.:: Keypicking :: Anything And Everything For Locksmiths, Hobbyist Lock Pickers, Locksport, Lock Picking, lockpicks, cutaways and Security. Simply The Best Lockpicking Forum Around!

Next problem. I do have this dial and need to straighten the spindle. It would be easier without the dial. Is there a way to remove it? I don't see a pin which can be removed.

And same problem here with this Kromer dial. There is a gray shadow, but that is only a halve circle, so I doubt it is a pin.

Managed to straighten the Chubb spindle well enough without removal.

How did you do it?

With three soft soft pieces (wood, tin, ...) in a vice. Two pieces on the outer edge of one jaw and the other piece in the middle of the other jaw.

For the record: The top of the dial knob is labeled "Chubb" and has an arrow. This can be screwed of. Holding the tiny serrated edge might help. I did press the top onto the table with a rubber in between to increase friction. Removing the cover gives access to a hex nut. When this has been screwed of the spindle can be easily removed. The spindle is square with a cut of edge. So there is only one possible position when it is assembled again.

Different dial, new problem: The bl**dy safe tech who mounted the dial used a wrong spline key and cut and/or wedged the notch open. A drive cam can be screwed on with force, but it will damage the threading of the drive cam. I suppose there are no dies for cutting this threading available? Any other way to salvage this? Edit: I guess I have to correct the damage with a file.

What thread does it have? I know at least the imperial versions are available as dies, never run into metric versions yet so don't know the sizes.

What I usually use if the thread has just gotten a little smack on it is a thread repair file, like this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_restorer

You can find those from automotive part stores that sell tools, should only cost a few euros. Or eBay/Amazon, look for "thread file".

The threading is an UNS 3/8"x30. A 3/8" die would be no problem, but x30 is finer and rarer than UNF. I cleaned up the threads with a fine triangle file. Now only a good groove is still to be made.

This is one option, seems they have both the tap and a die: https://www.tracytools.com/3-8-x-30-tpi

Wow! Thanks. I'll try to order thwm. Might get useful sometimes.