Hole in bottom of padlock

by **Liquibyte** » 22 Jan 2004 3:24

I started learning on a master padlock (not sure of the model, but it has a blue plastic cover and the keys match) and on the bottom there is a small 1/16th in. hole. What's the hole for?

by **marso** » 22 Jan 2004 3:28

To remove the plug?

by **Liquibyte** » 22 Jan 2004 4:11

How? I can't move anything in there with the key in the lock, turned, unturned, nothing. I would think that with a hole that size, all you would have to do was push something in while the key was in (and turned?).

I found the particular model on the master lock site. http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/produ ... late=style

by **randmguy** » 22 Jan 2004 5:02

My bet would be lubrication...you see the same thing on some Brinks and American padlocks

by **Liquibyte** » 22 Jan 2004 5:36

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I just wanted to make sure because on their site they make no mention of it but do talk about lubricating through the shackle holes and keyway.

by **Grudge** » 22 Jan 2004 6:07

I believe those small holes in the bottom of most padlock are to carry water away from the lock mechanism.

by **marso** » 22 Jan 2004 6:32

Grudge, thanks. I was just thinking as i brought up this post something about perhaps its so if the lock expands or something, but that makes more sense

How do you remove the padlocks that have removable plugs?

by **Liquibyte** » 22 Jan 2004 6:59

Water drainage can't be what that's for. Ever see one of those water bugs? The reason they can ride on top of the water is surface tension. That would be too small of a hole, especially if it were partially clogged with debris. Besides, wouldn't the keyway provide drainage itself? I have taken the cover off of the lock to see how it was constructed, and let me assure you that it's all brass. The shackle is hardened steel but the body and pins are brass. Can't tell what the springs are, can't see them. It makes me wonder how they put these things together because there is no visible seams and not a hint of a press mark or weld. I wouldn't mind destroying it, but it's the only lock I have other than the ones on my doors and, frankly, I can't pick those for some reason. I think I need to make a wrench with a better fit, perhaps a small taper like I read about in another post.

by **randmguy** » 22 Jan 2004 7:52

marso, sfic padlocks have a screw under the shackle (an allen or a phillips). You open the lock and loosen the screw to remove the core. Best padlocks use the same control key system as the rest of their sfic stuff.

Liquibyte American and Best padlocks are machined from a cast brass blank. My father cast a rockwell 440 stainless body for an American lock that he used on his toolbox and just set up a CNC mill to machine the interior. I found out by accident how easy it was to remove the bolt, bearing and shackle assembly from a Best lock and he couldn't resist turning a padlock into something you couldn't open with a sledge hammer. We did try it, by the way.

Those holes could be for drainage also. I just ripped apart a Best and it has one hole straight through on the swivel side of the shackle and another on the outer edge of the latch side of the shackle

by **Liquibyte** » 22 Jan 2004 8:15

OK, I've been looking at this thing and doing some thinking. I suppose the hole could be twofold. It could provide a carburetor to water would drain faster from the keyway. The reason I say twofold is that there is actually a spring inside that hole, didn't notice it while prodding around earlier. It travels the length of the hole || ' || but I can't see that it pushes on anything discernable, also, it's a really light spring. Now that you mention that cast block thing, I can see six plugs on the "opening" side where the holes for the milling of the latch and pins went in and one on the front that is the same size as the pin plugs (I wonder what went in there). Locks really are marvelous machines aren't they? If anyone runs across some schematics of how these are actually put together, could you post the url?

by **PYRO1234321** » 22 Jan 2004 9:19

these little holes are for drainage/lube. if trapped water were to freeze without any expansion room, then the locks would/could be damaged or impossible to open until thawed, trust me on this one, thats the only reason they are there. if there was any benifit to picking/bypassing from these holes, they would not put them there....

i spent many hours when i had no idea what i was doing thinking "there has to be a magic switch in there or something..."

by **Grudge** » 22 Jan 2004 11:02

I think PYRO1234321 is right. They are to prevent water build up and freezing. In fact, they are specifically mentioned on these sites:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/citywidesec ... ode11.html
http://www.tesa.es/pdf_eng/PADLOCKS.PDF
http://www.abloyusa.com/Abloy%20Padlock ... %20You.pdf

by **marso** » 22 Jan 2004 16:01

Feel silly now

by **freewheelin4eva** » 2 Feb 2004 10:39

I was under the same impresion when I bought the brinks shrouded lock. that I would be able to remove the plug and re-key it, or just remove pins, ect.
I was wondering if anyone has actualy came to a conclusion if the lock you can buy at wallmart for around $10.00 can actually be re-keyed? any info no this would be great. Thanks.

by **Varjeal** » 2 Feb 2004 11:39

The answer is mostly "no". Few "box stores" offer rekeyable padlocks just because of the cost issue. If you are looking for a rekeyable padlock, the American 1100 series and up are generally rekeyable, as well as the vast majority of Pro Series Master Padlocks. Hope that helps.

Hole in bottom of padlock

Hole in bottom of padlock

holes

sorry to bring up old stuff.

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