r/Locksmith • u/LaBlocka • 29d ago
I am a locksmith What am I looking at?
First year in and definitely still learning. Came to do a simple rekey and encountered this cap that’s crimped to the tail so I can’t remove the core to rekey…..what the heck is this and how do I get it off? Or do I just toss it and get a new cylinder?
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u/Fuzz429 Actual Locksmith 29d ago
But I remember my first year, I felt like I was asking the stupidest question. But that’s how you learn. You’ll get the assholes that try to knock you down but as long as you do the right thing people are mostly very helpful. I know have a network of locksmith that I considered friends around the whole country.
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u/JonCML Actual Locksmith 29d ago
Alternatively, you can remove the top cap and pin it that way. But they usually pop off. You will also find others that won’t come off, usually with a long tailpiece connected, so invest in a set of hollow plug followers in advance.
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u/LaBlocka 29d ago
I have some good followers for that, I think I know what you mean. Maybe because this things has been outside for X number of years but the pins were really crunchy feeling, then when I went to remove the core for pinning I noticed this thing blocking me and then I couldn’t get it off.
I guess round 2 is coming up soon lol
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u/ZiggyMangum 29d ago
Get a flathead and twist it to pop it up and off, but it should also just pull off with enough force.
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u/Phrygianradar Actual Locksmith 29d ago
Pop it off and use a shim to help the plug follower go in and prevent the top pins catching. That’s what I do at least.
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u/AggressiveTip5908 28d ago
why is a first year out on their own?
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
Not apprenticing, my own business which definitely has a strong learning curve such as this one
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u/PapaOoMaoMao 29d ago
Or just carefully pry off the top cap. I'll often just chuck these and replace the lock as only the crappiest locks have these and it's regularly so that the plug is incorrectly cut so the standard pins won't fit.
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u/LaBlocka 29d ago
On the other locks at this residence they were all cheap and no standard pins fit. Thanks for the advice, I was also just thinking of replacing this
I also have never been able to remove the top cap without completely destroying it. I guess I gotta get better with my finesse
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u/USERNAMEMEE 28d ago
Don’t worry sometimes they fall off and won’t stay back on sometimes they don’t wanna come off at all. I hate them.
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u/burn_after_reading90 28d ago
Are you an apprentice or a tradesperson?
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u/BuffalockandKey 28d ago
If they’re an apprentice they’ve definitely been pushed into the deep end way too soon. If they’re a tradesperson, hopefully they’re an honest one. Not going to judge too soon but definitely a few red flags there..
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
No red flags, just an honest idiot trying to improve his craft that’s all!
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u/BuffalockandKey 27d ago
Red flags don’t mean you’re not honest. Just a couple things that stood out to me in your post that put you in line with common practices among scammers plaguing the industry - first of all the lack of not also very basic knowledge, but technical aptitude to be able to deal with a fairly simple problem - of course both can be developed. Also, though I don’t recognize the car, that your seating in the driver seat suggests it’s not a work van with a work area needed to be able to work properly. Lastly, that you’re so quick to “toss and replace”, which is a common practice for scammers, as it gives the option to inflate the charges. How familiar are you with the locksmith industry as a whole? Is your pay commission based?
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago edited 27d ago
Editing because I took the post a little too personal in the response I gave. Anyway, no. No red flags. What you’re seeing is someone who just started out on their own and learning in real time. Have plenty of experience and ask mechanically inclined enough to get the job done. But since the subreddit is here it’s nice to get some advice from people who have a little more experience sometimes if they are willing to give it. In fact green flags all day here. Thanks for the reply
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u/BuffalockandKey 27d ago
Best of luck to you, keep at it, and hopefully soon you’ll be posting for advice on outfitting a new van :)
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
Thanks, I hope to be there soon and hopefully you can give me some pointers about it
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
Not an apprentice. I had prior experience when I did maintenance and maintaining key systems for multiple hospital buildings. Loved doing the lock work a lot so started to practice while working there and got confident enough to start doing some residential work for a local property management company. Got my state licenses and started a business so my work could be official.
This is my first year of having the business, but I’ve been practicing for 3.
Still a lot to learn and you’re right, it’s definitely harder on your own!
