Tweaking the ball gap (steel cages only)

Here is a neat trick for tweaking the ball gap on your steel cage. You can raise or lower it by roughly 2-3 mm. Simply bend the central piece where the lock sits, along with the two pins holding it in place. Stainless steel is quite tough and harder to file or grind, yet surprisingly pliable when bent. The process isn’t difficult, but you will need strong pliers or a vice. First, persuade your KH to let you out of the cage temporarily; it only takes a few minutes, no touching allowed, and afterward her property stays put more securely. Grab your cage and ring and rush to your workshop where your mighty vice or large pliers await. Next, clamp one of the cage’s holding pins in the vice. Gently (!!!) bend the cage toward you. It’s a straightforward manual task. If you lack strength, use a screwdriver as a lever. Be careful not to twist it sideways; just nudge the pin slightly—less is better than more. Now do the second pin. Make sure both pins are parallel. Finally, bend that central piece where the lock usually sits (hopefully around the clock). Attempt to place the cage back into the ring. If it doesn’t sit right, you likely bent the pins off-center; fix this error. Rush back to your KH, thank her, admit any crafty mistakes made on her cage, get locked up again, perhaps even receive a spanking or two. Since you altered the geometry of the system, she may need to wiggle it slightly to secure the lock. Stay patient! It’s your doing, not hers. Test out the new ball gap for several hours or days. Don’t wander off on holiday during this time! Keep your vice nearby or bring it with you. Safety first! You want to prevent blue balls, avoid the device slipping through the cage and ring, or stop the cage from falling off while having dinner with family. I have adjusted my own cage twice now and even put it back once. The material remains firm. Here is a link to mine: … s107-small. I am quite fond of it! The photo shows that I used two pieces of soft wood. This advanced technique prevents scratches, though the material is so hard it isn’t strictly necessary.