Guide to cylinder mechanisms (lock cylinders). Entrance door lock cylinder: types, possible problems, how to choose and replace it yourself What is the difference between lock cylinders
The lock front door– the most common cause of its breakdowns and the most favorite target of burglars, because locks with certain types of larvae, which are generally considered reliable, actually open silently in 1-3 minutes. This article describes how to independently replace the cylinder lock cylinder with a cylinder mechanism. If the lock jams, this will save a considerable amount. If the level of secrecy of the lock is unsatisfactory, then again, increasing it can be done by replacing the cylinder, because their installation dimensions and interface patterns with the lock mechanism are standardized.
Note: for burglars, the critical time to open a lock is 5-10 minutes. The longer you fumble, the likelihood of getting caught increases sharply. In this case, it is more profitable for the villain to look for other ways of penetration or abandon the “business” altogether, unless he knows in advance that there are expensive and compact, quickly liquid assets “in the house”.
Is it possible to?
Replacing the front door lock cylinder with your own hands is possible if it has a cylinder mechanism of one type or another (see below). This can be determined by the type of key: if it is similar to those in Fig. further, an entry-level home DIYer can replace the cylinder in the lock without the use of special tools. In some cases, irreversible opening of the lock from the outside is also possible, see below. This may be necessary if the lock is jammed or the key breaks while trying to unlock the door, and there is no one inside who can open the lock from there.
Types of cylinder mechanisms
In terms of the achievable degree of secrecy, reliability and cost, only trigger locks successfully compete with cylinder locks, being somewhat inferior to cylinder locks in terms of vandal resistance. The key of the trigger lock is similar to the 2-blade key of a lever lock, but it does not activate moving plates (levers), but rather the throwing elements - mechanical triggers. Finding their positions at which the lock bolt is unlocked is extremely difficult and the most modern methods. Trigger locks are very expensive, and for a house/apartment not filled with gold, jewelry and small antiques, a cylinder lock turns out to be optimal for the front door.
The cylinder lock cylinder is also called its core or cylinder mechanism. This is a characteristic assembly unit of a cylinder lock, which is absent in locking devices of other systems. The peculiarity of a cylinder lock, firstly, is that it is possible to change the lock cylinder of this type of entrance door from the inside without touching the door itself; the work process takes no more than half an hour. Secondly, in many cases it is also possible to open a jammed lock from the outside without damaging the door.
Keys for cylinder locks
Keys in Fig. above from the castles with the trail. types of cylinder mechanisms:
- Pos. 1 and 2 – classic English with a single-row needle (pin) mechanism.
- Pos. 3 – with a 2-4 row cylinder (pin or disk) with a cross key.
- Pos. 4 – with a disk mechanism.
- Pos. 5 – “punched card” from a larva with counterpins (counterpins).
The lock cylinder is unlocked by inserting it into the hole and, possibly, by initially turning the key. Its complete rotation through the driving element of the cylinder (see below) and (in some types of locks) transmission parts pushes the lock bolt, which extends/retracts its tongue (tongues). The cylinders for overhead and mortise door locks with different types of cylinder mechanisms are designed differently; resp. The procedures for replacing them also differ.
Note: it would be more correct to call the key hole in the cylinder lock a socket, because a well, by definition, is something through.
Needle-shaped
The operating principle of a cylinder lock with a simple 1-row (English) cylinder is shown at the top left in Fig. The cutouts of the standard inserted key move the spring-loaded split needles (pins) so that their connector lines coincide with the line between the cylinder (rotor) and the body (clip). The cylinder can now be turned with the key. The cylinder mustache will then turn the leash with the cam (the link with the finger). The cam (finger) will push the bolt and the lock will open/close.
Arrangement of lock cylinders with a needle cylinder mechanism
Cylinder mechanisms of any degree of complexity are produced as follows. design:
- A handle key (pos. a in the figure) is the most convenient and common type.
- Key key (pos. b) - used when the door must also be locked from the inside. For example, in the doors of the common lobby of several apartments.
- Half-cylinder (half-cylinder, half-core, pos. c) – is usually placed on the entrance doors of non-residential and utility rooms.
- Pos. d - cross key. It is considered a mechanism of increased secrecy, but we will talk about this later.
More reliable
The main disadvantage of a simple English cylinder is the low degree of secrecy; the number of its combinations rarely exceeds 1000, so if the house is on the outskirts, the thief will have time to open the lock simple selection keys. Further, the hole of such a lock includes a master key and 2-3 lever probes, with which the larva is silently and reversibly unlocked in 2-3 minutes. Finally, if the house is also on the outskirts, pins can be completed in the same 2-3 minutes. drill, see below.
High-reliability pin cylinders are equipped with an anti-burglary rod made of hard alloy (from drilling, indicated by a green arrow in position I of the figure) and additional rods (blue and purple arrows) that prevent the use of a thin thief's tool. But the degree of its secrecy remains low, so honest locksmiths, at the request of the owners, prefer to open such locks from the outside by selecting keys.
