cledry wrote:I was trying to figure out is the "key blank simulation probe" in Lauren's design literally what it says a replacement for an uncut U-Change key? So it sets each pin to the shallowest position?
@cledry:
No, the "key blank simulation probe" made out of feeler gauge raises all of the pins up so you can insert the "magic tool" in the change key tool slot on the face of the U-Change cylinder... Using a skinny flat piece of metal allows you to use this trick on any U-Change cylinder regardless of the keyway even though you could accomplish the same lifting of the pins by using a blank U-Change key for the cylinder...
It doesn't set the pins to the shallowest position at all -- just pushes them up and out of the way so the tool can be inserted... The bypass doesn't work by resetting the U-Change cylinder at all, it works by using the mechanics of how the lock is re-keyed against the security of the cylinder...
The tool you have inserted while the "key blank simulation probe" is in the lock is now located underneath the "T" shaped pieces which set the bittings for each of the key pins (these are normally forced away from the key pins by the change tool when the correct key is inserted and the "captain crunch hat-shaped pieces" can move into the pin chamber holes in the shell and allow the "T" shaped pieces to retract from the pin far enough to allow for the bittings to be reset... Well, those "T" shaped pieces are what is lifted by the tool, the distance the pins need to be lifted is the same when gauged against those "T" shaped pieces as far as where the shear line is for the cylinder plug... When you are rotating the tool the 90° that is all you are doing, the teeth on the tool are lifting the pins to the shear line for you -- if you where to stick a lockpick into the keyway you would find that the bottom pins are all set to the correct height and held in place by the tool...
Some good pictures of the cylinder are located here:
U-Change user-rekeyable lock breakdown~~ Evan
