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by MacGyver101 » 23 Apr 2008 0:04
squelchtone wrote:I think the 1978 patents for U-Change are somewhere in there...
Good call: they were. Here's the two patents covering what I believe to be the final implementation:
I've never actually seen a master-keyed U-Change lock... out of curiosity, can anyone confirm if they were manufactured?
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by dougfarre » 23 Apr 2008 1:07
The U-Change cylinder is very pick-able. I would even say easy depending on the MACS.
If you have not already looked through the patents, then you will see that the Smartkey is much different then the U-Change.
The U-Change is a much more robust lock, the cylinder is made out of higher grade materials. It is much more resistant to drilling, and is made for commercial use. In fact, I don't think they even make a U-Change cylinder for a residential use. Although I have done more toying with the Smartkey and believe that the insides are a bit less delicate than I originally thought.
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by fugi » 10 Jun 2008 2:24
after four days of trying to get it I did, then three times in a row the next day.
I tried with great futility to start in the middle, then found out it worked if I set the second pin from the front first, then the front pin, then start in the middle and go back, sometimes resetting the front after the back pin. using this method I picked mine the last time in under a minute. then I got distracted and couldn't duplicate that speed or a successful pick again. rekey it tomorrow and give it another go.
Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions. -Niccolo Machiavelli
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by globallockytoo » 10 Jun 2008 5:21
One One was a race horse, one one won one race, one two was a racehorse, one two won one too.
Disclaimer: Do not pull tag off mattress. Not responsible for legal advice while laughing. Bilock - The Original True Bump Proof Pin Tumbler System!
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by fugi » 10 Jun 2008 5:38
well there's something that look a lot like pins in the keyway, and they look to act on wafers that have serrated edges and a notch that lines up with the sidebar, and the rekeying looks to be accomplished by changing how the pins act on the wafers. I've not taken it apart yet, just taken the cylinder out and it's all self-contained in there.
Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions. -Niccolo Machiavelli
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by fugi » 10 Jun 2008 5:44
a quick search turned up http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT7234331
if you look at the illustrations on the drawings, the pins are serrated, and when you push that left half of the plug with the change tool, it moves the wafers out of the grooves in the pins by setting them between them, you put the new key in, turn it to pop the wafers back into grooves on the pins that correlate with bitting depths, and it's not keyed to the new key. so the pins directly move the wafers. it's really horribly simple and clever.
Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions. -Niccolo Machiavelli
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by globallockytoo » 10 Jun 2008 5:53
fugi wrote:a quick search turned up http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT7234331if you look at the illustrations on the drawings, the pins are serrated, and when you push that left half of the plug with the change tool, it moves the wafers out of the grooves in the pins by setting them between them, you put the new key in, turn it to pop the wafers back into grooves on the pins that correlate with bitting depths, and it's not keyed to the new key. so the pins directly move the wafers. it's really horribly simple and clever.
Lets be clear here.....in your link above...Fig 18A and 18B shows the discs/wafers/tumblers.
These are not pins.....nor do they act like pins.
The concept is almost identical to the original GM sidebar design (except for the self changing part)
Picking is awkward, due to the binding of the sidebar on the serated part of the disc.
If you want to pick these locks, simply make rocker picks similar to GM rockers.....that is simplest (although I have never tried)
In a professional situation, I have only ever been called to open them and simply bypassed them every time. It is too easy and sure beats even trying to pick in the amount of time onsite.
One One was a race horse, one one won one race, one two was a racehorse, one two won one too.
Disclaimer: Do not pull tag off mattress. Not responsible for legal advice while laughing. Bilock - The Original True Bump Proof Pin Tumbler System!
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by fugi » 10 Jun 2008 9:04
heh, excuse my incorrect terminology then as I'm not in the business. the term "pins" was used more than once in the original post by dougfarre. maybe you should take up your concern with him.
Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions. -Niccolo Machiavelli
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by freakparade3 » 10 Jun 2008 9:10
fugi wrote:heh, excuse my incorrect terminology then as I'm not in the business. the term "pins" was used more than once in the original post by dougfarre. maybe you should take up your concern with him.
