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U-Change

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:08 pm
by ToolyMcgee
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To look at this lock, you might think KW smartkey. Though it would fall into the same user re-keyable category as the smartkey, it has no sidebar and in terms of construction and durability it is superior. Instead of pushing a portion of the plug backward to allow the pin/wafer sets to realign at a new height, the change tool in this one acts on each pin individually separating the keypin elements that make it adjustable.

The brass piece farthest to the left that looks like captain Crunch's hat, is the rocker. When turned to 90 degrees the rounded portion of this piece is forced up into the bible as the change tool seperates the silver tab from the shell of the keypin during rekeying. There are only 4 depths, but while that is limiting, it's design is a solid construction. Deep grooves, thick round tabs, and an increased pin diameter leave no room for this one to be forced open.
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This is the exploded pin stack.
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In comparison to the keypin, the driver is nothing out of the ordinary. Other than a larger diameter and depression in the top to allow for a greater range of movement without crushing the spring it is standard.
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A very interesting mechanism to examine... enjoy

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:41 pm
by KokomoLock
Very cool lock, you not going to force that thing open. I bet those cost a lot new, looks very well made.

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:03 pm
by the lockpickkid
Are these old or new? I have seen mention of these but this is the first breakdown I have seen. Why are they seemingly unpopular?

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:04 pm
by LocksmithArmy
soo cool man... i like it

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:16 pm
by HallisChalmers
Excellent work! Sticky time!

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:32 pm
by jruther2
Fantastic post! Thanks for the info and the pics.

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:42 am
by built100
Nice pictures.. Great job.

Re-key video.
http://www.securitysolutions-usa.com/Po ... yable.html

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:55 am
by Warder
great pictures!
Reading that post was more fun than dissecting the frog back in grade 10! Minus a mini-skirt down the aisle... LOL ;)
Thanks.

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:53 pm
by ToolyMcgee
the lockpickkid wrote:Are these old or new? I have seen mention of these but this is the first breakdown I have seen. Why are they seemingly unpopular?

I believe they have been around since the 70's. It's not that they are unpopular, just marketed toward larger commercial applications. They have factory key control, and not exactly locksmith friendly. One of their main selling points seems to be the lock will pay for itself with the money you save on locksmith calls. Like trying to order parts for BEST for service/repair, it's not gonna happen. Unless you want them to put U-Change locks on your building :lol:

HallisChalmers wrote:Excellent work! Sticky time!

Thanks! Once I get my magnificent magnoglass lamp I have another neat one to try. Kokomo probably won't let me steal his again...

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:09 pm
by ChemicalRobot
I just took apart one of my U-change cylinders. I'm surprised at how durable each piece feels. It really gives the impression that they would last a long time, and that they don't suffer from being able to be forced open. With that in mind, it is also strikingly apparent why the bypass tool works on these cylinders, and why they are so easily picked open.

Still, very clever and I'm glad to have them in my collection.

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:21 pm
by Riyame
Now that is really cool.

Re: U-Change

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:33 am
by magician59
Marketed by Security Solutions, Mustang, OK. I have found them to be Very Locksmith Friendly!

AND customers do mess them up all the time, either by not lubricating the cylinders before rekeying, not fully inserting the change tool during the change, and other common customer goof-ups

Read the article in the ILJ. Very informative. Looking forward to Peterson's production of replacement key blanks.