Abloy Protec2 spring

[raptorx]

Hi all,

Anyone has any idea what will happen if the spring is spoilt/faulty?
Does it mean the key cannot rotate and unlock?

Any solution? is drilling the cylinder the only way?
Wonder if I should have bought protec 1st gen instead of the protec2

http://imgur.com/a/Fl84t

Tks!

[Squelchtone]

This is posted in Beginner Hobby Lock Picking Questions, but should be posted in European Locks.

I will move it for you.

[demux]

Raptorx, what is the condition of the lock? I.e. is it installed, or do you have access to disassemble it? It's been a while since I pulled apart one of my Protec's, but if I recall correctly the parts that engage the interactive element on the key are immediately behind the profile disc. If you can disassemble it, you may be able to try sliding the disc stack out of the cylinder just enough that you can get at those pieces and remove/replace that spring. You shouldn't need it unlocked (i.e. the key turned) to do this, the little L leg is only on the back of the sidebar, and would prevent you from removing the sidebar from a locked cylinder but should not interfere with removing the disc stack.

At least, I'd try this before I tried anything destructive. Be careful though, there are a lot of small parts in a Protec lock, it's easy for something to go flying or get lost. I'd only take it apart just enough to get at those pieces. You should only need to take out the profile disc and the interactive pieces.

Then again, I'm probably not the foremost Protec expert on these forums, someone else may pipe in with a better suggestion, but the above is at least the way I'd try it.

[raptorx]

Hello Demux, sorry for the confusion. Thank you for trying to explain on a possible recovery

My protec2 is working just fine at the moment. I got excited by the version 2, which often wants buyers to think is better (I know I know....)

I meant in case the spring in a protec2 fails, am I correct to say that the key won't turn? I am already thinking this scenario and a possible way for an end-user not to be locked out

[demux]

Raptorx, if I recall correctly the Protec2 interactive element only has the spring on one side, so it would depend on the lock's orientation when installed. If installed so the spring is pushing against gravity, then if it breaks I believe you would be right, the key would be unable to activate the disc controller so the lock would not turn. If installed so the spring is on top, it may be possible jiggle the disc controller into proper alignment so the lock would open.

Keep in mind, though, that this is generally the case with any pin tumbler Euro profile cylinder when installed in the "European" orientation. If any one of the springs in any of the pin chambers breaks, there would be nothing to push the key pins above the shear line and the lock would be inoperable. In the Protec, you're only talking about one spring, and has been mentioned here previously, Abloy uses quality products in the construction of their cylinders. I would think it would take an extraordinary amount of use/abuse to cause problems with that spring. Also keep in mind that this would really only be a concern if this cylinder is on a door that represents the only way into an area. If you're talking about, for example a house, if there's another door you can enter though then the problem basically becomes the one I addressed above, you just need to open the door from the inside, remove the cylinder and repair it.

If this cylinder is on the only way in, then you're probably talking about bypass or some form of destructive entry. By the rules of this board, discussion of either of those things would be forbidden here, so I won't go into details other than to say there would likely be some way a sufficiently skilled person could enter that area to repair the lock. Keep in mind though, that the profile disc on an Protec cylinder is both hardened and free-spinning, so drilling the cylinder as you suggest would likely not work.

In either case though, I would feel much more confident having a Protec cylinder on the lock in question than most other types of cylinders available. Protec's are quite rugged and difficult to catastrophically foul. If what you're worried about is an adversary mounting an intentional denial-of-service attack against your lock, I'll say that's probably a threat no matter what you install. If you're worried about accidental breakage under normal use, I think you'll find the chances of that in either the Protec or Protec2 to be less than most other things you could install.

[raptorx]

Raptorx, if I recall correctly the Protec2 interactive element only has the spring on one side, so it would depend on the lock's orientation when installed. If installed so the spring is pushing against gravity, then if it breaks I believe you would be right, the key would be unable to activate the disc controller so the lock would not turn. If installed so the spring is on top, it may be possible jiggle the disc controller into proper alignment so the lock would open.

Keep in mind, though, that this is generally the case with any pin tumbler Euro profile cylinder when installed in the "European" orientation. If any one of the springs in any of the pin chambers breaks, there would be nothing to push the key pins above the shear line and the lock would be inoperable. In the Protec, you're only talking about one spring, and has been mentioned here previously, Abloy uses quality products in the construction of their cylinders. I would think it would take an extraordinary amount of use/abuse to cause problems with that spring. Also keep in mind that this would really only be a concern if this cylinder is on a door that represents the only way into an area. If you're talking about, for example a house, if there's another door you can enter though then the problem basically becomes the one I addressed above, you just need to open the door from the inside, remove the cylinder and repair it.

If this cylinder is on the only way in, then you're probably talking about bypass or some form of destructive entry. By the rules of this board, discussion of either of those things would be forbidden here, so I won't go into details other than to say there would likely be some way a sufficiently skilled person could enter that area to repair the lock. Keep in mind though, that the profile disc on an Protec cylinder is both hardened and free-spinning, so drilling the cylinder as you suggest would likely not work.

