Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

[Bill L.]

Has anyone had any success re-crimping the original face back on a key lock cylinder after having it rekeyed.

Thanks,


Bill

[Marco H.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,
I would check with Pete Lindahl. He has experience with locks.
Marco

[Gary B.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,

I've thought about that question a fair bit and concluded that I don't know of an elegant way to do it. Nor has anyone I've talked with in the lock and key business had an idea of how to do it. No one currently makes a 360 degree crimp-able face cap, so the only option in a new face cap is the type with the four tabs that get bent over on the backside. However Briggs & Stratton crimped on the cap originally, it must have involved a beefy press system and a carefully designed support to protect the front face and key insert area while the backside is crimped.

One can crudely use a punch and a hammer to peen over the backside rim bit by bit, but the result is a pretty ugly, although you can get a functional crimp. I think using a new face cap with the 4 tabs works OK and the lock escutcheon will hide the fact that there are tabs and not the original 360 degree crimp.

The issue is more problematic for C2 owners since the hole in the replacement face cap is slightly smaller than the original hole, and if one knows to look for that difference, it's pretty easy to spot during judging.

Gary

[Bill L.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,

I've thought about that question a fair bit and concluded that I don't know of an elegant way to do it. Nor has anyone I've talked with in the lock and key business had an idea of how to do it. No one currently makes a 360 degree crimp-able face cap, so the only option in a new face cap is the type with the four tabs that get bent over on the backside. However Briggs & Stratton crimped on the cap originally, it must have involved a beefy press system and a carefully designed support to protect the front face and key insert area while the backside is crimped.

One can crudely use a punch and a hammer to peen over the backside rim bit by bit, but the result is a pretty ugly, although you can get a functional crimp. I think using a new face cap with the 4 tabs works OK and the lock escutcheon will hide the fact that there are tabs and not the original 360 degree crimp.

The issue is more problematic for C2 owners since the hole in the replacement face cap is slightly smaller than the original hole, and if one knows to look for that difference, it's pretty easy to spot during judging.

Gary

Thanks Gary. The later style lock on C3 with the 4 tab type face is easily seen even with the gasket.

I am sure if it is something that could be done guys with a ton more experience would have done it. I do think the key is the fixture as you say. If one can immobilize and protect the stainless it could be done.

I guess the only viable option is to try and find an original alarm key switch with keys and known key code. Unfortunately mine is a K type and one of the more difficult switches to find.

Bill


Bill

[Bill L.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,
I would check with Pete Lindahl. He has experience with locks.
Marco

Good idea.

I will check with Pete.

Bill

[Michael G.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill, I had good success using a large washer covered with electrical tape as a protective surface for the face of the cylinder and using channel locks to SLOWLY work to re-crimp. The cover still had a 40-45 degree angle crimp as this was all that was needed to release the cover. This was not the easier tab model. Finished product has no signs of the operation. Hope this is helpful.

[Bill L.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill, I had good success using a large washer covered with electrical tape as a protective surface for the face of the cylinder and using channel locks to SLOWLY work to re-crimp. The cover still had a 40-45 degree angle crimp as this was all that was needed to release the cover. This was not the easier tab model. Finished product has no signs of the operation. Hope this is helpful.

Thank you Michael,

I just love the site and the guys. Now I have to find a good used lock with a decent stainless cover to swap. I am going to try to give this a shot.

By chance do you have any pictures? Was it a door lock or alarm switch.


Bill

[Michael G.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

This was the alarm switch, '71 with escutcheon. I had not taken any photos of the procedure but could get the installed finished product photo if needed. Absolutely NO signs of any work being done. Get a flat tool under the crimp and slowly start to un-flange (is that a word?) in slight increments as you go around. You should only need to de-flange the cover by about half of the full crimp and then you will have a "soupy" fit that will allow you to cock it at an angle and carefully peel the cover off. If it doesn't peel away easy, you must de-crimp the cover a bit more. Never try to make any dramatic progress at any one point. Slow and gradual and you will avoid stretching the material and making for a sloppy re-crimp.

[Bill L.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

This was the alarm switch, '71 with escutcheon. I had not taken any photos of the procedure but could get the installed finished product photo if needed. Absolutely NO signs of any work being done. Get a flat tool under the crimp and slowly start to un-flange (is that a word?) in slight increments as you go around. You should only need to de-flange the cover by about half of the full crimp and then you will have a "soupy" fit that will allow you to cock it at an angle and carefully peel the cover off. If it doesn't peel away easy, you must de-crimp the cover a bit more. Never try to make any dramatic progress at any one point. Slow and gradual and you will avoid stretching the material and making for a sloppy re-crimp.

Thank you Michael. I am going to give it a try.

Bill

[Gary B.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,

There is special tool that is made to remove and reattach face caps without risking injury to yourself by using a screw driver, chisel or hammer. Here's a website that describes it

http://gatortools.com/facecappliers.html

However, while that tool makes removal easy and safe, you still wind up with a face cap that has a "damaged" crimp surface. Putting that used face cap back on with the same tool will not lead to a perfect result. In addition, the tool is quite expensive. Some people will conclude that the cost of the tool is not justified given the quality of crimp it produces. But it does make removal very easy and very safe.

Gary

[Bill L.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,

There is special tool that is made to remove and reattach face caps without risking injury to yourself by using a screw driver, chisel or hammer. Here's a website that describes it

http://gatortools.com/facecappliers.html

However, while that tool makes removal easy and safe, you still wind up with a face cap that has a "damaged" crimp surface. Putting that used face cap back on with the same tool will not lead to a perfect result. In addition, the tool is quite expensive. Some people will conclude that the cost of the tool is not justified given the quality of crimp it produces. But it does make removal very easy and very safe.

Gary

Neat Tool but pricey for sure.

Bill

[Gary B.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Neat Tool but pricey for sure.

Bill

Bill,

A bought a gator tool some years ago on e-bay at much cheaper price that standard retail and I used it once to remove and then re-attach a face cap and I wasn't happy with the result. But there is nothing better.

Gary

[Bill L.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Bill,

A bought a gator tool some years ago on e-bay at much cheaper price that standard retail and I used it once to remove and then re-attach a face cap and I wasn't happy with the result. But there is nothing better.

Gary

I have a junk lock with an original face on its way to experiment with as Michael suggests.

I am thinking the un-crimping is done in minuscule amounts until opened enough to get the face off.

I will try to remember pics and follow up post should there be some success.

Bill

[Edward J.]

Re: Re-crimping original face on locks after re-keying

Hey Bill, take a few pic.s along the way, This maybe a driveline how to do. I myself have done many in my dealership days but had no way to remove without destroying.