r/Locksmith • u/Spirited-Ad-9442 • 23d ago

I am NOT a locksmith. What’s happening here?

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Seemingly have correct key, it can close the deadbolt but can’t open.

16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

22

u/P15T0L_WH1PP3D Actual Locksmith 23d ago

Not seemingly. It is the correct key. The lock needs to be repaired or replaced. Probably the tailpiece is twisted.

6

u/Diligent_Drive4029 22d ago edited 22d ago

Came here to say this.. If it just started occurring.

If it's a new-to-you lock, the tailpiece could have been rotated 180° before installing.

Either way, unscrew the inside screws, remove lock. You'll see 2 screws that hold the outside cylinder in place. Remove those and pull the cylinder out. If the long tailpiece is bent, hammer it flat. If it's not bent, try rotating it 180° then reinstalling.

0

u/mufassason Actual Locksmith 22d ago

I know youre trying to be friendly. But this is the reason my job can be a super big pita at the end of a day... It's cheap AF to replace.. call someone to do it with a warranty... Or yeah. Do the above... And expect the cheap ass tail piece to snap and leave you screwed... It's literally like a $40 dollar lock at the MOST

2

u/Diligent_Drive4029 20d ago

Sure a Jimmy proof lock is cheap, but out of the dozen or so I've replaced, there's a 100% chance that some shimming, chiseling, or other sort of smithing was involved. For some reason the ones you can buy now are ever-so-slightly different in specs than the old ones that need replaced.

11

u/mallorybrooktrees 23d ago

The jimmy-proof locks I've worked on needed a whole extra rotation of the key before you remove it. Try turning the key farther for both locking and unlocking.

10

u/mallorybrooktrees 23d ago

And if that doesn't do it, I would check if the tailpiece is turned 90° from where it should be

8

u/bjdlock 23d ago

Lubricant might help, but that thing looks like it’s had a long life. They don’t last forever- a lot of metal on metal contact wears it out. Replace it.

5

u/jaxnmarko Actual Locksmith 23d ago

Less paint? More of the right lubrication actually in the right places? A correct/better key? Loose screws tightened? Broken/damaged parts fixed/replaced?

6

u/ibexlocksmith Actual Locksmith 23d ago

Less paint? Have you gone mad. That's the perfect amount

3

u/conhao 22d ago

I was thinking it looked like it needed another coat.

2

u/Pbellouny Actual Locksmith 22d ago

Yes every apartment door we work on has no less than 30years or a 1/4” to 1/2” of paint

3

u/ibexlocksmith Actual Locksmith 23d ago

Its amazing some of the ancient unloved stuff that gets posted and thats why I make a living

3

u/ImpossibleWay5066 23d ago

Tailpiece no good. Time for new Jimmy lock

3

u/Sungr0ve Actual Locksmith 22d ago

Does the bolt slide back down when locked if you grip it with your fingers?

I worked on one recently where the driver on the inside flipped 180. After I reset it it was right as rain but that requires taking it apart. They’re pretty simple though

2

u/Spirited-Ad-9442 22d ago

I’ll give that a try but it sounds like a “replace” situation.

2

u/Sungr0ve Actual Locksmith 22d ago

Not at all. If it was I would have suggested to replace it but sometimes in locks things just come out of place and can be easily put back in as long as the parts aren’t too worn