How to Master Key a Schlage Knob

Insert the key into the business end of the knob and turn it one way or the other, doesn’t matter which way.

Use something hard like a flat head screw driver (or assuming you have a kit, use the included tool) to push this pin in.

Once pressed, remove the knob.

This next part can be kind of tricky. The cylinder in there has a clip that retains all of the springs for the pins. (Skip ahead to see what it looks like.) In order to slide it out of the knob, these springs must be compressed so you have to simultaneously compress them while you slide the entire assembly out.

Now it’s time to remove the Jesus clip.

Slide in your key that unlocks it.

Line your cylinder up with your follower bar and slide your cylinder over and onto it. Be careful not to lose any of those springs or top pins in there because if you do this wrong, they will go flying everywhere.

Dump those old pins like you’re leaving for college.

Now we need to setup your keying. Below I’ve written down the two keys I’m keying this lock to. There’s a master key and an tenant key. In this case, our lock doesn’t know the difference between the two. They are just two different keys that need to work with one lock. Noticed I’ve lined up the numbers for each.

The first pin to be dropped into each hole will be the smaller of the two numbers in each stack. I underlined those in red.

The second pin to be dropped in will be the master pin. This will be the pin that makes up the difference of the two numbers in each stack. I wrote each of these numbers on the very bottom.

My cylinder with the bottom pins installed.

Here I test one of the keys to make sure the correct pins are lining up flush with the top. In this case, 1, 2, 4 & 5 are flush.

Here I add a master pin #2 to hole 3 to make that flush as well.

Now I’m testing with the tenant key. Hole 3 is flush (and has a master pin #2 on top) but holes 1, 2, 4 & 5 will need their master pins to make them flush as well.

Here I’m adding pins #4, #3, #0 (nada) and #2 to holes 1, 2, 4 & 5.

After testing both of those keys, I’m ready to put my springs back on. Be careful with this part because if you didn’t properly test that your keys work, you will lock yourself out of opening this again so unless you know how to pick, you’ll be screwed. You might also notice I’m sliding it on from the side. If you don’t do this, your springs will start falling into the holes prematurely and you will have another mess on your hands.

Turn the cylinder back into place and make sure all of the springs and top pins properly fall into their holes.

Put your Jesus clip back on. Test with both sets of keys.

Find the spot in the knob where you can slide the assembly back in.

Compress the springs and slide it in.

Line it up with the retaining pin and slide it back on.

Get it on there as far as you can. Finally, insert the key and turn it to lock it into place.