How to Rekey a Lock Cylinder
Sometimes locks need to be changed even if they are not broken or the keys have not been lost. The need can arise from a number of legal and practical situations. Whatever the case, you can save money if you re-key the lock yourself by changing the pins in the master cylinder. This can be accomplished fairly easily with a re-keying kit and the proper tools, though it does require the old lock to be functional. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Lock re-keying kit for your lock brand
- Key for old lock
Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.
A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.
Instructions
-
-
1
Unlock the door with your old key.
-
2
Remove the doorknobs. Sometimes there is a button you can press to remove the knob when the door is unlocked; sometimes you may need to poke a paperclip or other thin object into a small hole on the shaft of the doorknob.
-
-
3
Remove the doorknob collar to expose the lock shaft.
-
4
Push the plug follower from the re-keying kit into the lock shaft and gently use it to push the lock cylinder out the other side of the shaft. Do not push the plug follower all the way through but leave in place to hold the springs and pins that will remain in the shaft.
-
5
Using the manufacturer's instructions, replace the pins in the old lock cylinder with new pins matched to one of the keys that came in the kit. The pins are often color-coded.
-
6
Place the end of the lock cylinder up against the end of the plug follower and slowly push it back into the lock shaft. Make sure that it is oriented in the same direction it was when you took it out.
-
7
Replace the collar around the lock shaft and push the knobs back into place. You should hear a click as the latches re-engage to hold the knobs on.
-
1
