Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:25 am by jruther2
The sidebar is asymmetrical. When the sidebar is inserted upside down the protrusion that catches in the groove in the cylinder is more toward the top of the keyway instead of toward the bottom. When the plug is placed back in the cylinder with an upside down sidebar the protrusion won't line up with the groove at the same position where the key pins and drivers line up. The pin stacks always line up when the lock is in the twelve o'clock position. When the sidebar is upside down it lines up with its groove in the cylinder when the plug is somewhere between the twelve thirty and one thirty position which is just enough to keep the pin stacks from lining up. I think this should lead to a jammed lock that couldn't even allow key insertion since the only way for the plug to be at twelve o'clock would be for the sidebar to be fully engaged which would mean the pins won't rotate. As far as picking goes, if the plug is in and the lock is in the locked (twelve o'clock) position then the sidebar is set and all that is left is setting pins to the shear line.
There was no good way to take pictures to really show what I have been trying to say. For a better idea, take all the screws, pins, and springs out of your cylinder put the sidebar in upside down, re-insert the plug, and look down through the screw holes to see what I am talking about.
Disclaimer: I have been babysitting both of my sick daughters while my wife grocery shopped today. It is very late, I am very tired, and this is actually the second long reply I have typed up. The first one was very nice with good pictures, however, it was VERY incorrect. Upon a second look, this is my best thoughts on the subject at this time. Let me know what you think.
"An honest man is one who knows that he can't consume more than he has produced."