Lock Can Still Be Picket But Key Won't Work

[andi2131]

The Short Version:
You can put the key in, it just won't turn.

The Long Version:
I went back to the flat to collect my stuff for going home over the christmas holidays. Since I've lost my key and all my flat mates were already away, I had to pick the lock to get in. That was fine. It's a Yale Lock btw.

On leaving I had to lock the door so i wrapped some thin string around the lever on the other side of the door (inside the flat) and then shut the door, pulling the string through the other side. This way I was able to pull down on the string to lock the door. Perhaps I pulled the lock down too far?

What I didn't do was turn the key hole back round to where it was. It doesn't ping back round like it does on padlocks. I'm wondering if that is where the problem lies.

So now, I can still pick the lock open and it can be locked and unlocked for the inside but when inserting the key I can't turn it at all. None of my flat mates keys work either.

Hope that all makes sense.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[mh]

If it's masterkeyed, you might have lost some of the very small master-keying-pins.
If it has a funtcion that allows a 2nd set of keys to disable the 1st set of keys, you might have activated that feature.

Does the key not turn at all, not even a little bit?

If you can pick it open, you can disassemble the lock and figure the details out, but I somehow think you might not feel comfortable doing this.
You can bring it to a locksmith, though.

And: don't mess with locks you (or others!) rely on...

[JackNco]

second set of keys disable the first? i keep hearing about these and still cant figure them out.

John

[parapilot]

second set of keys disable the first? i keep hearing about these and still cant figure them out.

John

Its called Construction Keying. A search should bring up more.
[url]
viewtopic.php?t=3163&highlight=construction+keying[/url]

[JackNco]

ah cheers. sounds like a pain to work with

[andi2131]

Thanks for the help. I think we might end up getting a locksmith out. The key won't turn at all. We've managed to get the lock out the door but you can't really get into the internal workings. Is there any way you can pick the bearing out, or something along those lines? I know the person who has the master key so I'll see if that works in the door as well.

[parapilot]

Have you got a picture of the lock? Is it a nightlatch or deadbolt. Also where are you, one of us may be local and able to help.

[mh]

Thanks for the help. I think we might end up getting a locksmith out. The key won't turn at all. We've managed to get the lock out the door but you can't really get into the internal workings. Is there any way you can pick the bearing out, or something along those lines? I know the person who has the master key so I'll see if that works in the door as well.

If it's a masterkeyed lock, there's a good (or bad?) chance that you have lost a part of one of the pinstacks; when you turned the plug by 180 degrees, it might have fallen into the keyway. If in this case your change doesn't work, maybe the master key still will.