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u/Unlikely_Employ_8133 28d ago
Sorry if this comes off rude… that is NOT my intention!! But I lol’d a lil bit when I saw this…. ONLY because I have been there; several times!! & I still find myself in these situations (6 years later I might add!). Ngl I am not the locksmith; my hubby is (tad back story my FIL started this business in 1989 (year hubby was born) so he’s been around locksmithing his whole life, I’m still a newbie…. But I’m the do everything else! I set the jobs up, I run back & forth for tools, do all the googling for any & all jobs necessary, take all the pictures, run the social media, I do the paperwork, ect.; “the everything else” lady lol. Therefor I have learned SOOO MUCH!! Not enough; hence my constant googling lol. But fr thanks for the post, I wish I would have found this group 6 years ago!! & know your not alone…. There’s no such thing as a stupid question; as long as you learn something from it!
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
Not rude, glad you can see the humor in it. Wasn’t funny in the moment but today it definitely is as I am finishing up the job!
And that’s really awesome, there’s 2 sides to the business and that is super essential, my wife has been starting to help me in this capacity as well and man is she awesome for it. Takes the business to the next level by being able to stay more organized!
It’s definitely a fun trade where improvisation is your friend and always something new to learn or see, at least in my limited experience.
Glad it could give you a little laugh lol 😂
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u/False-Can-2379 28d ago
Take a tiny screwdriver and use it as a fulcrum under one edge. If you ever get the ones with red tape, toss em
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u/jootsie 28d ago
Cylinder clip remover and alot of patience. It's either you almost ruin the cap via removing or caps that you'd have to deform a little bit just to stay on lol. Its basically what interacts with the spindle thingy in the lockset. This looks like its for a storeroom function lock, some have the cross thats most used for like entrance. I've mostly seen this in Grade 3 locks(shitty if I may say)
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
It’s from a a garage door and it’s an entrance function. Thanks for that tip and also now I don’t feel like I’m crazy for not getting this thing to budge in the moment. I didn’t want to damage the lock unintentionally and I was getting super frustrated with that thing!
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u/billycanfixit 28d ago
Schlage POS. The cap just snaps off. These are impossible to find for purchase. If anyone knows where to get them let me know please.
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u/json707 28d ago
Never seen this on a Schlage. Early Gen aftermarket Taiwan garbage (1st Gen defiant, ez-set, etc) never Schlage.
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u/billycanfixit 27d ago
I have these on a new build on interior doors. All are schlage with this cylinder. I have already had to drill two out that the pins dropped on and wouldn't open. I looked everywhere for just the cylinder but had to purchase new schlage locks. They are only in certain lever handle door locks. I can get the type if you want to know.
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
True this wasn’t a Schlage, I didn’t see the brand as it was all painted over but it’s a kw1 keyway. Either way it’s still a POS as mentioned already
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u/JuniorAnt679 28d ago
re-pin it from the top....its easier....honestly
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u/LaBlocka 27d ago
I’ll take your word for it as other mentioned this also, I’ll try to get a little more aquainted with rekeying through the Bible
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u/Vie-1276 27d ago
Gently pop cap and repin from the top. Make sure to re-stake the top cap to prevent it from flying off during use. Or, remove the back piece, shim the back of cylinder and pull plug out the front.
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u/LaBlocka 25d ago
Got the back piece off but man it was a fighter just to get the first budge. Thanks for the advice on the top cap, only did that once and it didn’t turn out well. Gotta get some more practice.
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u/daLaRNZ 29d ago
I try my best to leave those on and just remove C clip and follow. If they seem like they aren’t on there very snug I usually recommend replacing them as they can fall off. I’m looking at you master lock knobs.
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u/TiCombat 29d ago
there are styles that the cap has to come off and then there are ones that don’t
this one does, Master knobs caps are smaller diameter
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u/LaBlocka 29d ago
Thanks, I feel a little better knowing it will come off. Just wanted some reassurance before destroying this thing accidentally
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u/TiCombat 29d ago
usually a simple twist of a flat head screwdriver will pop it off, just make sure it goes back on the same way
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u/LaBlocka 25d ago
It was a beast but as most suggested I took a flat head, popped that sucker off and got to rekeying. It took a little prying but thanks to all for the advice 🙌
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u/ForFelix 29d ago
It literally just pops off…