In larvae with counterpins moving under the influence of gravity (position II), secrecy increases by orders of magnitude: if one row has only 100 combinations, then together there will be 100x100 = 10,000. A drilling rod is placed in such larvae, but in “anti-pick” “There is no need: the counter pins get in the way of taking the lock with a tool. It is possible to quickly open such a lock from the outside only by drilling it with a diamond drill. Keys to locks with counterpins (pos. IIa) are called punched card or computer keys for their external resemblance to antediluvian storage media. The disadvantage of larvae for punched card keys is the small travel of the pins. Increased precision in the manufacture of the mechanism is required, which makes it more sensitive to contamination. Therefore, in country houses with such locks, cylinders are used on the same principle, but with a comb key, see at the end about choosing a new cylinder.
Disk
Lock cylinders with a cylinder-disc mechanism (item A in the next figure) are most often used in overhead apartment locks, but sometimes also in inexpensive mortise locks.
Design of a cylinder lock with a disk mechanism
The principle of its operation is illustrated by position B:
- The angles α between the symmetry axes of the borehole and the selecting holes of each of the discs that make up the code package are different;
- The angles α of each disk correspond to the bevels on the key shaft;
- The inserted key is turned slightly;
- The selecting holes converge into a groove (pos. B);
- As the key is turned further, the finger falls into the groove so that its middle falls at the junction of the rotor and the cage;
- Then, when you turn the key, your finger pushes the clip, which activates the bolt.
The real advantage of a disc lock cylinder is one: it is very difficult to break the key. The disk mechanism is little sensitive to contamination, and with a non-standard key the code package can be turned indefinitely. Therefore, it is advisable to equip the doors of premises with disc locks. for a long time unattended and unattractive to burglars: country houses, sheds, garages. The relative ease of recoding a disk lock with your own hands may also be useful to an amateur craftsman. For example, if the key is lost under suspicious circumstances or the keys were transferred by the previous owners. Instead of spending money on a new lock, you can go through the package and make new keys from the blanks. How to recode a disk lock at home, see next. video.
Video: recoding the disk lock yourself
The disadvantages of a disc lock when storing valuables are more than serious. The first is the same low degree of secrecy as in simple English. There are disk locks for sale with a cross key (see figure), but they are just as unreliable as pin locks (see below), but they are more susceptible to contamination than punched card locks. Secondly, the hole in the disc lock is wider than the English one, and it’s even easier to insert special tools into it. A “clean” opening of a disk lock for the purpose of a covert search (so that the owner does not guess about the secret visit) takes no more than 5 minutes, and a thief’s – 2-3 minutes.
Design of a lock cylinder with a disk mechanism for a cross key
Third, the locking and unlocking mechanisms of the disc lock are separated, because It is impossible to lock it by turning the key back. The locking mechanism is activated by a spring-loaded flag protruding under the tongue. When the door is closed, the flag is recessed and releases the latch (pawl) of the bolt, which is pressed by a stronger spring. Therefore, the owners of an apartment with a disk lock at the entrance have a very good chance of finding themselves in the position of engineer Shchukin before meeting with Ostap Bender.
Fastening and opening
The fastening of overhead cylinders and parts of inexpensive mortise locks is often done longitudinally (longitudinal, axial, positions 1 and 2 in the figure). The bolt driver rotates with a freely suspended lamella (black arrows). To remove the lock cylinder with axial fastening from the inside, you must first remove the lock body and unscrew the fastening screws, after which the cylinder is pulled out. From the outside, the cylinder with axial fastening is torn out without a key using a crowbar or a pry bar with a sharp end. If the opening is the owner’s, but the door is not steel and you don’t want to tamper with it, then you will have to drill it out. The axial cylinder of the disc lock must be drilled on both sides of the hole (red arrow in pos. 1), and the pin cylinder in the places marked in purple in pos. 2. They are located symmetrically on both sides of the rotor at the level of the upper edge of the well (2-sided red arrow).
Methods of fastening lock cylinders
Lock cylinders with side fastening are more reliable against hacking, pos. 3. When opening from the outside, it is useless to drill a bolt or try to knock out the cylinder inside to push the bolt with a screwdriver: the driver cam will interfere (green arrow on item 3). In this case, the only way out is to drill out the pins (see below). From the inside, you can pull out the cylinder from the side-mounted lock for replacement without much difficulty:
- Filming internal handle locking latch (see below);
- The outer lock handle is pulled out along with the square axis;
- Remove the inner lining of the lock;
- Find the head of the fastening screw under the tongues (green arrows on positions 4 and 5);
- Remove the screw;
- Take the larva inside.
How to remove the handle
Difficulties in this process can only be caused by removing the lock handle (if the key is not broken in the lock, see below). Its mounting on the axis is possible as follows:
- On both sides of the neck of the handle, the ends of some kind of steel rod are visible, ground flush. The upper end, when viewed under a magnifying glass, is wider than the lower end - a through conical pin.
- A round head without a slot is visible - a blind pin or shaped bolt.
- The head of the screw with a slot is visible - a simple bolt.
