American 747 disassembly
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 10:52 amAmerican 747 Padlock
Was given a lock recently because a lockie friend could not pick it open and therefore considered it a paperweight. The lock was one that I have wanted in my collection for a while... an American 747. It came locked and without keys, but we can change that, can't we?
The date code shows it was made in October 1983, so it is in pretty good condition for a 31 year old lock.
First order of business was to pick it open. Two spools in position 2 and 3, then serrated driver pins and serrated key pins.
Now that it is open, let's take this baby apart. Use a 5/32" allen wrench to remove the screw inside the shackle hole...
Now the core retainer can be removed.
Now slide the plate over to where the plug retainer was, and remove it.
The core is now removed.
That does not look right.
Hmmmmm. Looks like someone tried to use the wafer breaker and bypass tool without success.
Now you can see the cam assembly.
Now press the shackle in a little to take the load off the locking balls and knock it lightly on a hard surface (that won't be damaged by a hard, heavy lock) to remove the cam.
The locking balls will then fall out. Now remove this screw from the back of the lock using a 1/8" allen wrench. You may have to use some sort of pick to clear out epoxy from the allen screw that may be used to fill the allen screw head to prevent removal. Though note that removing this screw would not allow you to open the lock if it was locked.
The shackle and shackle spring can now be removed.
Note: The American 747 came only with a restricted keyway - the same one now used on the newer model 787. You can modify a normal AM3 blank to work in a few seconds with a dremel and a ball-shaped diamond bit. On the right side of the key, simply round out the square channel.
Did that on a set of factory keys, then rekeyed the lock to the new key.
Now there is a fully functional American 747 in my collection!
Gordon
Was given a lock recently because a lockie friend could not pick it open and therefore considered it a paperweight. The lock was one that I have wanted in my collection for a while... an American 747. It came locked and without keys, but we can change that, can't we?
The date code shows it was made in October 1983, so it is in pretty good condition for a 31 year old lock.
First order of business was to pick it open. Two spools in position 2 and 3, then serrated driver pins and serrated key pins.
Now that it is open, let's take this baby apart. Use a 5/32" allen wrench to remove the screw inside the shackle hole...
Now the core retainer can be removed.
Now slide the plate over to where the plug retainer was, and remove it.
The core is now removed.
That does not look right.
Hmmmmm. Looks like someone tried to use the wafer breaker and bypass tool without success.
Now you can see the cam assembly.
Now press the shackle in a little to take the load off the locking balls and knock it lightly on a hard surface (that won't be damaged by a hard, heavy lock) to remove the cam.
The locking balls will then fall out. Now remove this screw from the back of the lock using a 1/8" allen wrench. You may have to use some sort of pick to clear out epoxy from the allen screw that may be used to fill the allen screw head to prevent removal. Though note that removing this screw would not allow you to open the lock if it was locked.
The shackle and shackle spring can now be removed.
Note: The American 747 came only with a restricted keyway - the same one now used on the newer model 787. You can modify a normal AM3 blank to work in a few seconds with a dremel and a ball-shaped diamond bit. On the right side of the key, simply round out the square channel.
Did that on a set of factory keys, then rekeyed the lock to the new key.
Now there is a fully functional American 747 in my collection!
Gordon
Gordon, you are a prodigy. Thank you, as always, for sharing!
And thank you Riy for the picture of the updated 747. Wonder when the changeover in models occurred. 
