Antique Yale Mono Lock cylinder removal

YALE7750

I have an early Yale monolock from the mid to late 1920’s which I would like to rekey, but cannot figure out how to release the cylinder from the knob. This one has the serrated tumbler pins & yale logo stamped on the plug itself. The knob appears totally solid with no seam or retainer in the base. In an old Yale catalog it looks like the 1170 cylinder used in the mono lock has a threaded rear. If there is a threaded retaining collar in the knob, how is it released? I cannot move the brass piece down inside the knob shaft that looks like a retainer nut. Thank you for any information on disassembly of this lock.

Pschiffe

YALE7750 wrote
I have an early Yale monolock from the mid to late 1920’s which I would like to rekey, but cannot figure out how to release the cylinder from the knob. This one has the serrated tumbler pins & yale logo stamped on the plug itself. The knob appears totally solid with no seam or retainer in the base. In an old Yale catalog it looks like the 1170 cylinder used in the mono lock has a threaded rear. If there is a threaded retaining collar in the knob, how is it released? I cannot move the brass piece down inside the knob shaft that looks like a retainer nut. Thank you for any information on disassembly of this lock.

From Exploded Lock Views, Vol. 3, (undated - c.1970) published by The Locksmith Ledger:

To remove the (cylinder) knob, insert he key and rotate the plug 70[SUP]o[/SUP] clockwise to line the knob retainer with the hole in the rose nut. Depress the retainer and slide the knob off. Pry the knob cap from the knob to permit removal of the pin tumbler cylinder for servicing, which can be done in the normal manner. To replace the knob, slide it on the spindle, turn the key 70[SUP]o[/SUP] clockwise and push the knob into position.

See thumbnail attached.

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

YALE7750

Thanks for the info; however the lock I have is apparently a much older design. The knob comes out very easily by moving a flat retainer plate out of a groove in the shank. From what I can tell a special hollow tool is needed that inserts over the tailpiece and down into the knob shank to reach into two notches to grab & unscrew the collar which holds the entire cylinder in. A hollow length of metal pipe or rod with the end ground down to fit in the slots might work. A picture in Yale catalog 26 from 1929, fig. 5 on pg. 351 is the best illustration I can find.

Pschiffe

YALE7750 wrote
Thanks for the info; however the lock I have is apparently a much older design. The knob comes out very easily by moving a flat retainer plate out of a groove in the shank. From what I can tell a special hollow tool is needed that inserts over the tailpiece and down into the knob shank to reach into two notches to grab & unscrew the collar which holds the entire cylinder in. A hollow length of metal pipe or rod with the end ground down to fit in the slots might work. A picture in Yale catalog 26 from 1929, fig. 5 on pg. 351 is the best illustration I can find.

Yes, it appears that unscrewing that collar should allow the cylinder to be removed from the front of the knob. Below are thumbnails of your image from Catalog 26 together with one of their 1170 Mono-Lock cylinder which appeared on pg. 208. Note that COLTi team member Dean Nickel wrote Unit Locks - The King of Locks, the “bible” on such locksets and may be able to help.

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

YALE7750

Pschiffe wrote
Yes, it appears that unscrewing that collar should allow the cylinder to be removed from the front of the knob. Below are thumbnails of your image from Catalog 26 together with one of their 1170 Mono-Lock cylinder which appeared on pg. 208. Note that COLTi team member Dean Nickel wrote Unit Locks - The King of Locks, the “bible” on such locksets and may be able to help.

Pete Schifferli

Thanks Pete for the catalog pictures–that’s exactly what I have. I just hope I can get it to come off without stripping it out. So far it refuses to budge in either direction.

[unknown]