Smart Key - Kwikset

by **riddler** » 29 Jun 2007 0:16

So, I just signed up for the site, and forgive me if this is a repost. I did several searches, and couldn't find anything, I started with the "new users" thread, and couldn't find anything there, and I searched a couple of forums manually. Maybe the answer is in the "restricted section" of the library (forgive the HP reference here, but the movie and the book are almost here!!)

My question is this: can I pick the new Kwikset "Smart Key" lock, or should I just take it back to Home Depot?

Now for the background - I consider myself a basic picker - I have a small set, and I made my own practice kit with an 18" 2x2 and installed four locks on it to practice (also bought at Home Depot a few years ago - different types, but one or two Kwikset). I can do the small window locks in a few seconds, and the Kwiksets in 3-10 minutes (different types).

Fast forward to last week - TWO of the old kwikset locks in my house broke in the same week - one double-cylinder on the outside gate, and one dead-bolt on the back door. Both Kwikset (Lifetime warranty, my arse). I have nine locks in my house, and they all are keyed to the same key by the previous owner.

So I go to Home Depot, thinking I'm gonna have to buy a keying set and some new locks. I see Kwikset has this new thing called "Smart Key" that lets me key to my existing house key. I like this idea better that buying a keying set for $100 (which the "Home of Pot", as my wife calls it, doesn't carry anyway). So I buy a 980 and 985 deadbolt and double cylinder.

I get home and install the deadbolt on the backdoor - no problem, very nice lock. Smart Key works great - no problems keying to my old house key. Much nicer safety features, installed the bolt insert under the strike plate (the old hardware didn't have this). Saw that they said the Smart Key is bump-proof and very hard to pick. Cool - now I want to buy another one for my practice kit.

Anyway - TRUE STORY - I go out to the front gate and it's getting dark, so I open the double-cylinder and install it reasonably fast - they have a couple flathead screws that only screw in, and not out! (No relevance to the story, but I thought it was a cool safety feature). After I'm all done installing the lock, I look around - NO KEYS IN THE BOX. Yes, that's right, no keys. Maybe I lost them in the process? I get out the Makita flashlight, pop the 18V LXT battery in and start an intensive search, but I don't ever remember seeing keys. I think harder - at this point, I'm sure that there were no keys in the box. I don't know why I didn't stop there, but it didn't register with me that I would need them.

So now, I have this nifty Smart Key feature, and no way to actually rekey it (you have to have the original key to get started). Then I look on-line, and the kwikset web page doesn't even have any references I can see for "smart key", so I have no idea what to do.

Well, you people probably know how the Smart Key works - you insert the factory key, turn 90 deg, stick in and pull out the "Smart Key" (just a tiny sliver of metal, really) in the special slot, pull out the factory key, stick in your desired key, rotate back to start position, and you're all rekeyed. Works great, when they remember to put the factory key in the box.

So am I missing something here? There IS supposed to be a key in this box, right? There were two in the other box, so I'm pretty sure. Anyway, now I'm thinking if I can just pick the lock and turn to 90 deg, then I can set it to my house key and be done with it. But the literature says it's "unpickable" (I doubt that) and you can't bump it (that part, I believe). I managed to strip one screw on the strike plate installing it, so I really don't want to try to take it apart and back to the store.

So back to my question - can I pick this thing, or should I not even try? If it's kinda hard, I'll go for it. If it's really hard, I won't even try. They say it's not a pin-shear mechanism, so I'm not even sure how to start. Can anyone show me a link to any other thread about this? I assumed these were too new to have a lot of chatter about, and that's why I couldn't find anything.

Sorry for all the noob questions, but I'm really hoping I don't have to take this back. What a pain.

by **Schuyler** » 29 Jun 2007 1:08

Yes, you should have received a key.

Where are you. If you are in the US - what state, and when did you purchase the lock? I believe most of us have been very urgently awaiting the american release of this lock.

If you are in Canada, where did you get your hands on the Kwikset version?

It's a very curious post, to be honest.

Welcome to the forum, you've got my titillated.

