
I recently got the Abus 83/45 Series S padlock and a bag of security pins. I wanted to build a practice lock that I could re-key anytime I got to comfortable. However I quickly got my self into a jam.
The Abus 83/45 Series S has a spring loaded retaining pin in the end of the plug.

This retaining pin keeps the plug from rotating to far and it also keeps it from coming out. It has to be depressed to pull it out and that's where I ran in to trouble.
I had taken apart the the lock and pulled out all the pins except for the first pin, I was trying out different serrated ones. When that retaining pin got stuck in the
in the first pin's hole. Insert your choice of curse word here. How was I to get this out?

Well to make a long story short I had to pull the spring out of the back. I did so by forcing a small opening , open, and pulling out the spring. I could get the plug out
now but what could I do to fix the retaining pin?
[EDIT: Changed http://imgur.com/GuQP7zC to this http://i.imgur.com/GuQP7zC.jpg so pics would display using [image] command -Squelchtone]

I happened to have extra springs and cut one in half. I then managed to work it back into the hole buy compressing it with tweezers and using a padlock shank.
It was an ugly fix but a fix none the less.
So, if you find your self in this situation I hope this helps. Or at least head my warning and pay attention.