Comprehensive deconstruction of American locks

Large draw lock・Parts・Trouble・DIY precautions

1. How common are American-style locks in Hong Kong?

In recent years, American-style set locks have become very popular in Hong Kong, and many new buildings have chosen them as the handover standard. This type of lock is often called「Big Lock」, because it has a larger hand pump on the outer panel, it feels more stable and high-end.

                    Main features: Automatic locking

                    After closing the door, the lock tongue will automatically pop up and lock. To enter again, you must use the key. This design is very convenient, but it also means that you must carry the key with you, otherwise you will easily get locked out.

2. The lock body is divided into three common types according to the indoor door opening method:

Horizontal handle style

Indoor horizontal handle, press down to open the door.

Ball handle model

Indoor ball handle, turn left and right to open the door.

Spoon Handmade Model

The indoor spoon holder pulls his hand and presses down to open the door.

What parts does the American set lock consist of?

An American set of locks is mainly made of Inner panel、Outer panel、Lock cylinder and Lock body It consists of four parts. The following diagrams are used to help understanding:

Image location	section	Usage
01	Lock cylinder	Insert the key to open or lock the door
02	Front panel	Cover the old holes
03	Handmade outdoor spoons	When the garbage system is in effect, press down to open the door.
04	Square bolt	After locking, it is completely impossible to take pictures of the door lock with film/letter card etc.
05	Shali	After the door is closed and stopped at the correct position, slide the lock into place and lock it.
06	Anti-filming	Prevent unscrupulous unlocking by photographing the door lock with film/letter card etc.
07	Garbage system (round style)	Control the outdoor spoon manual door opening function.
08	Garbage made (long style)	Control the outdoor spoon manual door opening function.
09	Rear panel	Cover the old holes
10	Horizontal handle style	Tie the handle indoors and press it down to open the door.
11	Ball handle model	Indoor spherical handle, twist left and right to open the door.
12	Spoon Handmade Model	Tie the handle indoors and press it down to open the door.
13	Indoor anti-lock	Indoor anti-locking system, only controls the square latch

Shatin · City One

The new lock is stuck due to installation defects.

Reason for unlocking: After the owner replaced the digital lock, the door lock could not be locked properly, and he found that the door could not be closed at night.

Master 101 came to the scene to inspect and found that the lock body was installed offset, and re-adjusted the position of the lock body and lock tongue. The repair was completed, and the charge was $650, and instructions on correct use were provided.

digital lock adjustment successful

Central · Queen's Road Central

Access control electric lock induction failure

Reason for unlocking: The electromagnetic lock on the company's glass door suddenly failed to sense, and all employees were trapped outside the door, affecting work.

Emergency treatment of the access control system, checking the power supply and controller, repairing the short circuit problem on the spot, returning to normal in 20 minutes, commercial unlocking fee $1100, customer renewal maintenance service.

Access control immediate repair

3. 7 common faults and their solutions

Hong Kong American-style locks are very durable, but various problems may occur after being used for a long time. According to the repair experience of local locksmiths, the most common ones are as follows:

Common fault phenomena	Possible reasons	Simple solutions/repair suggestions
The key barrel of the lock cylinder is in the correct position, but the key cannot be inserted.	There is foreign matter in the key cylinder of the lock cylinder, which prevents the key from being inserted.	Remove foreign objects in the lock cylinder
The key barrel of the lock cylinder is not in the correct position and the key cannot be inserted.	The last time the key was pulled out, it was not in the correct position and was forced out.	Gently twist the thin key barrel back to the normal position. If it does not return to the normal position, please contact 101 to open the lock. We have special tools to twist the thin key barrel.
Master inserted the key so hard that it could not be twisted	Master key/traffic light key invalid	Open with master key
The key cannot come out after being inserted, and the thin key barrel is slightly protruding.	The screws fixing the skirting behind the thin key barrel began to loosen	You can press the thin key barrel lightly to take out the key. But please contact 101 to open the lock as soon as possible and re-fix the screws to avoid worsening the problem.
The lock cylinder can idle but cannot open the door	One of the screws that fixes the skirting behind the thin key barrel is loose.	The screws that fixed the kicking feet fell out of the lock body. The kicking feet cannot control the lock body. This is beyond the simple solution and requires a locksmith.
The thin spoon barrel is pulled out	The screws fixing the skirting behind the thin key barrel are completely loose.	Both the screws of the skirting and fixed skirting have fallen into the body of the lock, which is beyond the simple solution and needs to be dealt with by a locksmith.
The key is stuck after twisting	The mating parts of the lock cylinder and the lock body are worn, or the new accessories do not match	The key and the indoor anti-locking system twist at the same time, but please contact 101 to open the door and replace the door lock as soon as possible to avoid worsening the problem.
The lock cylinder position is incorrect	The screws fixing the lock cylinder are loose	Gently twist the lock cylinder back to the normal position. If it does not return to the normal position, please contact 101 to open the lock. We have special tools to twist the lock cylinder.
The lock cylinder is completely pulled out	The screws fixing the lock cylinder are loose	Tighten the cylinder lock screw
The screw that fixes the lock cylinder cannot be tightened	There is a problem with the lock body	Replace the lock body
When the door is opened, the tilt cannot pop up normally.	There is a problem with the lock body	Replace the lock body
When opening the door, the square latch cannot spring normally.	There is a problem with the lock body	Replace the lock body
When the door is opened, the tilt pops up normally but cannot be locked when the door is closed.	Lock alignment problem	Grind the lock wider/change the lock position

4. What should you pay attention to when DIY repair or replacement?

American-style locks have many accessories to choose from, which makes them easier to replace, but it also makes it easier to get caught. If you want to replace the lock cylinder or lock body yourself in Hong Kong, there are a few points you should pay special attention to:

                             Distinguish between "screw bladders" and "pin bladders"

                            The most popular lock cylinder is the "screw cylinder" (fixed with screws), but some housing estates use "pin cylinders" (fixed with pins), and the two are not universal at all. Before buying a lock cylinder, it is best to remove the old lock cylinder to confirm how it is fixed.

                             Confirm the "locked" size

                            The lock body has an important dimension called "lock center", which refers to the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the door lock panel. The mainstream in Hong Kong is 70mm, but some housing estates will choose 90mm or even
                            100mm is neither a standard size. Be sure to measure the size before replacement, or take photos and consult a locksmith.
                        

                             Confirm the left and right directions of the lock body

                            The lock bodies of some brands are available for left and right hands (that is, diagonal and sharp directions). When purchasing, be sure to note that buying in the wrong direction cannot be solved by reinstalling the lock body, which will directly affect the user experience and appearance.

                             Don't misuse "lock body" to fix "lock cylinder" problems/"lock cylinder" to fix "lock body" problems

                            This is the most common misunderstanding among customers. Determining the value of a locksmith is the first step in solving the problem.

The information is for reference only. Our company will not be responsible for the losses caused by the customer's own operation or judgment.

101 locksmith professional support

Whether your American lock has any kind of fault, or you want to replace the lock cylinder or lock body, we can provide quotations and on-site inspection and repair services. We are familiar with the American lock models commonly used in major housing estates in Hong Kong. We have complete accessories and can perform on-site repairs to prevent you from buying the wrong parts.