » 1 Aug 2005 6:23

The pin diameter of Schlage, Kwikset, Weiser and many other US locksets are identical. But the pin lengths are different.

You can swap pins between kwikset and schlage without mechanical problems. The only issue is that you would not be using the correct pin depths. This isn't a problem when picking, only when trying to make a key.

When it comes to top pins/drivers, be careful of the length of the top pin. If the combination of top and bottom pin is too great, you will overcompress the spring and the lock might malfunction. Or in a kwikset you can push the top cover off and watch the springs play hide and seek under your workbench.

by **sublime progie** » 1 Aug 2005 14:37

well, i started adding pins last night, and i have made some good progress. I now have a 3 pin setup. i have it as security, standard, security. I am going to practice some more and hopefully add the 4th pin in tonight. I am guessing this is where it starts to get difficult. hopefully I can handle it. :wink:

by **yippeegollies** » 1 Aug 2005 23:54

I'm a littlle confused here... aren't you guys using shims and followers to rekey your cylinders? It's a whole lot simpler when no key is available. I only have to remove the top slide if there's some serious malfunction. Also, if you bought a new Schlage lock, it would come with a key so that you could take apart the cylinder using a follower.

If I misunderstood your post, I apologize.

Yip

by **sublime progie** » 2 Aug 2005 5:56

yeah, I have a key. i dont have a shim or a follower. That makes it much, much harder for me to re-pin this lock. Also, this is more benificial because i am not so worried about changing the pin heighths as i am the pin numbers, meaning I have to remove the whole stack.

If this doesnt make sense it is because i just woke up for work and i am dead tired.

by **fixer** » 2 Aug 2005 6:24

For a follower, try a sharpie marker or a small smooth handled screwdriver. Or go to the local hardware store and buy a short piece of 1/2 inch dowel or aluminium.

Most plugs are just about 1/2" in diameter, though you may have to thin down a piece of wood or metal depending on the tollerance when it was made.

Varjeal also has plug followers available on his website.

by **yippeegollies** » 2 Aug 2005 16:40

OK, I got your meaning now. I just assumed (my bad) that everyone has the basic tools.

As Fixer mentions, you can easily make a follower from any 1/2 in. dowel. It makes changing pin positions in the plug easier cause you don' have to worry about drivers and springs.

Try getting to know your local locksmith or hardware key guy. I have a couple of people that phoned me up and asked me if I could give them any old cylinders, used pins, miscuts etc... No problem I told them, it's actually stuff I would throw out anyway.

Just a suggestion...

Yip

by **Chrispy** » 2 Aug 2005 16:40

My plug follower = a crayon wrapped in electrical tape.

by **Mad Mick** » 2 Aug 2005 18:43

For the pickers with a tap & die set, you can thread the top of the pin chambers, then block off with grub screws. Makes it very easy to change a single pinstack, or insert a security pin in a single stack.

Schlage disassembly

Schlage disassembly

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