Kwikset cylinder

[ElbowMacaroni]

I found something interesting the other night when disassembling a cheapo kwikset deadbolt cylinder (like one of the $15 ones.)

at about 10deg off from vertical, it had a row of holes to try and catch the driver pins. I assume that's what it would be for anyway since the driver pins do fit into them, I checked. Also, under the keyway at 180deg from vertical, it had a slot the the key does not fill which I assume was to serve the same purpose. I was kind of surprised to find something like that in a cheapie kwikset. Anyone else ever noticed that? or am I completely off base on the purpose of these?

-EM

[FarmerFreak]

The small holes are for construction masterkeying. It would be keyed using small ball bearings as master pins. The construction keys would work until someone used the end user key in the lock. Which would lift the ball bearings over the shear line and when the cylinder turned they would fall into those holes. At that point the construction keys would no longer work.

I'm not sure what the other notch at the 180 degree mark is though. Maybe take a picture? I think it might beone of kwiksets Titan/Maximum models? In which case it allows for a special key to take the cylinder out of the door knob/deadbolt without having to take the lock off of the door.

[ElbowMacaroni]

The small holes are for construction masterkeying. It would be keyed using small ball bearings as master pins. The construction keys would work until someone used the end user key in the lock. Which would lift the ball bearings over the shear line and when the cylinder turned they would fall into those holes. At that point the construction keys would no longer work.

I'm not sure what the other notch at the 180 degree mark is though. Maybe take a picture? I think it might beone of kwiksets Titan/Maximum models? In which case it allows for a special key to take the cylinder out of the door knob/deadbolt without having to take the lock off of the door.

Ok, cool. Good to know. This was a very cheap off the shelf purchase, I guess they use the same cylinders for all of the cheap ones. Once I started picking it was the first lock I started with because I'd never installed it, and honestly, I'm glad I hadn't after I'd opened it very quickly after getting my tools, and discovered the source of their name... Kwikset, since the pins are so quick and easy to set and open!

On the other, I'll take a pic when I get a chance. The cylinder definitely is not removable without removing the clip on the back though.

[ElbowMacaroni]

Oh and another thought... it's weird that the driver pins fit into those holes then. It's not as loose a fit as in the bible, but they still fit. I guess the tolerance is such that you'd prob have to have it at 10-15deg and wiggle for a bit for them to fall in.

[FarmerFreak]

That is weird that the driver pins could fit into those holes.

Also, the notch on the bottom side of yours is probably nothing. I forgot to mention earlier, but the Titan/Maximum models are all 6 pin kwiksets. And usually can't (but not always) be taken apart the way other kwiksets come apart.

But if you can get some pictures we can probably know for sure what you have.

[JACKthePICKER]

very interesting i am not new to picking but have alot of trobule with kwiksets be can bump them easily though

[ElbowMacaroni]

Yeah, they are so easy to pick you could bump them with your shoe and no bump key. Of course, I'm engaging in hyperbole here, but I think the point is made.