Security bolt spline key

[9fingers]

Anyone familiar with these please?



I'm trying to help someone remotely to provide a key for a door secured by one of these security bolts.
I purchased and sent what I assumed was a standard key but it does not fit not seemingly to even enter the mechanism let alone turn it.

Are there more than one size in use? this key has 6 splines and 1/4" overall diameter.
Google give references to different spline lengths but not different key diameter/profiles

The person at the other end is not in the slightest bit technical so almost impossible to get measurements out of them.
As we can't get the door open, there is no chance of finding a manufacturers logo on the lock face or striker plate.

TIA
Bob

 

[RogerS]

Bob

I've had the misfortune to fit/use a lot of these over the years. The original Yale was a quality mechanism. Then the Chinese got in on the act and flooded the market with C-cubed.

Also if the lock hasn't been operated for any length of time and if it is in an external door - especially with poor maintenance, paint etc - then the lock itself will corrode and jam and be a bugger to turn/action. Lots of oil, Plusgas, hammer will force the key in....to the best of my knowledge (in theory) there is no difference to the diameter or tooth profile...well, there shouldn't be but we are dealing with C-cubed.

Once the key is in, use pliers to turn it. Then remove the door and fit a quality one

 

[Lurker]

My guess is that the bit of the bolt with the rack (teeth) on it has somehow moved or is full of cack.
Your main problem is not the bolt but the non technically inclined, could you post the first part of their postcode in the hope that someone here can pop round and help?

 

[novocaine]

called a rack bolt.
Chubb did a version with a 4mm hex key.

 

[9fingers]

Thanks for the responses guys.
Thinking around the subject, I searched my stash and found new old stock of 2 Chubb bolts and key.

My noname key fits into the Chubb and yet won't turn. both the Chubb and no-name key are 1/4" od and 6 splines.

Next time I visit I'll go more prepared and try and get it opened and swap it for one of my Chubbs.

Bob

@lurker - that a good idea, thanks but I expect to visit in the next few weeks

 

[Tiresias]

What happened to me once with one of those bolts was that it is possible for the bolt to be racked out by the key to such an extent that the end of it drops off the guides, and then the key cannot be inserted, nor, of course, the bolt withdrawn. There appears to be no internal mechanism to stop this happening – except perhaps the depth of the rebate into which to bolt sits. It was branded Chubb, so presumably was the genuine article.

That flat only had the one entrance door, so I trapped in, without any tools. A Swiss Army knife saved the day although the door did look like it had been gnawed by a gigantic rat afterwards. Needless to say, I do not countenance these abominations to be used anywhere I live. I don’t actually see that, in practice, they offer anything that a straightforward bolt doesn’t.

Anyway, could this be what has happened in your case?

 

[9fingers]

Anyway, could this be what has happened in your case?

Thanks I'll add that to the possibilities and pack the reciprocating saw when I visit.

Thanks to a kind offer from a member here, I expect to have a selection of old rack bolt keys landing on my door mat sometime too. :eusa-clap:

Bob

 

[Eric the Viking]

I've had problems with the type pictured, too. Without occasional lubrication, the splines wear down, to the extent they can no longer operate the bolt. We have some, but also keep spare keys in the house, in case.