How to get the knob off?

[MBI]

I re-key a lot of Schlage door knobs. No lock picking required to open a new lock, it comes with the keys. But customers come in with older locks and no keys. I'd like to help them out. I've read here about back shimming. Which sounds like a great idea, but how do you get the knob off to get to the lock? You need to turn the plug 90 degrees to depress the pin on the outside of the knob (or lever). I've tried picking and that works sometimes, but it's harder than it looks. Am I missing something?

[cledry]

No you aren't missing anything, you need to pick or bump the lock and turn 90 degrees to press the knob retainer. ND levers can be re-keyed without doing this, and A series knobs can be disassembled from the back but it isn't something most beginners are comfortable with.

[Aahicnow]

The back shimming you are talking about usually requires that you have at least a key blank for the lock you are trying to rekey and as you asked, the core out of the knob. There are a lot of you tube videos , that show how to remove the cores from the major manufacturers. I had to watch these myself a few times to pop the cores from the old locksets that i had laying around. There is also a really good video showing the process of shimming the core once you have it removed from the knob.

[cledry]

You don't need a blank to shim a lock although it is easier. You can use a shim with a pick.

[greenriver]

Thanks for the quick responses. I searched Youtube but didn't find anything that helped. I have a basic set of picks and have had some success, but it's not very reliable. I need to be able to get the knob off in a few minutes, without damaging it or it's just not worth it. I was hoping there was an easier way. Like from the back of the knob assembly. I'll keep practicing. Thanks again.

[Aahicnow]

Sorry greenriver, went back and re watched the video by kokomolock and I see what you mean with the schlage locksets, best follow cledry 's advise.

[billdeserthills]

I am surrounded by a True Value, Home Depot, Ace Hdwr, Wal-Mart and Lowes, They can't seem to get knobs apart either.
Sure gets interesting when a client with a bag full of parts comes in to tell me about the help they just received...

[Squelchtone]

Thanks for the quick responses. I searched Youtube but didn't find anything that helped. I have a basic set of picks and have had some success, but it's not very reliable. I need to be able to get the knob off in a few minutes, without damaging it or it's just not worth it. I was hoping there was an easier way. Like from the back of the knob assembly. I'll keep practicing. Thanks again.

What basic set of picks do you have exactly? which pick shape in that set do you use, and how many Schlage SC1 5 pin locks have you picked successfully so far? What you probably need is just some more picking practice.

If people are bringing in knobsets to get rekeyed and they dont have keys for them, you guys may want to pass those jobs onto a local locksmith, or use it as a chance to upgrade the cheapska... the customers locks and sell them some new knobs and lever sets.

Squelchtone

[greenriver]

I have a Southord MPXS-14 pick set. The pick that seems to work best is the short hook, but I've only picked about a dozen or so locks. This pales in comparison to how many I've re-keyed. I currently have buckets of "dead" Schlage keys. Which is too bad because, as keys go, they're really boring. I have over 1000 keys in my main key collection, all different types, and quite a number of old padlocks. As for upgrading the customer, not really an option, all we sell are cheap a%% Schlage entry sets. At least they offer the illusion of security.

[Squelchtone]

I have a Southord MPXS-14 pick set. The pick that seems to work best is the short hook, but I've only picked about a dozen or so locks. This pales in comparison to how many I've re-keyed. I currently have buckets of "dead" Schlage keys. Which is too bad because, as keys go, they're really boring. I have over 1000 keys in my main key collection, all different types, and quite a number of old padlocks. As for upgrading the customer, not really an option, all we sell are cheap a%% Schlage entry sets. At least they offer the illusion of security.

well, at least you have a good pick set to get you going. I bet with some more practice you'd annihilate those Schlage. You could also buy a Schlage bump key and get good bumping the locks open.

would the boss let you take a few cylinders home to practice on?

Squelchtone

[greenriver]

I have a couple bump keys. They look easy on youtube, but they also seem difficult to master. Still not clear on the exact technique. It's funny, a few years ago, a customer came in and told me he had considered learning to be a locksmith. He decided to give it up because of something called "bump keys", which apparently (in his mind) eliminated the need a person would have to call a locksmith. I didn't know what bump keys were. He said to google it. I did. Everything I've learned since then makes his reasoning more wrong. And, yes, I have a bunch of "test" knobs and levers,most I've picked to re-key, but some just won't budge.