In either case though, I would feel much more confident having a Protec cylinder on the lock in question than most other types of cylinders available. Protec's are quite rugged and difficult to catastrophically foul. If what you're worried about is an adversary mounting an intentional denial-of-service attack against your lock, I'll say that's probably a threat no matter what you install. If you're worried about accidental breakage under normal use, I think you'll find the chances of that in either the Protec or Protec2 to be less than most other things you could install.

Hi Demux,
Thank you for typing a long explanation and reassurance about the abloy protec/protec2

I was just wondering about protec2 spring, because I have a protec2 deadbolt that is installed and will be subjected to sea breeze on a daily basis

[demux]

I was just wondering about protec2 spring, because I have a protec2 deadbolt that is installed and will be subjected to sea breeze on a daily basis

Ah, makes sense. If you're concerned, you could always proactively replace the spring with one made of an alloy suitable for marine use. There's nothing inherently special about lock springs that would prevent you from using a non-OEM one, as long as the replacement fits and does the job.

[raptorx]

I was just wondering about protec2 spring, because I have a protec2 deadbolt that is installed and will be subjected to sea breeze on a daily basis

Ah, makes sense. If you're concerned, you could always proactively replace the spring with one made of an alloy suitable for marine use. There's nothing inherently special about lock springs that would prevent you from using a non-OEM one, as long as the replacement fits and does the job.

Demux, I am a noob regarding dismantling/replacing an abloy protec2 deadbolt spring , but thank you for the suggestion!

[demux]

Demux, I am a noob regarding dismantling/replacing an abloy protec2 deadbolt spring , but thank you for the suggestion!

If you'd like to try, there are some good resources about these locks you might want to take a look at.

1. Han Fey did a quite thorough presentation on Abloy stuff which is available on the TOOOL site:
https://toool.nl/images/8/8a/Abloypart3.pdf

2. Our very own GWiens2001 did a disassembly a few years ago which he posted:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=57201&p=416828

3. There is a bit more detailed view of the tool to hold the disc pack together over in a thread on keypicking. Not sure if you'll be able to buy such a tool from Abloy unless you have a contract, but it doesn't look like it would be terribly difficult to fashion something like that yourself.
https://keypicking.com/viewtopic.php?f=111&t=8017

I used these when I tore apart the first Protec I bought a couple of years ago (because you know, what else would you do with a brand new ~$90 lock than take it apart to see how it worked ).

[raptorx]

Demux, I am a noob regarding dismantling/replacing an abloy protec2 deadbolt spring , but thank you for the suggestion!

If you'd like to try, there are some good resources about these locks you might want to take a look at.

1. Han Fey did a quite thorough presentation on Abloy stuff which is available on the TOOOL site:
https://toool.nl/images/8/8a/Abloypart3.pdf

2. Our very own GWiens2001 did a disassembly a few years ago which he posted:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=57201&p=416828

3. There is a bit more detailed view of the tool to hold the disc pack together over in a thread on keypicking. Not sure if you'll be able to buy such a tool from Abloy unless you have a contract, but it doesn't look like it would be terribly difficult to fashion something like that yourself.
https://keypicking.com/viewtopic.php?f=111&t=8017

I used these when I tore apart the first Protec I bought a couple of years ago (because you know, what else would you do with a brand new ~$90 lock than take it apart to see how it worked ).

Hello Demux,

Thank you for taking the time to put all these notes together; I feel embarassed as I need to get accustomed and confident to open an abloy protec.

Think I should get the cheapest protec2 padlock to experiment..I have a protec2 deadbolt that is almost $300

[GWiens2001]

I only know of one member who can pick an Abloy Protec. That would be Huxley Pig, who is a genius with creating picking tools. For the rest of us mere mortals, it is considered an unpickable lock.

Gordon

[kwoswalt99-]

I only know of one member who can pick an Abloy Protec. That would be Huxley Pig, who is a genius with creating picking tools. For the rest of us mere mortals, it is considered an unpickable lock.

Gordon

He has never picked a Protec.

[huxleypig]

I only know of one member who can pick an Abloy Protec. That would be Huxley Pig, who is a genius with creating picking tools. For the rest of us mere mortals, it is considered an unpickable lock.

Gordon

He has never picked a Protec.

You might want to check that again

[AngryHatter]

They can be opened if not picked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tc8LJiBuOc

[huxleypig]

They can be opened if not picked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tc8LJiBuOc

That attack only applies to camlocks, but it does apply to every camlock that Abloy make, Protec II included. They do a 'high security' camlock, the CL110 which loads from the front. However, I believe that it can be pulled instead!

We are talking destructive methods here though. This is not my preferred approach. They can be picked, or impressioned, or decoded...there are a multitude of ways that Protec/Protec II can be opened NDE.