Identify the problem

[acesmith]

So I have a simple no name padlock and I've only been able to pick it maybe half dozen times with a hundred tries; while other padlocks are easy taking no more than 30-40 sec. My issue is the spring on the 3rd pin...it feels "light". As I rake across all 4 pins the second from the end doesn't have the spring that the rest of the pins have. I find that one of the key pins binds because of this and i can't turn the lock, but I'm not sure.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Any pick type suggestions?

[calvinism]

Have u tryd single pin picking it? Thatl be way more acurate than raking it. What i normaly do when i strugle with a lock like that is i note in mind wich pins ive set. For example if u know uve just set one pin then remembr which one it was. So in ur case if u set 1 pin u only got 3 pins bindin. And it gets simpler and simples as you set more pins. All other advice i can give is maybe using a shallower rake and vary ur tension. If you wana be sure if a pinstack is set or in your case if a key pin is binding go to 'pick fu do. . .not try' and download my personal picking guid for all word document. Its a guid i wrote about using a small gap to help identify pin states. Let us know of ur progress

[acesmith]

your guide really helps. I managed to get it picked a few times, but i think the spring inside is bent, making it difficult.

[Doctor Hexagon]

Well if you think that is what it is, and you don't mind or are able to, maybe it's time you cracked open that lock and had a good look at it's internal parts. I'm curious to see what would be causing that pin stack to feel different, and the only suggestions I can think of to discern that are to either buy another lock from the same company if possible (and since there's no brand name on it, I'm guessing that it isn't possible) or cut open the lock and inspect its pin stacks and springs.

[FFVison]

Yeah. If you think that a spring is bent or broken, you would know better than us. I tend to agree with the previous post. You might want to check to see if it is repinnable. If it is, you might be able to replace the spring. I'm also making 2 guesses here in that A. Since you said it was a no name lock that you aren't the original owner and thusly do not know how well it was treated before it fell into your possession and B. You ordinarily rake this lock. This can be rough on the springs, which I would guess eventually wear out and/or break. Another test might be to gently shake the lock by your ear. Does it rattle? If a spring were broken, it might rattle or at the very least, the pin stack would rattle if the spring was no longer pushing down on them. Hope this helps. Btw, when you cut it open post some pics. I'm curious if we were right.

[acesmith]

Follow up on this thread.

I did what you suggested Doc; I cut open the lock and indeed the spring on the 3rd pin was warped. I noticed the key would not turn if the lock was held upside down (looking at the key way)...indicating that there was not enough spring to keep the driver pin in place, instead it was free to move around.

Oddly enough, if you turned the lock right side up, the pin slide almost right into position and I was able to pick it by single pin picking around the 3rd pin.

Wierd stuff. Watch out for locks made in China, they're cheap.