repinning abus 83/55

[Dr_R2]

Hello everyone,

I have some experience with picking, but none with pinning. I'm willing to re-pin this Abus 83/55 since didn't lasted 10 seconds in my hands (with a pick+tension of course, lol ). I think the key bitting is just weak.
My idea is to add the 6th pin to the empty chamber, replace one spool with serrated and maybe change one of the springs. Only then I can feel safe delivering to my parents .

It seems, if I can still use a caliper properly, that this abus padlock pins are 2.75 mm (.108 in) in diameter, so I can't insert "universal" pins on it.
After some research I found that BEST locks and other Interchangeable Cores uses this size (called A2? If yes, then why?), it is however hard to find those for sell on the internet. It's almost impossible to find any information about such pins in Brazil, and there is no local brand that sells IC padlocks here either .

• Issue 1: This very last pin would ride on the tip of the key, I have no idea or tools to measure that depth accurately. Maybe I should just try some of the pins that are on the other chambers, just in case.
  
• Issue 2: The only store I found, that ships to Brazil, sells them in packs of 100 and charges me around 15 USD for that. Considering I would pin only one chamber, that would require me one driver and one top pin, so the shipping would be around 5 times the price of the pins . Anyone knows where can I get them? Or willing to donate (I msy pay the shipping)? I found that shipping from UK is usually 3 times less then US (wonder why...), but haven't found any store from UK selling 2.75 mm pins.

Is there any hope for me?

PS: Sorry for any bad english .

[GWiens2001]

Think that it would use the pins that are the same diameter as Master padlocks. Take one of them apart.

Gordon

[Dr_R2]

Thanks for the reply Gordon.
I only have one master, its the 140d, yeah this brand isn't sold around here either, I ordered from ebay.
I will take a closer look, I like your idea since machining and drilling will still be cheaper then buying pins .

[jeffmoss26]

Pics of your lock would be helpful.

[Squelchtone]

As requested, here are the pictures.

A overall look:



The empty chamber:



A poor approach to show some size comparison with a caliper (I took one of them off and it's 2.75mm ):

[jeffmoss26]

Those are standard .115 diameter pins.

[Raymond]

Those should be .115" diameter pins as stated. Is your caliper electronic or only analog? .115" converts to 2.92mm. If you find .115" pins and they will not go in, I am sure you can find someone here to send you a few .108" pins. There is no reason to buy refill packs.

Don't bust the Master 140. Those pins are probably .095" or smaller.

You can use the last chamber on your padlock by cutting the shoulder on the key back enough to reach the last space. Or, simply look for a 6-pin key blank. I couldn't tell for sure what keyway that key is.

Good luck

[GWiens2001]

His picture shows a Mitutoyo vernier caliper, which is a good brand and normally quite accurate, if the user knows how to read one.

Gordon

[Dr_R2]

Many thanks for the replies.
As Raymond mention the keyway, here it is:



Gordon is right, it's a analog only caliper, and yeah I was measuring wrongly... It's actually 2.8mm so .110 inches, so maybe a .115 would fit.
I tried to replace the last pin into the empty chamber, but it's a little short for it, and that pin is .224 tall.
Keep thinking that if someone sends me a few pins via mail, it can be sent as a thin letter envelope and shipping will be much lower .

As for cutting the key I'd probably file down by hand...