How do you open Yale thumbturn locks?

[Clipper]

Hi

THE QUESTION
Are slimline picks strong enough to turn the cam on Yale thumbturn locks, or would it better to use standard picks which are more rigid.

THE PROBLEM
i was having trouble picking this one lock and i could'nt identify the problem. After setting all the pins I was able to turn the cylinder as usual but after turning it one full revolution the pins set again and the lock did'nt open, i then set the pins again and turned the cylinder, in the same direction, in another full revolution thinking that it needed to be turned further, and again the pins set but the lock still did'nt open and i attempted this both clockwise and anticlockwise. I also tried opening the door when the cylinder was turned half way but no luck.

There was also a spring type mechanism at the back of the cylinder which i kept catching the pick on and if I pushed it, it was difficult to pull the pick back out.

THE INTENDED SOLUTION
After setting the pins, I intend to use the long end of the tention wrench to push back the spring mechanism and pick up the cam which hopefully will open the lock, however, i am not sure if slim line picks are suitable for the task.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[toomush2drink]

Use the end of the tension wrench to be on the safe side, some cams are quite springy and need a fair bit of "push". Ive had this problem on a door and even though i picked it numerous times i just couldnt pick up the cam fully, i had to get in another way in the end.

[pinpusher]

i carry keys filed down straight to lowest cut,pick the lock & insert key.Also handy on standard cylinders (looks better than the screwdriver) Eddie

[secondcity]

i've always found that the best thing to do is use a basic extractor like the ones you get in the majestic picKset to pick up the cam and drag it round on euro and oval thumbturns

[Clipper]

Thanks guys

Does anyone know the shape of the sping mechanism at the back of the lock and also the part that the tip of the key slots into connected to the cam which facillitates the turning of the thumbturn. Iv tried to feel it with the pick but find it difficult to visualize the shape.?

Also, why is it sometimes hard to pull the pick back out of the lock when you push back the spring mechanism...(it often seems to get caught in the mechanism and it's difficult to determine why without knowing it's shape)

Cheers

[p1ckf1sh]

Does anyone know the shape of the sping mechanism at the back of the lock and also the part that the tip of the key slots into connected to the cam which facillitates the turning of the thumbturn.

I had an ABUS on which it was very difficult to get the cam, you had to turn the plug back to the point where it almost locked back, almost zero degrees. I think the thingy might be asymmetrically slotted to match up with the width of the keyway, but I am not sure. When I disassembled and cut the lock in half I forgot to look.

Another question, when I was rotating the plug fully on that lock the cam released when the plug came back to the zero degree area. I never tried flipping the lock with a spring-loaded tool, so does anyone know whether you have to pick the cam back up after flipping from say 320 degrees to 40 degrees? Or will the cam stay engaged by quick flipping?