Lock assembly and maintenance

[clodester]

I have an American A1100 and recently thought it would be a very entertaining thing to gut the lock. I was wrong. Not only did I get stuck in a little unprepared, but some how I have messed up the lock.

Basically, I pulled the cylinder out of the lock body and removed the collar thing at the back of the plug. Now I have finished messing and faffing within the cylinder, I replaced the collar. However, the lock has suddenly become even harder to turn and open the lock! What have I done? how to I loosen things off and make it easier to turn the cylinder? Am I right in thinking it is collar, plug-thing related?


Anyway, any help or advice would be great. Thanks.

[uklockpicka]

I have an American A1100 and recently thought it would be a very entertaining thing to gut the lock. I was wrong. Not only did I get stuck in a little unprepared, but some how I have messed up the lock.

Basically, I pulled the cylinder out of the lock body and removed the collar thing at the back of the plug. Now I have finished messing and faffing within the cylinder, I replaced the collar. However, the lock has suddenly become even harder to turn and open the lock! What have I done? how to I loosen things off and make it easier to turn the cylinder? Am I right in thinking it is collar, plug-thing related?


Anyway, any help or advice would be great. Thanks.

Hello mate is the collar you removed and replaced the same as what came with the lock or have you changed it???

If you have changed it then you have problies applied a little thicker 1 without relising, and thats what may be causing the lock to bind when operating the lock.

also try lubricating the outside of the core and the plug to see if that helps.

get back to me to see how it goes : )

[uklockpicka]

Also after you reassembled everything and you came to put the screw back through the lock where the shackle would lock, did you really tighten it hard??? If so that may also case you problems : ) such as binding. : )

[clodester]

I didn't replace it with a different collar, it is the same original one. I have a feeling that the collar is on the end of the plus is catching or something, im not too sure though.

[uklockpicker]

Pinch it 2gether with long nose pliers its the collar, just not as snug as a bug in a rug,( its catching ...)

[uklockpicka]

I didn't replace it with a different collar, it is the same original one. I have a feeling that the collar is on the end of the plus is catching or something, im not too sure though.

try just nipping the screw up just a little see if that helps : )

[jruther2]

Was the key in the plug when you removed the clip? If so, you may have pulled the plug out a bit without knowing it and accidentally dropped the fifth driver into the sixth key pin hole. In that case, the key would still open the lock but the fifth spring would be exposed to the shear line and could be caught between the plug and the shell thus causing the extra friction.

[HallisChalmers]

You probably have the plug in backwards.

Look at the cylinder ends very closely. You'll notice that on one end of the cylinder - just past the bible - there is a bit of an "overbite".

That "overbite" should just go over the front of the plug - nearest the keyway entry. It provides a shoulder for the plug to rotate.

You probably also assembled the pins in the bible in reverse order - so you'll have to gut it and redo it all over again. [Edit: What I meant to say is that you can't just remove the plug and turn the cylinder 180 degrees - because when you do turn the cylinder - the pins will be in reverse order. You have to reinstall the pins in the bible starting from the end with the "overbite". Hope that clarifies it all.]
Just remember that the shoulder overbite goes toward the front of the lock. If you reassmble it and keep that in mind, you'll be GTG - good to go.

by 'collar' do you mean circlip?

can someone post a picture so I know what we're talking about?

[frantic57744]

i,m pretty good a fixing things,,but i need the thing in front of me, If you want me to have a look at it no probs. if push comes to shove i,ll swap the core for a brand new one.

[clodester]

Halis is right, I had a look at the bible, and the overbite is at the wrong end. This means I am going to have to repin everything......great times......

Hope fully the circlip will fit a little better and everything will work smoother. Failing that, is graphite the best lube i can use? isn't WD-40 is like cancer to locks? Maybe a little lube will help things along

[HallisChalmers]

Wiz is right, I had a look at the bible, and the overbite is at the wrong end. This means I am going to have to repin everything......great times......

Hope fully the circlip will fit a little better and everything will work smoother. Failing that, is graphite the best lube i can use? isn't WD-40 is like cancer to locks? Maybe a little lube will help things along

Wiz? Is that you Wiz - or is that me?

Anyway, I've done the same thing that you did - and it bound up on me. Which is why I gave you that little tidbit of advice on what to look for.

I think once you get it all sorted out and repinned properly - with the plug inserted correctly, you'll find that everything works smoothly.

Americans have fairly tight tolerances so a minor screw up will bind things up pretty quick. If that lock is the one I had sent you, it was prelubed from the factory - and all I did was install all serrated pins. Unless you plan on putting that lock to harsh use outside I wouldn't add any more lubricant.

If it's a keeper, just use a little bit of silicone lube and she'll be ok.

[clodester]

I have further issues!

I am incapable of gutting a lock without screwing up at every turn. Whilst 'fixing' the issue of the overbite being the wrong end, I:

- lost one of the springs
- Broke the Circlip

So now I am ablsolutely screwed, but I would like to thank everyone for their help and input.

hehe, ah the joys

[HallisChalmers]

I have further issues!

I am incapable of gutting a lock without screwing up at every turn. Whilst 'fixing' the issue of the overbite being the wrong end, I:

- lost one of the springs
- Broke the Circlip

So now I am ablsolutely screwed, but I would like to thank everyone for their help and input.

Shoot me an IM with your addy and I'll send you some spares.