Can a poor quality duplicate key gradually damage the lock?
Let's call the client Alexander. After making a new key, he noticed something strange. The old key worked fine, but the new ones had to be moved up and…
The client's name and some details of the story have been changed.
Let's call the client Alexander. After making a new key, he noticed something strange. The old key worked fine, but the new ones had to be moved up and down a little before the mechanism would turn.
Since the door did open, Alexander continued to use it. After a few months, the main key began to work worse. A question has arisen:
“Can a bad duplicate actually damage a lock?”
In the provided material on car locks, a damaged or low-quality duplicate is directly mentioned among the factors that can accelerate the wear of the mechanism.
Why a copy of the key matters
A key is a mechanical part of a certain geometry. If the copy is not made accurately, the user can begin to compensate for this:
- additional effort;
- swaying;
- change of position;
- press up or down.
The mechanism does not work as intended every day.
How to understand that the problem is in a new key
Good first test: compare it with another working key. If:
- old one works easily;
- the new one regularly jams,
It's worth checking the duplicate. If both are not working well, the problem may be in the cylinder itself.
Why you shouldn’t “develop” a new key by force
If a copy doesn't work well to begin with, continued use won't necessarily make it better. On the contrary, the elements of the mechanism may gradually wear out.
Do I need to change the cylinder right away?
No. If the problem is noticed early, you should first determine:
- key status;
- cylinder condition;
- is there any additional load from the door.