Plug Follower question

[lordofbaal]

As I have finally worked out how to remove the cylinder from a Yale type lock I have invested in a plug follower: a 12mm metal rod from B&Q!

I was wondering what the notch in the end of a plug follower is for?
My home brew follower does not have a notch and it works great

Many thanks

LordOfBaal

[Darek84CJ]

At the end of most plugs, there is a small rectangular tab, where a metal tab attachs to to drive the latch mechanism for the deadbolt or whatever. The notch slides over the tab, so its a true flush fit, no room for pins to fall into.

[Romstar]

The notch in the end of the follower is used for loading pins and springs.

I know that there are a lot of hollow plug followers, and I know that there are a lot of them without notches.

However, what you do is line up the notch with the first hole. Lay your spring in the notch, and drop it into the cylinder hole. Then, lay your pin into the notch on top of the spring. Using the notch as a guide puch the spring and pin into the hole with a suitable instrument such as tweezers, or a pick. When the pin is all the way down, push the follower over that hole and repeat for the subsequent holes.

Simple, elegent and precise.

Romstar

[toomush2drink]

The notch is so that you can just drop the springs and pins in and they will fall into the hole then you only have to depress the bottom pin in.You can make a follower from dowel very easily, just take a piece of dowel and drill a small hole through it now cut it in half through the hole and you have 2 followers with notches.

[Romstar]

At the end of most plugs, there is a small rectangular tab, where a metal tab attachs to to drive the latch mechanism for the deadbolt or whatever. The notch slides over the tab, so its a true flush fit, no room for pins to fall into.

Actually a good plug has the tab at one end, and the notch in the other.

I don't think I have seen a follower with a tab in a few years.

Romstar

[mbell]

I had been picking for about 6 months or so before I even knew the conept existed (Stupid me when I look back). Every time I dismantled the lock I had to remove ALL pins.

I just got my new follower today.

It was very expensive ~ £7 but what a fantastic tool. I've been using a wooden dowel for a while now but IMHO, if you're rekeying locks often, invest in a GOOD quality plug follower. Makes the job so much more pleasurable.

[HeadHunterCEO]

fits against the rear of the mortise plugs

if you notice the smaller notch at the base of the larger cut
it works well for dropping springs and drivers when in you have to