How to Change Your Locks
80If all you need to do is change the key to your lock, and you are fairly good with tools, you may want to do it yourself. Or, you may want to remove the lock and bring it to a locksmith to be rekeyed. In rekeying, only tiny parts within the cylinder are changed; the rest of the lock stays the same.
Following is an overview of the various locks there are and how to change them.
Cylinders
In order to change your lock, you can replace your entire lock, or you can replace just the cylinder, or you can take just the cylinder to a locksmith to be rekeyed. There are three basic types of cylinders:
- Rim cylinders
- Mortise cylinders
- Cylindrical lock or tubular deadbolt cylinders
They are each pictured below:
Rim Cylinder
Mortise Cylinder
Cylindrical Lock Cylinder
Cylindrical Locks
Cylindrical locks are one of the most common types of locks, but can be deceptively complicated to change. If this is the only lock on your apartment door, or if you want actual security, you might consider just leaving it alone and installing a deadbolt above it, since a cylindrical lock provides basically very little resistance to burglary.
Because of the great differences between cylindrical lock cylinders of different manufacturers and even between different product lines of the same manufacturer, it may not be feasible to purchase a replacement cylinder in advance unless you know the exact make and model of the lock. If you do not have a replacement cylinder in advance, you will have to leave the secured space open while you fetch a new cylinder or get the existing one rekeyed, so plan to have someone watch the space while you are gone.
Many manufacturers offer their cylindrical lock installation instructions online. If you identify your cylindrical lock make and model you may be able to find these instructions online.
Above right is shown a cylindrical key-in-knob lock. Below that is the latch face of a cylindrical lock, where you can usually find the brand name. Below this section is an illustration of a cylindrical key-in-lever lock.
To access the cylinder, you will need to remove the outside knob or lever. To do this, you will need a piece of stiff wire and the key to the lock. In the illustration below I have (rather crudely) indicated the location of the all-important poke hole. If you determine that your lock has no poke hole, that means that your lock is either cheap, old, or complicated to disassemble. Your best bet is to replace the whole lock.
If your lock indeed has a poke hole, to remove the outside knob or lever, insert the key and turn it 90 degrees. Depending on the lock function, this action may or may not retract the latch. With the key turned to 90 degrees, insert a piece of stiff wire or other slender, rigid object straight into the poke hole. Beneath the poke hole there is a pin which must be depressed in order to allow the lever or knob to slide off. This process would be easy if you had three hands. To remove the knob or lever, you must pull on the knob or lever while depressing the pin beneath the poke hole and turning the key to the 90 degree position. It should slide off with a small amount of force.
Once you have removed the knob or lever, look inside from the back. The cylinder should be loose inside the knob or lever, or held in by a piece of plastic or sheet metal. Remove whatever is holding it in and remove the cylinder. Now look on the latch face (visible on the edge of the door) for the brand name of the lock. Armed with the brand name of the lock and the cylinder, you should be able to bring the cylinder to a locksmith and either purchase a replacement cylinder or have the locksmith rekey the cylinder as an over the counter transaction.
Illustrated Cylindrical Lock
Tubular Deadbolts
To avoid confusion, try to find installation instructions for your brand of deadbolt online. Like cylindrical locks, deadbolts often have their brand name stamped on the latch (or bolt) face (see picture of Arrow Latch Face above).
While tubular deadbolt cylinders can often be similar in appearance to cylindrical lock cylinders, they are usually much easier to get to. If the lock has a key on the outside and a thumbturn on the inside, simply unscrew screws until the lock comes off the door.
If the lock has a key inside and outside, the screws that hold the inside cylinder on are probably concealed. The usual way they are concealed is with drive-in covers, that is, screw covers that are tapped into place with a hammer. These screw covers are sometimes difficult to remove without damaging them. Some double keyed deadbolts have a shutter that turns when the inside key is turned. When you turn the key to a certain degree, holes appear which allow the lock to be removed. Once the lock is removed, the cylinder will be clearly visible.
The outside cylinder will be held into the outside housing with a clip or screw, or it will actually be the outside housing.
As with the cylindrical lock, you can usually look on the edge of the door where the bolt projects and find the brand name of the lock. Armed with the brand name of the lock and the cylinder in hand, you can take your cylinder to a locksmith for rekeying or replacement.