- One protruding end of the pin is visible - an old style blind pin.
A simple bolt can be easily removed. The old blind pin is pulled out with small end pliers (something like small blacksmith pliers) or side cutters with one-sided sharpening (without bevels on the smooth sides of the jaws). The conical pin is carefully knocked out from the narrow end with a light hammer and a spacer made of a thin, hard steel rod; e.g. a nail with the end cut off. You can’t hit it with a sharp one: the end of the pin may come unraveled, and then you’ll have to drill it out!
A head without a slot must first be checked: the pin behind it or the bolt. To do this, pull a rubber or PVC tube tightly onto the head (so as not to spoil the look) and try to turn it back and forth with small pliers. Rotates in both directions - pin; They take it out like an old deaf one, but in this case you can also pry off the head with nail clippers. If there is a shaped bolt behind the head (in this case it will most likely be at the bottom), then it will turn on one side and it will be noticeable that it is turning out. Well, they turn it out.
If the lock jams
It is better to try to open a faulty lock from the outside with a key, because... a rusted larva can most often be repaired. The best way Unlock a jammed lock as it should - 2-3 drops of brake fluid into the well. After waiting for 1-2 minutes, the rustiest lock, but not yet completely broken, most often opens. Further, if the larva is satisfied with its secrecy, it can be sorted out and repaired, see video guide:
Video: disassembling and assembling the lock cylinder
If the key is broken
It is unlikely that you will be able to remove the cylinder from the lock without drilling if a broken key is stuck in the hole. The simplest way remove its remainder - a small black (phosphated) metal screw. White galvanized and wood screws are not hard enough. The hardware is wrapped in the gap between the rest of the key and the well; According to the principle of recoil, the broken piece will come out. If there are other methods, for locks with a very narrow borehole, see for example. track. video clip.
Video: how to remove a broken key from a lock
How to drill
Since the average citizen does not keep a set of tools for opening locks (let's consider it a locksmith's, not a thief's) with him, and a jammed cylinder will still have to be changed, then the most affordable way– drill out the pins. To do this you will need a drill of 3-4 mm; where to drill is shown in Fig. below. Drilled needles will not fall down on their own; burrs and remnants of springs will interfere. Therefore, after drilling, insert any key suitable for the profile (location of longitudinal grooves) or (worse) flat screwdriver and turn, shaking, until the larva is unlocked.
Where is the best place to drill out the lock cylinder?
Further, since the owner is not a thief or a secret agent, then the time factor does not threaten him with prison. Therefore, anti-burglary pins can be drilled with a Pobedit drill. It will take a long time to navigate: there are locks that can be broken through in an hour or more. You need to drill with the lightest pressure so that the drill does not crumble. The larvae with counterpins for a punched card or comb key will have to be drilled twice, at the top and bottom.
Replacement
Well, finally, I got out, damn it! Now, what kind of cylinder should you buy for the lock so that it fits and is more reliable than the previous one? The dimensions at the end are simple: we take with us to the store a door trim with a window for the cylinder. If the lock with a cylinder is on an axial fastening, you will also need to remove the dimensions of the lamella in order to reach the bolt leash and fit into it.
What to look for when buying a new lock cylinder
For locks with side fastening, the asymmetry of the mounting hole, pos. 1 in Fig. Standard installation dimensions of the lock cylinder for steel door given on pos. 2, but there may be others. And lastly, the type of crossbar drive: cam or gear, pos. 3. Cam configuration and gear module are also different. So it’s better to take the old larva with you.
Which is better?
Let us tell the reader a secret that is well known in certain (and by no means only criminal) circles: “top-secret” cross key locks are opened instantly
but with a strong sharp turn of a durable Phillips screwdriver. The code elements (pins, disks) and the metal spaces between them are very thin. Simple English and disc lock cylinders, as stated, can be opened with a special tool in 2-5 minutes, which is less than the critical thief time.
The cylinders of a modern cylinder lock of high reliability and security
The conclusion is simple: it would be best to buy a new lock cylinder for a punched card key for a city apartment, and for country house– also a counter-pin for a comb key, see figure. If other possible ways of unauthorized entry into the house are stopped (good external lighting, local security alarm, bars on the windows, a guard dog in a kennel or enclosure; perhaps a video surveillance and registration system), then you can sleep peacefully behind doors with such locks. How realistic is this in our time?
The cylinder is the main secret part of the lock, containing a special code. When choosing and purchasing a new lock, manufacturers reserve the buyer the right to choose the cylinder for the locking mechanism. Buying a new cylinder is also necessary if the old one breaks or the key is lost.
Lock cylinder parameters
First of all, you need to decide which cylinder is needed for the lock in each specific case. If, for example, for the cylinder in the lock there is a through groove in the form of a drop, the dimensions of which are: 34 mm in height, 10 mm in the width of the protruding part of the part, and 17 mm in the diameter of the rounded part, then such a lock cylinder is made according to European standards DIN. When choosing a European standard larva, certain difficulties may arise. Of course, any cylinder is suitable for the lock, since they all have the same dimensions. On the other hand, we have a wide range of products.
