Active Duty intro, and questions

[averagejoe]

Cant you order them direct from American lock?

[MACE_USMC]

the already cut 5200's im just pulling guts out of so i can use the various pins to build up cylinders that match existing keys, the un cut locks will be my source of shackles and any parts destroyed during the guttings <mainly the security nut, and sometimes the trapdoor>

the main purpose of this project is to reclaim what has already been spent on these locks that are now useless without keys. I wish i had the ability to just order a hundred security nuts and screws and trapdoors, then i would just bust them all open, but at that point supply would just be buying more locks to replace the last ones.

the trick i've found to cutting the shackles lies in the tolerances between the steel balls, one side can rotate a little more than the other. i believe it is the side with the security nut <toe?> but depending on how much rotation you need you may have to chop both sides which sends pieces flying at a very high speed so be careful

[keysman]

also the locktite on post 2010 models is much stronger although it could be just age, and the screws strip quite easily. <had to drill one screw out but it was the cut lock, so good learning

if you heat up the screw with a torch the locktite will lossen.

[MACE_USMC]

keysman- I used a 1500 degree heat gun after i learned that, little hot to touch with my fingers but that screw came right out

[LocksmithArmy]

american will sell the shackles in bulk... my shop repairs them.

they used to (before i worked there) have a deal, bring 2 cut ones and get 1 good one... they quit doning that when none of them could pick them lol.
I have bucketloads of cut 5200s at the shop im working my way through and repairing... ill ask how much the shackles cost and let you know. (i dont know if they are boron or not, ill ask that too)

i used to pick up all the cut ones i came accross in iraq... i stopped after 2 fairly large boxes full... ive been tossing em in trades ever since... ive got only a few left now...

[MACE_USMC]

LocksmithArmy- I've got a fifty cal can of cut ones, and a smaller 40 mm can of ones without keys. im not too worried about shackles because i've got all the uncut shackles in the 40mm can. It will probably take me until i eas to get them all to open anyway.