When you are at the locksmith shop, ask if it would be cheaper to rekey the lock or to replace the entire lock with an equal lock. The locksmith will probably express an opinion about the quality of the lock. Based on that opinion, you can decide whether you might want to upgrade to a better lock.
When you reassemble the lock, note that the tailpiece, that is, the piece of metal that connects the cylinder(s) to the bolt, is (are) "timed". That means that they must be rotated so that the tailpiece is free to turn when the bolt is thrown by the turnknob or other cylinder. Such tailpieces are called "lazy" tailpieces because they are passive, allowing themselves to be turned by an outside force. You will know that you did it wrong if you reassemble the lock and then find that you cannot lock or unlock it from one side or the other.
Mortise Cylinders
Mortise cylinders are much easier to deal with than cylindrical lock cylinders or tubular deadbolt cylinders, but there are still a couple of things you need to know in order to get one in advance, and those are:
- Cylinder length (dimension "X" in the illustration above left)
- Cam style (above right)
The cam pictured above is specific to Sargent mortise locks. Different manufacturers use different cams for different models of mortise locks. If you have the wrong cam, your cylinder will probably not work right.
You can take the mortise cylinder with you to the locksmith shop and tell the counter person that you want one just like it. Of course, while your cylinder is out of the lock, your door is not secure.
A mortise cylinder is actually a big machine screw. It theads into the body of the mortise lock. It is kept from turning by a set screw. To remove the mortise cylinder from a mortise lock:
- Remove the lock front, or faceplate, by removing the two faceplate scews as shown above right
- Loosen (but do not remove) the cylinder set screw (next picture down)
- Turn the mortise cylinder counter-clockwise until it comes out
To put the new mortise cylinder in:
- Thread the mortise cylinder clockwise into the lock body
- Tighten the cylinder set screw (DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN)
- Re-install the mortise lock faceplate
Rim Cylinders
Rim Cylinders are the easiest of all cylinders to replace. For one thing, since there is very little difference between rim cylinders made by different manufacturers, you can just go buy one and it will probably work just fine.
To remove your old rim cylinder:
- Remove the lock from the door
- Remove the two screws that hold the rim cylinder in place
To install the new rim cylinder:
- Cut the tailpiece if necessary with a bolt cutter or hack saw
- Fasten the rim cylinder screws through the cylinder backplate
- Re-install rim lock
Very easy. Cutting the tailpiece can be challenging if you've never done it before. Just be careful not to cut the tailpiece too short.
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I am glad that you found my article useful, Shanel, thank you!
Very detailed. Now, instead of waiting for the landlord to "come see what's broken" one could read through this and change the lock without much help. Good stuff.
Hi
Tom Rubenoff
it is very nice article it is also useful for those people who change locks
thank you
Excellent article Tom! Thanks
Very informative article.. Ty
This is so much more than an overview! Wow! For those who happen to be in San Diego and are not so great with tools, we'd be happy to help - and at a discounted rate if you mention Tom's hub.
Great article!!
Thank you, locksmiths!!! :D
very well written, Clear and simple
Thank you!
As we can see people have figures out how to change different locks. These are all great ways to change your locks. If you need a pro like me call my locksmith company @ 1-888-607-4970
FAQ
Sacramento Locksmith
Q: Why should i use a professional locksmith company?
A: Professional locksmiths have all the experienced and knowledge needed to solve the most demanding security issues. Professional locksmith has the right tools to get the job done in the right manner..
Q: Why should i use City Locksmith’s Services?
A: City Locksmith has been solving security issues for many years. City Locksmith have skilled experienced locksmiths, and we carry state-of-the-art tools to make your security issue as easier for you as possible.
We Service the following:
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Q: The previous owner gave me all the keys, why should i get new ones?
A: When it comes around to your property and good belongings you want to ask yourself who else have the same keys, and when was the last time those locks were changed. If you cannot answer this question you should get your locks changed, After all you cannot know who still might have copies of your keys.
Q: Where does City Locksmith offer their services?
A: City locksmith offer services in many states nation wide. please check our service area page to find a City Locksmith near you.
I appreciate that locksmiths are drawn here, as I am one.
Q- Why is it necessary to re-key your locks? -
A- It is necessary to re-key your doors for many reasons. If you have just moved to a new home, the previous home owners could have duplicated the key and have full access to enter your home and steal from you. Another reason is after a certain amount of time the pins and bolts are not as strong leading to easier break In’s. Another big reason is money; everyone wants to save money so re-keying saves you money.
