Patent ID: 8881567

Claim:
A method for resetting an inoperative lock cylinder having a cylinder housing, a plug body disposed for rotation in the cylinder housing, and a plurality of racks and a plurality of pins disposed in the plug body, the method comprising the steps of: providing a reset fixture having a bracing bar and a reset tool, wherein the reset fixture defines a central recess and a channel in the central recess configured to receive a projection extending from the inoperative lock cylinder to orient the inoperative lock cylinder for engagement with the reset tool and the bracing bar, wherein the reset fixture includes a bracing bar opening that extends from the exterior of the reset fixture to the central recess of the reset fixture along a longitudinal axis that is approximately transverse to a longitudinal axis of the central recess and the channel, and wherein the bracing bar opening is located on a side of the reset fixture that is opposite a side of the reset fixture the reset tool opening is located on; extending the bracing bar through the bracing bar opening of the fixture housing along a longitudinal axis that is approximately transverse to a longitudinal axis of the central recess; placing the inoperative lock cylinder housing and plug body in the central recess of the reset fixture such that the projection is received in the channel; moving the plurality of racks to a common alignment using the reset tool while the inoperative lock cylinder housing and plug body are in the central recess of the reset fixture, wherein the reset tool extends through a reset opening defined in the reset fixture; wherein the reset tool and the bracing bar extend through the fixture housing along a longitudinal axis that is approximately transverse to a longitudinal axis of the recess moving the bracing bar to retain the plurality of racks at the common alignment wherein the bracing bar includes a finger located on its side to engage a locking bar portion of the lock cylinder when extending the bracing bar through the bracing bar opening of the reset fixture; and rotating the plug body in the cylinder housing to a rekeying position.