Dismantling A ERA Tumbler Lock

[Zammo]

Now to get some dowling. I don't know of any timber yards near where I live but I think this is the kind of thing art shops would sell. Hell I could even use a stick to make it.

[Zammo]

Ok I managed to do it, after about 3/4 hour of messing about.

I got a stick from the garden and used it as a plug folloer, unfortunately it was slightly to slim so I used a strip of metal to wedge it tightly against the top of the plug with the pins. I then removed three pins from the top and three from the bottom. However for some reason the springs didn't want to come out so I had to turn the lock so the springs were upside down and shake it until they fellout.

Then I put the plug back in and tried the key, to my horror the plug wouldn't turn! So I again pushed out the plug follower (this time using a mini mag light, which was an excellent fit), and found at that i'd forgot to remove one of the spings and it was now mangled up and preventing the plug from turning. Once I removed it everything seemed to be ok.

Now to get some picking practice!

With regards the mangled spring, only a small portion of it is mishappen, can I trim this off and reuse it ?

[Zammo]

Oh well so much for being ready to do some picking.


I have found that my plug can be turned by just using the tension wrench, or even my finger. What could be causing this? I have two pins in at the moment (top and bottom) and as the two in the plug are both an identical size I know I havn't put them in, in the wrong order.

Here are some pictures to try and explain.

The lock:
http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/8770/dsc005912wf.jpg

The parts laid out:
http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/2964/dsc005922vq.jpg

Note that the to top pins are the same size. And also the driver pins are identical size (in fact all the driver pins were the same size).

The plug with the key in:

http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/8369/dsc005934ce.jpg

The plug with no key in:

http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/6993/dsc005945zg.jpg

Now this may sound incredibly stupid (but bear with me, i'm new here) but even without the key in the lock the plug pins are at the shear line. So when its inserted into the shell of the lock there is no where for the driver pins to drop into and so the lock has no friction to prevent the plug from turning.

[Vincent-XXI]

From your post...

I have found that my plug can be turned by just using the tension wrench, or even my finger. What could be causing this?

even without the key in the lock the plug pins are at the shear line. So when its inserted into the shell of the lock there is no where for the driver pins to drop into and so the lock has no friction to prevent the plug from turning.

You answered your question just there.


The pins are already sitting at the shear line, the driver pins (top pins) can not fall into the plug stopping it from turning. Without a circlip on the back when you pick/open with a key you can pull the plug out which can cause driver pins/springs to drop into empty cylinders a little accidental forward motion may be stoipped by replacing the circlip or using a paper clip wrapped around the back.

[Zammo]

But even with the circlip on the plug was freely rotating.

[fixer]

Looks like you have a Yale knock-off cylinder.

Most plugs are in the region of .5 inch diameter. The bottom pins will only drop down a certain way because of the broaching and how deep the holes are designed to be.

It looks like the bottom pins you are using are for #7 cuts (the deepest). Try using shorter bottom pins and then the top pins will cross the shear line and prevent the plug from turning.

Practicing picking with 2 pins of equal size will not be a rewarding experience, try using pins of different size and also put them in positions other than the first two chambers (ie the last two). This will give you a feel for reaching into the keyway to get at the last pins, which may have to be picked first in real-life.

[Zammo]

Also I'm not trying to pull the plug out I'm trying to pick it by pusing the pins down and rotating the ply with the tension wrench.

[toomush2drink]

When you put the pins into the plug you insert the key first then drop the pins in the holes so they sit flush on the top of the plug, like your pictures but only with the key in.. Have you inserted top pins into the plug by accident ? Wren birds are of a notoriously bad quality and a very easy pick so good for a first practice lock.

[Zammo]

Toomuchtodrink:

I'm pretty certain I havn't inserted the top pins into the plug by accident. The top pins are all the same size (and I think this is the same with yale locks), its only the plug pins that are of different sizes on my lock.


Fixer:

Is it ok to put shorter pins in the holes? I thought you had to put the pins back in the order you removed them?


Lastly I don't think i'll be doing it with thisa lock as for some reason the plug can now not be turned even with the key! For some reason the second pin is not even sticking up into the plug, it has somehow got jammed, maybe from a faulty spring??

[Vincent-XXI]

AS for adding pins to the lock, if you add them in the same place you took them from the key will remain able to ulock the lock in anyother order the only way to open it will be to pick it open.

You may want to start with one pin again but try this time try say the 3,4th or 5th pin so you have one that will allow thwe driverpin to enter the plug and bind.

To check the key will be able to open: Before assembling the lock, place the key in the plug and add the bottom pin to the hole of yourchoice. If the pin sits above or below the top of the pluug the key will not be able to open the lock. If the top of the pin is level with the plug the lock will ope with the key.