If the larva does not correspond to European standard sizes or has a different shape, then there is not much choice here, and only the same mechanism from a certain manufacturer will do. In the worst case scenario, it could be a Chinese copy of very dubious quality.
Separately, it is necessary to note some models of locks from popular manufacturers from Israel - Mul-t-lock and SuperLock. These models comply with European standards and are equipped with a non-standard drive, which has the form of a gear rather than a cam. However, this does not pose any problem, since manufacturers of lock secrets supply their products with gear drives, so for such locks you can easily select a cylinder from any suitable manufacturer.
It should be noted that with the same cross-section, the length of the outer and inner parts of the cylinders may differ. In this case, the length of the internal part of the larva affects only the appearance of the part. The most important thing is that the end of the secret itself is not hidden behind the decorative trim of the lock or door handle. As for the length of the outer part, it plays a more important role. If the design of the lock does not imply the presence of an armored lining, then the end of the cylinder must be strictly at the same level as the door strip. In this case, a small protrusion is allowed - no more than 3 mm.
The larger the protrusion, the easier for a thief open the larva by destroying it using, for example, a regular hammer. If there is an armored lining, then the end of the secretion should be as close as possible to its surface.
Types of keys and quality of lock cylinder secrets
The type of larvae mechanism can most easily be determined by appearance key For example, classic cylinder locks operate with an English key. The blade of such a key is flat or shaped, equipped with a toothed cut, reminiscent of a saw blade.
All locking elements are in the same plane. Almost all cylinder-type locks belong to the budget segment of products. You can buy an inexpensive cylinder that can be opened with an English key for those premises that are not at great risk of being opened, or in cases where there is a need to provide the key to the premises to strangers.
If the key is cross-shaped, then such a lock can be easily broken. Despite the fact that the cross-shaped key looks quite impressive, the secret of the lock contains only a few hundred combinations, which makes selecting a master key much easier. In addition, the hole of such a lock is convenient and wide enough for working with a master key. Such a lock will only help against “good people”; it does not pose a serious obstacle for professional thieves. The Chinese especially like to make cross-shaped mechanisms.
A semicircular disk wrench for DIN standard cylinders is quite rare, and the attitude towards such products is quite ambiguous. In the vast majority of cases, these are very simple mechanisms with minimal resistance to hacking and elementary secrets. However, there are also very reliable products, mainly from the Finnish manufacturer Abloy. That is why such keys are usually called Finnish. If you decide to buy a mechanism of this type, then you should choose Abloy products.
The most serious protection can be provided by locking mechanisms that are opened using a punched card key. This key looks like a rectangular plate with big amount recesses and grooves. Perforated keys are double-sided and are inserted horizontally into the keyhole. Larvae of this type belong to the middle price category. It is almost impossible to open them using conventional means. To enter a room, criminals use special equipment or try to destroy the entire lock or door.
Resistance of different types of locking mechanisms to opening
The highest quality and most reliable keys are made on the basis of special designs - punched cards. For reliability, manufacturers equip mechanisms with special magnetic or electronic recognition systems, combine different types secrets. In addition to indentations and protrusions, the surface of the key may also contain lateral teeth, various kinds irregularly shaped grooves, etc. All secret elements are located with some offset from the vertical direction, asymmetrically.
For any key, you can choose a cylinder of suitable quality. If the cylinder mechanism is “sharpened” primarily for secrecy, then the materials from which all the moving parts of the lock mechanism are made are responsible for its service life. It is preferable that all the main elements of the castle are steel. If a manufacturer uses silumin, brass and other low-quality and fragile materials, this is a bad manufacturer and the quality of its products is corresponding.
Most buyers traditionally consider the level of secrecy to be the main indicator of the quality of a larva. But in practice, the very concept of “secrecy” is rather conditional.
It implies that the mechanism contains a number of mating elements that occupy a certain position necessary to unlock the lock.
The simplest and cheapest models have only 4-5 pairs of pins, the point of contact of which must be strictly on the turning line to ensure free rotation of the core. Inside the complex and expensive devices the number of pins reaches 12 or more pairs. In any case, the number of possible combinations indicates more about the technical perfection of the lock than about its “secrecy,” which depends, first of all, on the quality of work and the features of the technological process.
Thus, the number of mating pairs of parts is of secondary importance, and the method of arrangement and location of the pins relative to each other comes first. Developers of locking mechanisms first of all try to make the task as difficult as possible for burglars - they make a keyhole small size And complex shape, supply the castle additional elements, which prevent the pick from working effectively, create false channels and moves, complicate the topography of the contact surfaces, add the need to make an extra turn, etc. - To list all the methods of combating lock picking, a separate article is needed.
Thus, even mechanisms that have average level protection, can greatly complicate the work of even the most experienced burglar - as a result, opening the lock will take long time, if it turns out to be possible at all.
