Tight Springs

[Undaunted]

This Kwikset lock that I bought seems to have variable spring intensities, the ones in the back are very tight and hard to tell when they bind vs overset. I'm putting as little torque as I can right and not having much luck.

And also I did a random repinning of the 5 pins awhile ago before I switched it to where it is now, and it must have just been coincidence but all I had to do to pick the very back pin using a half diamond, all of the other pins wold sorta just fall into place every time, not as much luck using a hook though.

So what do guys do for tight springs, just lighter touch?

[webidiot2]

Sounds like its gummed up, Kwiksets don't have variable spring tension. Lube it up and try it again.

[vector40]

Did you buy it new?

[Undaunted]

no I didn't buy it new, what do you guys use for lube/cleaning?

[skold]

Sounds like its gummed up, Kwiksets don't have variable spring tension. Lube it up and try it again.

They do when they are on my doors!

[Pickermeapie]

Soap and Water will do fine for washing it out. Use some powdered graphite after its dry to loosen it up. I don't think this is your problem though. I think you have the top pins mismatched, and this is causing your vairable pressures. For every bottom pin, there is a top pin, and while it isn't a big deal for kwiksets, this is probably what you are encountering.

[vector40]

Occurs to me that if it's not new, it may actually have different springs, if it was repinned by a lazy locksmith.

[devildog]

And also I did a random repinning of the 5 pins awhile ago before I switched it to where it is now, and it must have just been coincidence but all I had to do to pick the very back pin using a half diamond, all of the other pins wold sorta just fall into place every time, not as much luck using a hook though.

This is a very common occurance with cheap locks like Kwikpik due to the overall low quality production--the thing is that Kwikset (and other copies like Defiant, Brinks, and Mountain Security) only have a depth range of 1-7, that is there's only 7 different pin lengths, whereas there's normally supposed to be 9 or 10 depths for a standard pin tumbler, AND when they're keyed up at the factory they don't bother to pin it so there's much difference in depth, so you might end up with a lock pinned to something like 2-3-5-3-2, and then combine that with the crappy tolerances and it's easy to see how you often can get lucky by sticking a random object in the keyway and jiggling it about to open the lock. For some reason, the half-diamond is particularly good at this, and although Kwikpiks are quite susceptible to the problem, as you found out, Masterlocks are FAMOUS for doing this!

Try sticking a half diamond in a Master padlock with some tension and just moving the pick around a bit

[linty]

i don't know if i'd say there is "normally supposed to be 9 or 10 depths" a good quality lock using only 3 different depths is likely to be much harder to pick than a kwikset using the full range. sometimes for cheaper master systems we just cut weiser at .015 increments (same as schlage) but that doesn't put the weiser in the same league as schlage.

[devildog]

I know, I was trying to keep it simple so I didn't have to start talking about the depth and spacing for all the different brands, and depth being only one type of differ and how you can throw in rotating pins like Medeco or telescoping pins like Multlock, etc. etc.

0-9 is pretty standard for a normal U.S.-made pin tumbler, though.

[scampdog]

Sorry for my ignorance guys,but i thought all top pins were standard,or does this only apply to each lock. be greatful for your information(scampdog)

[Varjeal]

Top pins are not all standard, though particular brands will use "standard" sizes throughout their factory pinned locks.

[Chrispy]

Depending on the lock, you'll find a long top pin in chambers that have a 1,2,3 (or 0,1,2,3) pin, middle sized top pins in chambers with a 4,5,6 pin, and short top pins in chambers with a 7,8 or 9 pin.

[linty]

if it was previously master pinned, it will also have variation in effective top pin sizes.

[skold]

Not neccesarily, all of the lockwood twins and standard abus and lockwood locks have the same sized driver pin even though they are masterkeyed.

Though these are from factory.