Lock Cylinder plates

[rubyms]

I took my lock apart and got mixed up when I re-installed the plates and now the key doesn't work. They are numbered 1-4 (one 1, 1 two, three 3s, and two 4s.

Any idea what order they go into the cyclinder? Where can I find a diagram. I could take apart the passenger side lock but I don't want to if I don't have to.

[maat333]

The tumbler plates have to match the key, so you should be able to tell the correct order simply by comparing the relative heights of the tumbler notches in the key.
If you want to be sure you have it correct, just insert the key into the cylinder when the cylinder is not in the lock.
With the key in, no tumbler plate is supposed to protrude out of the cylinder.
Just keep swapping them around until you get that result.

[rubyms]

But they are numbered for some reason...

[maat333]

Yes the tumbler plates are numbered, but that is to indicate the depth of the corresponding cut in the key.
That allows the manufacturer to cut a key to a numeric code, and then know what tumbler plates have to be inserted to correspond to the key they just cut.
If they make a cut on the key at the first tumbler position to a depth of 4 for example, then the assembler knows he has to insert a #4 tumbler at that position. And so on for the rest of the tumblers.
You will notice that the number corresponds to the preset depth of the tumbler, not which position it should be assembled into.

[rubyms]

Originally Posted by maat333

Yes the tumbler plates are numbered, but that is to indicate the depth of the corresponding cut in the key.
That allows the manufacturer to cut a key to a numeric code, and then know what tumbler plates have to be inserted to correspond to the key they just cut.
If they make a cut on the key at the first tumbler position to a depth of 4 for example, then the assembler knows he has to insert a #4 tumbler at that position. And so on for the rest of the tumblers.
You will notice that the number corresponds to the preset depth of the tumbler, not which position it should be assembled into.

Thanks, so I need to look at my key to determine the level spots and then match that up to the cyclinder? There are three number 3's - so there should be three spots on the key that are at the same level.

thanks again.

[maat333]

Yes, there would be 3 spots on the key all cut to an equal depth if there are 3 tumbles the same length.
And you will be able to tell if you did it right because when the key is inserted into the cylinder, none of the tumblers should stick out.
Because if they did, the cylinder would not turn.
If this gets to be a problem, you can just leave out some tumblers.
It is not likely someone is going to pick the lock anyway.
You can also tell where the flat spots on the key are a little better by holding it next to the cylinder.
The flats have to line up with the tumbler locations.