However, criminals also follow the development of modern technologies. IN Lately The so-called bumping has become particularly widespread. This hacking method does not require any special qualifications or preliminary preparation. All you need is a set of special bump keys of different configurations. Such a key is inserted into the keyhole, turned slightly to slightly tighten the mechanism, after which the attacker strikes the head of the bump key. Vibration causes the elements of the lock to move into the desired position, and the lock opens.
Bumping protection can be ensured using special electronic or magnetic codes, as well as installing special cylinders without springs.
Repair, replacement, installation of the lock core in a metal iron entrance door with a quality guarantee will be promptly carried out by Bars-X. All possible options will be immediately available on site with a specialist visit - a craftsman will be offered! With all this, the visit of the master in Moscow is free!
Prices:
√ Replacing the core in the lock - if the lock is cylinder, then the cost is from 800-1200 rubles.
√ Replacement of the core of the lever lock - replacement of Nucleo, Blo, rotor -1500 RUR.
And so, let’s try to explain what the core of a lock is, in which locks you can change the core, and in which you will have to replace the entire lock so that the door lock has new keys.
The core of the lock is the main secret part of the lock’s operation (heart and mind), only due to the core the keys have a variety of shapes and complexity. The core of the lock creates a headache for an attacker. The more secret, the more serious the core, the more difficult it is to open your lock.
The most common ones are locks installed on doors.
Cores in a cylinder lock.
All cylinder locks have a replaceable core. After all, a cylinder lock can consist of a body, a core and, if the lock is the main one, then, of course, door handles. The core in a cylinder lock is called - they have different degrees of security, shapes and sizes.
Cylinder locks are good, first of all, for their reliability, since there are cores for which it is impossible to pick a master key. In addition, the procedure for their repair is not something complicated or expensive. The Bars-X company offers you services for repair, replacement and installation of a cylinder in a metal entrance door. We guarantee efficiency and high quality of work!
When might a larva need to be replaced?
Cylindrical locking mechanisms are the most popular among buyers - they are usually installed on iron entrance doors. But if such a lock breaks or, alternatively, you simply lost the keys, then the core will have to be replaced.
If the lock breaks, then the core (also called the larva) needs to be changed, fortunately this procedure is simple. Moreover, all cylinder-type locks are interchangeable, that is, the cylinder core may well be from another manufacturer.
Our specialists will replace the cylinder core of a lock from any manufacturer in any type of door, metal or iron, or even armored steel.
On site we will immediately offer:
AND simple options inexpensive cores with a pricing policy starting from 600 rubles. Those whose secrecy does not exceed 1.5 million key selections.
Also, options will be offered to change the cores in the lock to more secret ones with a higher degree of secrecy. The cost is already increasing, the price starts from 1200 rubles.
And, of course, if you wish, they will replace the lock core with the most reliable, highly secure development of a new generation of cores. With maximum protection against all known types of hacking.
Replacing the core - do it yourself or resort to the help of specialists?
Of course, it’s easier and faster to call us - within an hour, a master appraiser will arrive on site and begin work. All employees of Bars-X LLC are experienced professionals (our company has been providing its services for 18 years), so speed and quality are guaranteed. Moreover, we have some of the most reasonable prices, which also pleasantly surprises our clients.
Again, we remind you that there are also cruciform and disk cores, which we do not recommend replacing yourself. In locks, the core can only be replaced with an analogue one - from the same manufacturer, the same degree of secrecy, the same parameters!
Cross-shaped locks with cores look like this:
Disc locks with cores look like:
If you have the necessary skills and knowledge, as well as the appropriate equipment, then you can easily purchase a new larva and replace it yourself. But if you decide to resort to the help of our specialists, then you still must know what the main stages of the replacement procedure consist of. Not for the master’s control, of course (he simply won’t need it), but rather for general development. But that's not the point.
So, when replacing the core in a steel entrance door, the following steps are performed.
Step 1. First, the decorative linings of the locking mechanism are removed, if necessary.
Step 2. Then the central screw is unscrewed, as well as the fixing core with a key.
Step 3. A key is used to remove the cylinder. If the latter is absent for one reason or another, then you will have to use the force method.
Step 4. Based on the extracted larva, a similar product is selected.
Step 5. The new core is placed in the lock, again using a key or a pinwheel.
Step 6. The core is fixed using a central screw.
Step 7 The linings dismantled in the first stage are screwed on top.
At the end, the performance of the new larva is checked, but strictly under open door. That’s it, now the master’s work is finished, you can start using it (our warranty, by the way, is up to 3 years). But don’t forget that you should still use the lock carefully, regularly perform maintenance on the core, and prevent clogging!
"Bars-X": responsibility and high quality of work!
Repairing a door lock is quite difficult (and we provide such a service), although sometimes there is simply no other way to solve the problem. But in most cases, the core needs to be replaced iron door- a less expensive procedure when compared with purchasing and installing a new locking mechanism. You can see this for yourself. You can also get acquainted with the prices for services by looking at our. Comparing prices for new mechanisms, you will understand that the most expensive cylinder, which means reliable and burglar-resistant, may cost more than a lock, but replacing the core is always cheaper than replacing the entire lock. Here you can also find information that allows you to change or repair the mechanism (and the entire lock) at minimal financial costs.
