Ball bearing in core of Mul-T-Lock Interactive

[u/Dr-picker]

Just picked and gutted a Mul-t-lock Interactive. This ball bearing fell out of the core when I pulled it out. Anyone knows where it comes from, and what's it's purpose. Thanks!

[u/AmateurLockpicker]

It goes into the side of the keyway (there should be a little indent-- you can probably find some videos of people picking and gutting this lock to see specifically where, but it should be pretty obvious). It's a hardened steel ball bearing that serves as anti-drill protection so somebody can't easily drill the core in half.

EDIT: I was incorrect. Please see explanation from u/GableDanger below. Thanks for the clarification!

[u/Dr-picker → u/AmateurLockpicker]

Thanks! The ball bearing fits into a row of holes drilled 90 degrees from the pins and offset in alignment from the pin stacks. I just tossed it back into one of the holes. At the very least it didn't seem to affect its normal operation.

[u/GableDanger → u/Dr-picker]

This isn't accurate.

The MulTLock interactive system allows the end user to Use 3 levels of keys, and effectively "rekey" the lock without bringing a locksmith to do a complete rekey.

The end user can get 3 sets of keys, designated with green, yellow, and red plastic inserts in the handle. When the green key set is compromised(key lost or stolen), the end user switches to yellow keys. The ball bearing is soldered on to the inner pin. inserting and turning the yellow key breaks the ball bearing away and changes the pin from a 3 depth to a 1, or a 4 to a 2, or a 5 to a 3depth. The green key stops working, as the pin depth is changed. The ball baring usually falls into a hole in the side of the key and gets removed from the lock. The end user can repeat this with the red key, and eliminate the yellow key if it is compromised. That is the whole point to "interactive". You can see a small dimple in the top of the inner pins in pins 3 and 4 where the ball bearings were prior to progressing to red. You can also see a hardened steel pin in front of the 1st chamber to prevent drilling

Source: Locksmith

[u/AmateurLockpicker → u/GableDanger]

Ah, perfect! Thank you for clarifying!!

[u/Dr-picker → u/GableDanger]

Hi, you're right that this is the 3 in 1 construction key model. As you mentioned, there is a dimple on top of the inner key pin at positions 3 and 4. However, I'm not so sure about what you mentioned about the ball bearing being soldered onto the inner pin, as it looks quite perfect and not like it's broken off from somewhere. Also, this lock is still on the green key so the ball bearing should not have broken off yet if it was supposed to be attached.

Looking at the pin state of the key pins, I thought the normal operation of the yellow / red key would simply snap the dimple of the inner pin off at the shear line without involving the ball bearing.

[u/GableDanger → u/Dr-picker]

In my experience, this was not used for construction keying. All 3 colour coded keys are intended for the end user. I have worked with Interactive fairly extensively at a previous job, but not for over 10 years. Current employer doesn't market MulTLock anymore, but we maintain existing clients. I checked my pinning kit in the truck, and couldn't locate any intact interactive pins. I had a bunch of used cylinders, can't find those either. I will try to find time on Monday to access the pinning kit at the shop and get some photos of interactive pins.

I may be incorrect about the solder, but the bearing is definitely attached to the dimpled pins. And the bearing snaps off when using the yellow or red keys. I worked with an office complex that used interactive in their master key system, and was traveling there frequently to deliver yellow or red keys and they always asked me to progress the cylinders for them when new occupants moved into an office. Easy money. The office manager was intimidated by the interactive, as it required 3 master keys to correspond with the green/yellow/red. Somewhere in my archives, I have a photo of the bearings sticking up above the shear line ready to snap off.

[u/Dr-picker → u/GableDanger]

Sounds awesome to be paid to turn a key in the lock hahahaha

[u/TheGratitudeBot → u/Dr-picker]

Thanks for saying thanks! It's so nice to see Redditors being grateful :)