Broken Key In Lock

[BOB_WAR]

Have a problem with a broken key some put in my lock.
My key normally looks like this



The broken key in there now ,from the outside, looks like this



I pulled on it but it will not budge. Whats the best way to get it out?

[freakparade3]

If you do not have key extractors try straightening out a small fishhook and inserting it into the keyway. The barb on the hook should grab the key and pull it out.

[Kaotik]

If your illustration is correct, the key broke off past the shoulder with some still sticking out, therefore no pins have dropped in front of the remainder piece. It should be very easy to remove if i'm right.

Unless, it broke flush with the plug and is jammed or wedged within the warding (which is why it's not budging), all you should need to do is take something and wiggle it about until it starts to move then use a key extractor or like freakparade3 mentioned "a small fishhook" and fish it out.

[HeadHunterCEO]

try pushing in on the face of the cylinder while pulling on the key gently

[raimundo]

Good call headhunter, he may have a lock problem that could have been the cause of that broken key, if the screw cap is loose and allowing the plug to pull out of alignment with the bible.

If the key is exactly like the one illustrated, it only has one peak on the tip and the rest of it is cut down. This means that its not a key at all, its a lock plug, you need to put a probe in above the key and lift all the pins up, then pull the key back.

lock plugs are deliberatly made with a bit of the key bow left to keep the plug from slipping too deep in the keyway. they may also be made with one or more teeth sticking up to get behind the pins, you can remove one with a bobby pin,

there is no natural way for a key to break off leaving a piece of the keybow stuck to the keyblade, the the metal is too thick to break this way.
so it is almost certainly a keyhole plug.

[gremner]

From the pictures, it looks like you may have used a paint program to remove the broken part from the picture, accidently removing the bitting as well.

If that's the case, try jiggling the key. Maybe the plug is turned a little, locking the key pins down over the bitting.

Or maybe not

[maintenanceguy]

WD40 sprayed into the lock can help.

A very small coping saw blade slid in alongside the key can work just like the fishhook barb mentinoed but with 50 barbs instead. Sometimes this gives you a little more purchase on the key for a harder pull. Since the teath on saw blades alternate right and left, file the teeth down on one side so it won't bite into the lock and just make things worse.

Then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. The key, not you.

[freakparade3]

Then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. The key, not you.

So thats what I've been doing wrong all this time.........

[Kaotik]

What I don't understand is how the look of the broken key can be determined without having a probe to see that all the bitings are missing except for one.

If a probe was used to see this than there should be no reason a probe could not be used to aid in the removal if raimundo is correct in saying that it's a lock plug.

[digital_blue]

If you have access to the *inside*, it might be easiest to just disassemble the lock and push the broken key out from the back of the cylinder. This is, of course, assuming you have some other way into the premises, but I have to think that if you don't, you're not coming here for help... you're calling a locksmith.

Indeed, any type of broken key extractor, or MacGuyver version thereof, would do, but in my experience, it's rarely worth messing about with trying to makeshift something if you can just pull out the two Phillips screws that holds the lock in place (assuming this is a deadbolt) and pop the baby out the easy way.

db

[freakparade3]

just pull out the two Phillips screws that holds the lock in place (assuming this is a deadbolt) and pop the baby out the easy way.

db

When i first got my extractors I immediately broke off several keys in several locks to play with them. It was at that point I found things are not always as easy as they may seem.....

[locksportboy]

is any part of the key remain outside then use a lock plier



first use a hammer and a screw driver put the scew driver on the remaining key inside then beat it not a harrd shot medium then use a plier and pull it quickly

[unbreakable]

first use a hammer and a screw driver put the scew driver on the remaining key inside then beat it not a harrd shot medium then use a plier and pull it quickly

Do you hit it to loosen the key up? or just for road apples and giggles?

[freakparade3]

I would say any post that says "hit the broken key with a hammer and a screwdriver" should be ignored. I don't see how that could possibly make the situation better, but I can think of alot of ways it could make it worse.

[locksportboy]

the broken key is stuck due to the pin binding when we hit lightly to the broken key it gave a shock and the binding pins would not be binding any more i tried it on many keys left borken inside the lock and it worked almost 90% of locks if you understand correctly what to do !!!!