As noted above, installing the core into the lock is not a difficult job, at least for professionals, which, of course, are the foremen of all our 45 working teams. But in any case, an amateur will encounter design difficulties, since the work will require not only delicate equipment, but also skills in working with it, as well as deep knowledge in the field of modern locking mechanisms. Therefore, if you have problems with entrance doors or locks, we strongly recommend that you contact Bars-X LLC, because the main profile of our work is precisely this area!
Variety of larvae
It is not at all necessary that the manufacturer of the core be the same as the manufacturer of the lock itself. For example, it is quite possible to equip it with a cylinder from any other mechanism of similar action. But for the right choice The product must be guided by the following parameters:1. Secrecy. Demonstrates the number of combinations declared by the manufacturer.
2. Security. The ability of the mechanism to resist opening is determined service life cores. This parameter depends, first of all, on the correct operation and the specific manufacturer.
According to the design features of the cylinders, cylinder locks can be divided into three: large groups. Let's get to know them.
1. Cores with English key. They have been produced for quite a long time. They are inexpensive, but are characterized by relatively low reliability.
2. Cores with perforated key. Characterized by increased secrecy. After replacing the cylinder, locks of this type are additionally equipped with a protective lining.
3. Cores with increased uniqueness. High quality mechanisms that are manufactured using the latest technology technical developments. The most reliable, but at the same time the most expensive locks.
Everything is clear with cylinder cores, but what about lever locks, do they have a core?
Lever lock cores - how to replace the core in a lock.
In level locks, the secrecy is contained in the plates. Many manufacturers do not think about changing keys if they are lost. These are most often not expensive mechanisms. But there are also serious manufacturers of locks, for example, an Italian brand of locks exclusively for steel, metal and armored doors. The locks are expensive, but they are worth it. The manufacturer prepared the core - new block levers, which can be purchased separately and in many cases independently.
But how much exactly does it cost to replace a core at Bars-X LLC? Prices are reasonable - in the range of 800-1500 rubles (the cost of components is not included in this amount). Therefore, if you have problems with the lock on your front door, call us immediately! Our master will come to you within 20-60 minutes after your call! We guarantee quality, efficiency, individual approach and confidentiality (if necessary)!
This article was written for people whose financial capabilities are limited and do not allow them to call a locksmith to replace the lock, its core or cylinder, or who simply do not want to trust a stranger to work with the door lock.
Previously, in the nineties, it became popular to install an additional door in front of the entrance for greater security from intruders. The doors were of a wide variety, made of two to three millimeter steel sheets and had barn locks. But in the process of evolution, doors and locks have been improved, and now there are a huge number of their types for any income and need.
Naturally, we will not consider all types, but will focus on the most popular and widespread due to their cost - the so-called “Chinese” doors. Chinese doors, when handled carefully, last quite a long time, but some of their elements still become unusable with use.
There are many reasons leading to replacing the lock core. It happens that due to severe wear of the core mechanism, the key cannot be inserted well; sometimes, on the contrary, the key is very difficult to get out of the lock, or the owner of the apartment has simply lost the keys and is afraid for the safety of things in the apartment. In such cases, there is no need to change the entire lock; it is quite possible to replace the core - its separate part. Replacing the lock core is quite enough, and you will save a lot on the lock, and the job of replacing it is very simple.
Typically, lock cores of all types and sizes are sold at construction markets and stores selling locks and hardware. The abundance of sizes is amazing, so you need to choose the one you need based on a sample taken from a Chinese door. The seller or manager will accurately measure the distance from the end of the core to the rotary pawl and select the necessary analogue. On the spot, it is appropriate to ask the seller whether you are purchasing a durable model, because now there are many manufacturers like mushrooms, but few quality ones.
Let's look at the whole process in order: replacing the lock core on a door with your own hands
To carry out the work, we will need tools - a Phillips screwdriver (bit number PH2), hands and 20 minutes of free time. Yes, you heard right, we only need a screwdriver and that’s it. In rare exceptions, another bit is needed - a slot 3 millimeters long. But this is only when the Chinese installed regular mounting screws, and not with a Phillips head.
So, replacing the core of a lock or core in a Chinese door begins with the fact that there is someone else in the apartment besides you, because after disassembling the lock and taking out the core, you will go to the market, and leave open apartment impossible without supervision. If you close the door, it will be difficult to open it from the outside without having something square on hand to push back the tab/latch on the door handle.
Having collected our thoughts and cast aside fear, we sit down next to the problematic lock and study the number of screws that will have to be unscrewed. In the case of typical Chinese doors- these are two screws with inside locks holding the rear trim panel with the handle in the assembled position.
Unscrew two screws. We are not afraid if it takes a long time to twist, because they are long and go through the entire door, holding the door handles together from the outside and inside like a sandwich. Having unscrewed two screws, put them aside, and with careful, swaying movements, remove the inner door handle on the bar, holding the outer one, because it is no longer secured and will fall. A square pin (square) is inserted into the door handles, which we also take out and put aside.