Q- Are Jimmy Proof products a good idea to put it? -
A- Jimmy Proofs are very good. These are much more complex than doorknobs and dead bolts. Jimmy proof locks are created differently; two vertical bars are interlocked when you turn the knob to secure the jimmy proof. This causes the door to be extremely strong because there is no room between the door pry bar and the jamb.
Q- Why is it that Dead Bolts are better than doorknobs? -
A- Dead Bolts are better than regular doorknobs for many reasons. Doorknobs are easily picked. For example, you can slide a credit card or an ID and easily unlock a doorknob. On the other hand, a dead bolt lock cannot be easily picked. When you secure the door the lock goes way further into the door causing it to be secured better. An ID cannot push open the lock it would take a lot more than that!
Q- Are Biometrical ways of security worth using? -
A- Yes, Biometrical wats of security are worth using if you have the money. Most biometrical ways of security are used in buildings like hospitals, schools etc. Not a lot of people use Biometrical security in there homes because of the price. Biometrical Lock- Locks that can only be opened by a fingerprint (the owners fingerprint)
Q- How can you tell when your doors need re-keying?
A- it is best to re-key your doors every 5 years because 5 years is a long time. someone could have copied your key and etc. Another time is after a break in, if you have experienced a break in you should change the cylinders because they have been damaged.
Q- Whats the difference between a panic bar and a push bar?
A- panic bar is the same thing as a push bar. the purpose of the panic bar is in its name. if there is an emergency thee easiest way to run out of a building is tosh the door open not turn a knob. All schools and hospitals must have panic bars. these bars are on the inside of the building not the outside.
Q- How to Re-Key?-
A- 1. Check the brand on every door; your locks might have different manufactures. Purchase a re-key kit for every brand you have. They are easily accessible at home stores and online. The kits come with two keys and tools to re-key six door locks.
2. Unlock the door, and remove the doorknob by inserting the wire tool, which you will find in your kit, into the hole on the knob. Release the clip and take of the knob.
3. Push the lock cylinder out of the knob. Once the knob sleeve drops off, use the retainer ring tool, also in your re-key kit, to free the cylinder.
4. Using your old key, turn it ninety degrees left or ninety degrees to the right. Take the key out and push the plug through with the plug follower tool in your kit. put even pressure on the plug and tool to make sure you don’t lose your springs by accident.
5. Empty the plug pins and put the new key in the product. Use tweezers or forceps to insert the new color-coded pins into the plug. Follow the kit instructions to ensure the new pins are put in correctly. Reassemble the doorknob after all this is done.
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Changing locks is very helpful to everyone. This is a common installation in the locksmith business. Try re-keying also. Call me 4 any of your locksmith needs. @ 202-747-0034.
What if the mechanism inside the Cylindrical lock where the key fits in all came off . It's practically in pieces now . How do i re-assemble it ?
Hi John. I will write a separate article on disassembling and reassembling a common pin tumbler cylinder down to its most basic parts, but in the mean time it may be simpler for you to buy a new cylinder instead. Also, how did it come apart? If it came apart spontaneously, in may need replacing anyway.
hello can any one help i have a 3 lever i think the type that you pull handle up before you lock door,im after changing just for new keys is this possible.
Not sure what you mean by 3 lever. Is there a brand name on it? Does the cylinder look like any of those above?
thanks
torontolocksmithservice.ca
Thank you!
Wow! Tom you are like the hub of locksmiths. They all clamber to unlock the door with their identity skeleton key. And leave some cookies and milk on the table. Blessings, Debby
Yes, Debbie, well, at least cookies. They love it here. They are my brother and sister locksmiths and of course they are welcome.
I need help to remove a jammed jimmy proof deadbolt (vertical bolts). I am locked out so I cannot access the interior side of the lock. I don't mind damaging the lock in order to unlock the door.
I'm sorry, Juanita, but that is something I will not discuss online. I wish you good luck. I think it is best to call a locksmith because they will be able to get in with the least amount of damage to your door.
shanel Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
What a wonderfully, detailed hub regarding locks. I have run into trouble trying to reset tumblers a couple of times where I get the springs jammed in the cylindrical lock cylindar. Your directions are really clear and precise. Thanks.