
Sometimes, lock cylinders are installed upside down and the opposite is true. The cylinder must be returned to it’s normal position to remove the broken key from the lock.įor most home hardware, the correct key position for extraction is with the cuts of the key pointing up. They will actually serve to hold the key in place and prevent it from being extracted. If, when you broke the key, the cylinder is turned, the pins can no longer move up to let the key slide out.
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Before the key is turned these pins are free to go up and down in their chamber due to a spring located in the chamber. Inside the cylinder, there are pins, which correspond to the cuts in the key and allow the cylinder to turn when the key is inserted. When a Working Key is Turned, the Red Pins Shown Will Lock the Key in Place So It Can’t Be Removed Important! Make sure the keyhole cylinder is in the right position to pull the key out. What if you still can’t get the broken key out?.The Online method that REALLY works! Glue stick to remove a key.Details on several techniques to remove a broken key are below. If those easier techniques don’t work, then there are still a few more complex options. For deeper keys, consider a small jigsaw blade, paperclip, or glue gun.

If near the surface, try using tweezers or small pliers. Alternatively, common household tools can be used. This allows you to push the key out from the back side. To remove a broken key from a lock, the best approach is to remove the lock cylinder, if accessible.