Globallocky is one of our resident locksmiths, he was not intending to insult you he was simply pointing out the correct terminology that he uses every day. He was trying to help, the man is a busy locksmith in a big city, if his answers seem terse to you it may well be because he don't always have time to elaborate.
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by Lauren » 29 Jun 2008 17:03
It's nice knowing that picking of the Smartkey cylinder is now becoming a more recognized process. I desiged a probe kit that de-codes these locks months ago.
P.S.
U-Change (Security Solutions) cylinders don't even require picking.
LOCKSMITHS LOVE TO PICK BRAINS
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by dougfarre » 29 Jun 2008 17:35
Lauren wrote:U-Change (Security Solutions) cylinders don't even require picking.
Do you care to elaborate?
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by BraveHeart. » 29 Jun 2008 17:40
lol shaving cream
Lauren u confused me
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by zeke79 » 29 Jun 2008 21:16
David Swearingen wrote:These locks have been around in the U.S. since 1978, sold under the name "U-Change".
This is totally wrong. This lock is more based on the rielda or lynx lock in total design and parts. The first words out of my mouth when I talked with Marc Tobias about the flaws the first words out of my mouth was how similar it was to the rielda/lynx locks.
U-Change is a TOTALLY different design and is limited in how many times it can be rekeyed. The smart key can be rekeyed 6 to the 5th power without any disassembly which gives us 7776 key differs without taking macs into account which I have not been able to locate but using a macs of 4 gives us a possible 1024 key differs.
For the best book out there on high security locks and their operation, take a look at amazon.com for High-Security Mechanical Locks An Encyclopedic Reference. Written by our very own site member Greyman! A true 5 Star read!!
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by lockedin » 30 Jun 2008 3:38
I've yet to see a video on youtube of a smartkey lock picked. Let's put 'em up guys! If there are videos of Medecos being picked, surely someone can post one of this lock being picked.  Personally, I'm enamored by them and have them on every external door on my house for convenience reasons (my siblings are always losing their keys and it makes it a heck of a lot easier to re-key).
For all the hatred of Kwikset, I have to give them some credit. They're stumping most of us at nde attempts, and they are an affordable bump-proof (resistant?) lock. Furthermore, they have strategically located anti-drill ball bearings.
The lack of this kind of stuff has consternated us for years, and now it's within Joe Sixpack's reach. Kwikset has finally done what we've been complaining about for years and I still hear whining from many members on the forum.
It's no Medeco or Abloy, but I would venture to say they have revolutionized the affordable lock industry and made it so that destructive entry will continue to be the primary means of entry of criminals.
We should take pride in the fact that our promulgation of the ease in which most locks can be compromised has made the industry take note, and more importantly, take action.
Let's give credit where credit is due.

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by Schuyler » 30 Jun 2008 4:20
lockedin wrote:I've yet to see a video on youtube of a smartkey lock picked. Let's put 'em up guys! If there are videos of Medecos being picked, surely someone can post one of this lock being picked.  Personally, I'm enamored by them and have them on every external door on my house for convenience reasons (my siblings are always losing their keys and it makes it a heck of a lot easier to re-key). For all the hatred of Kwikset, I have to give them some credit. They're stumping most of us at nde attempts, and they are an affordable bump-proof (resistant?) lock. Furthermore, they have strategically located anti-drill ball bearings. The lack of this kind of stuff has consternated us for years, and now it's within Joe Sixpack's reach. Kwikset has finally done what we've been complaining about for years and I still hear whining from many members on the forum. It's no Medeco or Abloy, but I would venture to say they have revolutionized the affordable lock industry and made it so that destructive entry will continue to be the primary means of entry of criminals. We should take pride in the fact that our promulgation of the ease in which most locks can be compromised has made the industry take note, and more importantly, take action. Let's give credit where credit is due.
Look for an article in Issue 5 of NDE  We think they're pretty neat too.
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