Key stuck in Lock

by **Guitar_J** » 15 Jul 2004 1:08

I was working on my Impressioning lesson for my F-B course... I had finished the key and just for fun I took the plug out of the cylinder to look around and such... I had the key in the lock and was in the process of pulling the plug when I accidentally turned the plug so that the pinstacks aligned, except that they're offset by one. Follow? F-B only puts pins in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th stacks for the impressioning lesson.. so this is the setup..
Pin1 in the plug has a long pin and is almost outside the shell... Pin 2 in the plug is empty and matches up with a spring and top pin in the shell in the stack for pin 1. and so on and so forth...
well.. now the key is stuck and the plug won't come out.. after some Drawing.. I think I know why... Because of the cuts on the key, the top pins are preventing the plug from turning or coming out... and pin 1 in the plug, which is a long pin must lift up to come out of the lock... since it has nowhere to go.. it can't come out...

follow me?

I'd take pics but my camera battery is dead :-/

anywho... If you understand what I mean... do ya know anyway to get it out? I thought of trying to free the plug to rotate by rapping but the wife is asleep and would probably get annoyed if I start beating on a cylinder with a hammer at 2am... I can't take the pin retainer cap off, or atleast I don't know how to... (this is a mortise cylinder if that helps explain why I can't take it off)

do You think rapping would work? know of any other method?

by **Romstar** » 15 Jul 2004 3:04

There are two types of mortice cylinders. "Solid" cast cylinders, and retained plug cylinders. In the case of the "solid" type, you can't take off the cap because there isn't one. It's normally sealed with plugs.
In the other type, a standard rim type cylinder is retained with one or two scres in a mortice type housing. If this is your type, you should be able to remove it.

Failing this, remove the key, and use a pick and shim. That should get you just where you need to be.

Push EVERYTHING up into the lock, and push a shim in from the rear. Obviously, if you encounter a bottom pin, let it lower until you reach the shear line between the two.

Once that's done, remove the plug with a follower, or simply push the plug into the proper position.

Romstar

by **plot** » 15 Jul 2004 4:38

consider this a very good lesson in why Macs are important

by **Guitar_J** » 15 Jul 2004 9:17

Romstar: I can't remove the key....

This lock has what looks like a thin piece of metal covering the pinstacks, there are two tabs right before the threads start on the side of the body that look like they hold it down... and it is in a groove that runs under the threads... If I can take it out nondestructively I will.. but it is F-Bs lock that I have to send back for a grade.. so hrm... whoops :oops:

by **frollard** » 15 Jul 2004 9:59

pull harder?

you have spare springs right? :oops:

I've done this once, but I just had to peel the riveted on-top off the pin stacks.

by **Guitar_J** » 15 Jul 2004 10:09

I'd pulled pretty hard, I put it in my vise and pulled with vice grips on the key... no dice...

I just now peeled the top off, dumped it all out.. so I got the plug and key out.... now I gotta cram this top back on...

by **Zaphin** » 15 Jul 2004 11:29

When I was re-pinning a schlage I did the same thing, again... Anyway, I used either a straightened paper clip or a hair pin, don't remember which fit, and I inserted it through the back of the lock above the teeth of the key. After a little bit of jiggling, surprisingly little actually, the key slid out and problem solved. Hope this helps in the future.

by **Varjeal** » 15 Jul 2004 11:38

Here's a tip...you said that the cylinder had a "Thin piece of metal".

If you take a small screwdriver, you can push that cover off of the lock. To do it ND'ly you'll need to insert your screwdriver between the body of the lock and the piece of metal and twist slowly so that it slides horizontally off of the lock. You'll need to be careful not to pry up since if you do you'll wreck the metal "staking" points that hold it down. Once you've removed it you can simply dump the contents of the lock and repin it as necessary.

by **Guitar_J** » 15 Jul 2004 11:48

Varjeal, thats what i ended up doing, I couldn't get it to go back on so I bent it down the middle then placed it on the lock and used a hammer and screwdriver to tap on it, flattening the peak in the middle and holding it in place on the sides... all is well now except that I can't get my key to work smoothly.. :-/ and I've used all my blanks.. GUess I call them and get some more..

by **Romstar** » 15 Jul 2004 16:57

Guitar_J wrote:Varjeal, thats what i ended up doing, I couldn't get it to go back on so I bent it down the middle then placed it on the lock and used a hammer and screwdriver to tap on it, flattening the peak in the middle and holding it in place on the sides... all is well now except that I can't get my key to work smoothly.. :-/ and I've used all my blanks.. GUess I call them and get some more..

Very glad you got it all apart.

As for the blanks, cheat and go buy some blanks locally. :lol:

I wouldn't feel bad about this as you had what is assuredly an unexpected event.

Romstar

by **HeadHunterCEO** » 15 Jul 2004 19:47

Guitar_J wrote:Romstar: I can't remove the key....

This lock has what looks like a thin piece of metal covering the pinstacks, there are two tabs right before the threads start on the side of the body that look like they hold it down... and it is in a groove that runs under the threads... If I can take it out nondestructively I will.. but it is F-Bs lock that I have to send back for a grade.. so hrm... whoops

you fail!

Go wash my van

by **Guitar_J** » 15 Jul 2004 23:02

Yes Sir.. :-/ *gets his toothbrush and a bottle of soap*

Key stuck in Lock

Key stuck in Lock

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