old YALE rimlock--causing me fits!

[Peter Martin]

Since I got pretty good at Kwikset and Schlage entrysets, and most auto wafer-type locks, I went to a local "used tool store" and found a few locks to play with. Well, this ended my cocky streak.

One was a gold-colored Yale rimlock. I haven't seen one of these since the mid-1970s. I got it home and I freed the pins with a squirt of WD-40 and everything internally moves OK.

This lock has only 4 pins!

My first picking attempts got me nowhere. Thinking that it was the WD-40, I sprayed the cylinder with solvent. Still no luck, but the pins hang... probably on the spool drivers? I tried raking the pins, that didn't work either. I varied the tension--very light to hard. Nothing! I changed the direction to pick CW and CCW. Still didn't open. After two hours my wife thought I was a little nuts.

Arrrrugh!!

From my ILCO Key Blank manual, it appears the keyway is probably a 997B, or 997EB. Manuevering the pick left, right, and up is difficult, but not the major problem. I made a thin single hook (.023" wide) from stainless steel to help snake around the wards.

I have not taken this lock apart. The cylinder is pinned into the back of the lockset. I disconnected the cam at the back to make sure this didn't keep the lock from turning. However, if I do disassemble, I presume I'll find that all four cylinders have spool drivers.

Anyone have similar experiences with older Yale locks?

[pinsetter]

I have several older Yale cylinders, and a couple have fooled me. I have one that I would have sworn was full of spool pins, but when I disassembled it I found that it had none. I have found that all the Yales I have bind funny and don't like much more tension than a feather touch will provide.

None of my Yale cylinders are as easy as some of my other knock-off cylinders, but they're not as hard as some of my better cylinders, such as my Corbins.

Yale are a good intermediate cylinder, whether pinned with security pins or not. Yale's pinned high/low can be quite challenging!

I do know that Yale do use security pins also so I'm not saying your lock definately doesn't have any. I was only speaking of the ones I've disassembled.

[bonez]

just the lightest of tension is needed!

i find the harder you try the harder it seems,just try to
feel it through you're finger tips!

light tension and you'll feel more,

hope this makes sense to you.

j.

[ericm115]

I'm jealous. I love sitting with one lock for hours trying to figure it out.

I have 17 rim cylinders (4 Corbins, 6 Sargents) on the way from an amazing deal on ebay (and a little cash present I received very recently ... heh). I'm giddy like a little girl.

I don't think I have any Yales coming though though (you are making me want one)...

When you finally start getting it, let us know what the problem was so people like me can follow in your footsteps.


em