How To Gut Old Yale Lock

[KermodeBear]

Howdy,

Just started this hobby with a box of of old locks off of ebay. I'm having some small successes so far and quite a lot of fun.

I had been working on a Yale lock and some of the pins felt gritty; I'm not sure if it really is dirty inside or if maybe I ran into some security pins. I'd like to gut the lock and take a look at what's inside but I'm not sure how. I didn't see any screws hidden away, including under the shackle, just a tiny pinhole on the bottom. Is that my way in? Or, are there locks that are not designed to have the core removed?

I poked around YouTube but the gutting processes I've found typically involved screws.

Thanks!

[Safecrackin Sammy]

The one hole that you see is simply a drain hole for the shackle.

If you look on the side of the padlock above the key way where the 4681 is stamped, you should see a series of holes that have been plugged. You need to have a good light and rotate the lock to get just the right light on it. Each pin chamber is plugged with a brass press fit plug and then ground smooth.

This was made in the days where they werent made to be taken apart or rekeyed.

[KermodeBear]

Got a bright light and took a look and I think I can see the plugs. Maybe. My eyes aren't the best. Pretty old lock; I thought it had just been knocked around a bit causing some marks / discolorations. Guess I'll have to take a pass on taking this one apart - I don't want to cut it open. Not yet anyway.

Thank you for the reply!

[blue60]

if you want to take that lock apart check out this video I did of a Brass Lockwood padlock.

The first 2:00min of the video shows a technique I use for taking this type of padlock apart.

[KermodeBear]

Nice! That is extremely helpful, thank you.

[blue60]

Not a problem, I am glad the video was helpful.