Next, look at the place where the key is inserted. We find a protective cup on the cylinder or core of the lock on the outside, and in some cases on the inside if the keys are inserted into the lock from both sides. Unscrew the screws securing the protective cups. Typically two to four screws are installed. After unscrewing them, set them aside.
Having completed these procedures, we see that the core of the lock has almost been removed. The only thing that keeps her going seat- this is one screw per end strip doors. Unscrew it and try it get the core of the castle. In cases where remove the lock core If it doesn’t work, insert the key into it and make about one-eighth of a turn in the direction of opening the lock. After this, the core is removed easily and without unnecessary effort. This is not wear and tear of the core, just another type of protection of the lock from knocking out the core with a hammer.
Having removed the faulty cylinder, we go to the market or to the store to buy the lock core. Try not to close the door; place a screwdriver in the doorway to prevent a draft from closing it. Please note that the larva or door lock core Comes with five keys. Be sure to consult with the seller or manager whether you are buying a quality product, and just in case, agree on the possibility of a return if it does not fit.
After you have bought the core, replacing the lock core occurs in the reverse order
We take one of the keys, insert it into the new lock core and make a full turn of the key. If the pawl does not fit into the machined groove, then turn the key until the core pawl coincides with the cylinder body.
Next, pay attention to the hole for the fastening screw on the core, and insert it into the lock so that the hole in the end of the door and the hole on the core coincide, that is, they are on the same level. We take the screw from the end and tighten it, securing the core in the lock. It is important not to overtighten the screw, as excess tension leads to jamming of the cylinder.
After tightening the end screw, we fasten the door handles on both sides of the lock, again without overtightening them with the screws. Any extra effort on the screws will make it difficult to rotate the core axis, and, as a result, it will be difficult to rotate the key.
Having assembled these parts of the lock together, we take the square pin from the door handles and insert it back into the handle. We insert the assembled assembly into the square hole of the lock so that the bar from the lock bolt (a small full-turn rotating bolt under a push handle, responsible for opening/closing one rectangular bolt) sits in its seat.
Next, we put on the outer door handle, take the screws of our “sandwich” and tighten them into the threaded holes on the back of the outer handle. Again, no extra pressure is needed in the threads. Having assembled the entire lock on the door, take the keys and try to open/close the lock mechanism several times. If the lock operates with force, then one of the screws needs to be loosened a quarter turn.
In conclusion of the article, I would like to wish you fewer problems with locks and keys and a good mood!
The question of replacing a lock sooner or later arises for almost any owner of an apartment or office. This happens when it fails due to a breakdown or loss of the key, due to the end of its service life, or when the tenant changes. In most cases, the door lock cylinder is replaced, which is much easier than installing a new locking mechanism.
What is a lock cylinder?
The mechanism responsible for the secrecy of the lock is called the cylinder, core or secret. It is she who is responsible for security, the possibility of unauthorized opening and penetration of uninvited guests into the premises. A key is inserted into the cylinder and turned. At the same time, the pins inside it line up in a certain combination, and the lock opens. Incorrectly aligned pins, or pins, will not allow the locking bolt to move, and the door, in this case, will remain closed.
IN modern designs cylinders, pins are replaced with washers, rotating blocks or movable probes. But regardless of the filling, the secrecy of the lock cylinder will depend on the number of components and the accuracy of their manufacture.
Not all existing locking mechanisms installed on entrance doors have the ability to be partially replaced; some locks have to be removed entirely. For example, code (lever) mechanisms are integrated directly into the lock body, so replacing the door lock cylinder in this case is impossible; you will have to remove it and insert a new one.
There are several types of the most popular locks for entrance doors:
- cylinder;
- disk;
- cruciform;
- pin;
- especially complex.
Locks for entrance doors can be overhead or more reliable - mortise, with a locking system with a key on both sides or having a turntable on the inside instead of a key. They are also divided into upper and lower, only with a locking function and with additional fixation using a latch. The material and number of combinations of the secret depends on:
- reliability and ability to resist mechanical stress;
- wear resistance;
- inadmissibility of key matching.
The door lock cylinder is manufactured in three security levels:
- low – from 100 to 10 thousand combinations. Made from low-strength materials with a simple key profile;
- average – from 5 to 50 thousand combinations. Is different complex mechanism opening, but the quality of execution is not always the best;
- the highest - from 100 thousand combinations to infinity. The manufacturing materials are of high quality, and the assembly accuracy is high.
Each of the locking mechanisms has its own design features, which determine the process and the possibility of replacing its larvae.
Cylinder locks
A similar design of locks appeared in the mid-19th century. Due to their simplicity and ease of use, cylinder mechanisms quickly became widespread and are still the most popular today.
Cylinder locking mechanisms are manufactured to the European DIN standard or the RIM standard, which is now produced in small quantities. Larvae different manufacturers DIN standard are practically interchangeable. Their choice depends on the thickness of the door leaf and the location of the fastening screw in relation to the inner and outer plane of the door.
