american lock problems

[shogun1]

hi there have a series 2000 american lock company steel lock and am having problems picking it, have been advised to use very little tension but still roblems. any advice?

[pin_pusher]

that's a rather difficult lock--i'm not sure how experienced you are at this hobby, but it's not level one for sure. if i'm not mistaken, it's got security pins up the wazoooh...so unless you've picked other american locks, or locks with spools, serrated, mushroom, etc. etc. pins, then i would suggest starting on a lighter lock. an american 1500 would even be easier, maybe. light tension is indeed the key to this however. but from my perspective, i've never successfully picked the american 2000. if you search the forum, there are many american lock topics that have good advice as well.

[Ortin468]

hi there have a series 2000 american lock company steel lock and am having problems picking it, have been advised to use very little tension but still roblems. any advice?

Try picking from a different position, rather than from the side (assuming its not in use) Holding it in you hand can get very tiring, very fast. Try in a vise, or just sitting on the tabletop, faced up, down etc... Give it a shot with the other hand also.
Sometimes I get a better "feel" with the other hand, but I can't do it for long.

[glenaw]

The Locking Pins in the American Padlocks are cerated. So every time you apply tension and lift a pin with your pick the groove in the pin catches. Pickable but very difficult to do even to a seasoned professional .

[Divinorum]

+1 on the vice. Sometimes I can't get a lock open while holding it in my hand and then when I put it in a vice it opens so much easier. In a vice you have much better tension control. Also if you have the key, take out some pin stacks and even the playing field for yourself. And use top of the key way tension. Try different techniques. You can change the pick your using, your tension, or picking back to front or front to back. Try setting the pins in a different order if what your doing is not working at all. I have locks that can be picked a couple different ways.

[KPick]

How long have you been picking locks?