If you do, in fact, have an american sold, kwikset smartkey (which I absolutely did not believe had been released yet) please take some photos for us? Disassemble it as best you are able (it is HARDer to pick than a normal pin tumbler, and bump proof) and submit them here?

by **Schuyler** » 29 Jun 2007 1:11

further reading:

viewtopic.php?t=19435

and

viewtopic.php?t=18741

by **Schuyler** » 29 Jun 2007 1:13

I cannot WAIT for everyone to wake up and get on this thread!

wicked excited

it's like christmas morning.

by **kspec** » 29 Jun 2007 2:32

LOL I was gonna post something about this lock tonight ironically....I saw it at home depot today when i went to buy a repinning kit (15.99 CDN) and I saw a 7 inch monitor showing how this lock works( in regards to rekeying it in 15 seconds etc) and I was like..hmm I would of look at it more but it was already 10:05pm and they were trying to get everyone to check out there items.

I will try to go back again very soon and maybe pick one up and take it apart. lol

I am very interested in hearing more about this lock and how it works. I'll definately be following this thread

by **kspec** » 29 Jun 2007 2:39

from looking at the photos from the other link, the kwickset one is slightly different. the tool that is used to rekey the lock is horizontal not vertical.

by **zeke79** » 29 Jun 2007 3:14

Schuyler wrote:I cannot WAIT for everyone to wake up and get on this thread!

wicked excited

it's like christmas morning.

Well I didnt wake up to this. Just caught it before bed (3:15am). All I can say about his lock is - I bought, I looked, I defeated. I am ready for the next lock that kwikset has to throw at us. It is not an "easy" pick, but it is not the hardest lock I have picked either. It IS however a definate "must add" lock for your collections. I wouldnt put this thing on my home but I like owning one to pick.

Anywho, I had better get out of here as when I get tired I ramble on and on and on and on and..... You get the point.

by **freakparade3** » 29 Jun 2007 8:44

Schuyler wrote: Welcome to the forum, you've got my titillated.

Please give Schuyler back his titillated... He gets sad when it's gone.

by **zeke79** » 29 Jun 2007 8:46

freakparade3 wrote:Please give Schuyler back his titillated... He gets sad when it's gone.

*Zeke shakes head side to side and sighs. :lol:

by **freakparade3** » 29 Jun 2007 8:50

Sorry Zeke, there was no way to pass that up. I'll be good I promise :wink:

by **zeke79** » 29 Jun 2007 8:54

No problems there :lol:

. It was funny, but it did make me shake my head side to side and sigh while lightly laughing.

by **Schuyler** » 29 Jun 2007 9:35

Ahhhhhh, here's to resisting the temptation to go back and edit that now

haha

by **linty** » 29 Jun 2007 18:55

if you are brave enough to take it apart it's possible to match it to your key, but I've only done it once before and don't remember it well enough to write exactly how it's done only that it's not too hard once you've gotten it all apart.

by **davou** » 29 Jun 2007 19:57

riddler wrote:Well, you people probably know how the Smart Key works - you insert the factory key, turn 90 deg, stick in and pull out the "Smart Key" (just a tiny sliver of metal, really) in the special slot, pull out the factory key, stick in your desired key, rotate back to start position, and you're all rekeyed. Works great, when they remember to put the factory key in the box.

An old and cool idea

'Blackbag re-keyable link'

by **devnill** » 29 Jun 2007 20:05

Schuyler wrote:Yes, you should have received a key.

Where are you. If you are in the US - what state, and when did you purchase the lock? I believe most of us have been very urgently awaiting the american release of this lock.

If you are in Canada, where did you get your hands on the Kwikset version?

It's a very curious post, to be honest. Welcome to the forum, you've got my titillated.

If you do, in fact, have an american sold, kwikset smartkey (which I absolutely did not believe had been released yet) please take some photos for us? Disassemble it as best you are able (it is HARDer to pick than a normal pin tumbler, and bump proof) and submit them here?

If they arent out in the US yet, they will be very soon (at home depot at least) They are training everyone who sells hardware how to convince people to buy it. Also being release in kwiksets "smart series" is a fingerprint lock and another electric keypadpad lock.

Smart Key - Kwikset

Smart Key - Kwikset

Re: Smart Key - Kwikset

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