Cylinders can be divided:
- to the "key-turn" system. From the inside, the door opens using a rotary handle (turntable), which can be easily felt in the dark in case of an emergency or if the room is filled with smoke during a fire. This type of door lock cylinder has a movable cam that transmits movement to the bolts. As a rule, its position requires adjustment to the site;
- to the key-key system. The door leaf opens on both sides using a key. Such a secret is convenient when it is necessary to lock the door so that children or sick elderly people do not open it from the inside. Besides, internal key, inserted into the keyhole, can be used as additional protection. It will be impossible to open the door from the outside;
- per half cylinder. The door can only be opened from the outside. A half-cylinder is installed on doors in rooms where there is no likelihood of people being present. These could be small utility rooms or special buildings, for example, a weapons room;
- on a mechanism with a gear. The transmission of movement from the key to the bolt occurs more smoothly through a gear, the number of teeth of which depends on the model and manufacturer.
It should be noted that the process of replacing such a cylinder with a gear is complex, and only a specialist can help in this matter. To install a new cylinder, it is necessary to dismantle the entire lock with a similar mechanism.
RIM standard cylinders are not found on sale as often as in Soviet times, and modern mechanisms from European manufacturers are not particularly popular. In this regard, secrets for them are quite difficult to find. Their design resembles a half-cylinder of the DIN standard, with a difference in the method of fastening - the models in question are overhead.
DIY cylinder replacement
You can remove the unnecessary door lock cylinder and then put a new one in its place yourself. The process itself will take 15-20 minutes, no more. And the tools you will need:
- construction tape;
- crosshead screwdriver.
First you need to find a screw that serves as a fastener for the cylinder in the overall lock mechanism. As a rule, it is located on the lock plate at the end of the door leaf. Its location can be symmetrical or asymmetrical relative to the thickness of the door, which depends on the model and manufacturer of the locking mechanism. By rotating the screwdriver counterclockwise, the screw is completely unscrewed and the cylinder is removed.
If the cylinder begins to move, but continues to “sit” in the socket, you need to insert the key into the cylinder and turn it a few degrees in a clockwise direction.
Now you should pull the mechanism towards you or press on it from the opposite side. The cylinder will easily come out of its socket. The fact is that a movable cam or a flag present in its design can interfere with the release of the cylinder, and turning the key will hide the cam in the cylinder body.
It is necessary to measure the total thickness of the door leaf along with the upholstery or insulation, if additional door cladding was performed. In the absence of any changes, you can focus on the dimensions of the removed cylinder, which, of course, is easier. In order to decide which door lock cylinder you need to purchase, you also need to measure the diameter of the removed cylinder.
Don't forget about the location of the fixing screw! It can be located either in the middle of the end or located closer to one of its sides. Moreover, in an asymmetrical position, you should remember which of the distances is smaller - to the outer or to the inner surface of the door.
It would be more correct to take the removed cylinder with you when purchasing a lock cylinder. But if this is not possible, you should focus on precise measurements. The color of the new mechanism will also play an important role in the choice, otherwise door leaf it will not look aesthetically pleasing.
The purchased cylinder is installed in place of the previous cylinder and secured with a screw. The main thing here is to clearly get into the hole intended for fastening it. Slightly moving the lock in the plane of the lock and simultaneously attaching it to the lock will help you cope with this task. fastener. The key must be locked in the closed position. After this, the lock is checked for functionality, first with the door open, and then with the door closed.
The opening and closing of the lock should be smooth and silent.
Disc locks
The main difference between these mechanisms and other cylinder locks is their design: instead of pins or pins, there are movable disks that align when the locking mechanism is opened at a certain angle. The key has a semicircular cross-section with cuts located on it corresponding to the position of the disks.
A design feature of the disc lock cylinder is the possibility of replacing it only with a “related” cylinder. But purchasing it is currently difficult due to the fact that finding a cylinder for a disc lock is quite difficult. That's why the best option will become complete replacement locking mechanism.
Cross locks
Such lock designs use pins that line up along four edges inside the cylinder when the key is turned. Phillips cylinders have many combinations, but the lock can be easily opened using a Phillips screwdriver.
Pin locks
Pin cylinder lock cylinders are produced for two types of keys:
- English;
- perforated.
In the first case, the lock is not particularly reliable, and the second can only be opened by drilling the cylinder or knocking it out, which is quite difficult and time-consuming. The lock core is replaced using the technology described above.
Particularly complex locks
Manufacturers are constantly working to improve locks, primarily their secrets. Modern technologies make it possible to make unique mechanisms that are quite reliable and durable. By purchasing high-quality products from world-famous brands, you can avoid the procedure of replacing the door lock cylinder. But this need may arise if one of the household or office workers loses the key.
Particularly complex locking mechanisms use:
- armor inserts;
- titanium case;
- more than a million combinations;
- pins made of refractory metal;
- floating elements on the key.
It is impossible to find a key for such a lock, but replacing the cylinder is quite possible. True, it will be quite expensive.
