ERA 3 Lever

[2hammers]

ok guys I bought an ERA 3 Lever lock of a market stall today for a fiver and the lever tools I have made I thought would do the job, but I have just tried for 3 hours and I can't beat it. Is there anybody who can advise me. There are these sort of shims in between and I don't understand what they do?

[illusion]

The shims in between are known as spacers - they don't affect picking much unless you damage one and it jams the mechanism up.

Have you read my guide on lever locks?

Here is a template of some lever picks:



Starting from top:

Lever lifter,
'J' wire/button hook/overlifter
Another tension wire,
Lever lifter.

The thing on the right is an overlifter, but it's a commercial bought one.

Give the 'j' wire a go. You'll find it works well.

Cheers.

[2hammers]

Yes illusion,
I have, but I tried with home made tools, but I have come to the conclusion that I may need something specially made or I may be trying too hard with the tools I have. I have an "L" turner and a "j" wire I made myself but the "L" just doesn't fit it's like foating if you know what I mean.
Cheers Jim

[2hammers]

The key is kindof funny shaped if you get what I mean I can't explain it I will [post a pic tomorrow if I can.

[Shrub]

The key is a wavy key, you just need to make tools that will fit the keyway,

[illusion]

I edited my post a second before you posted... the scale for the template is 1 square = 5mm in length.

Hmm... try the length I showed... barring that take off the cover and see how long the wire has to be to engage the bolt.

If it's floating, then it is probably too short.

There are othe positions, but I like applying tension like this:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b25/jangofett511/tensioning.jpg

I have a keyway that is wavy and have no trouble in using the picks I showed above.

Cheers,

Ben

[illusion]

Hey mate. Does the keyway look like this?



Cheers,

[2hammers]

That's it guys it is wavey, it kind off threw me if you know what I mean. the turner I made was supposed to go all the way in but this lock(my first proper lever) threw me a bit. It sort of threw me that the talon was not on the bottom if you know what I mean.

[SteveW]

Hi all,

I had to open one of these on a job a few months back. Non of my regular tools would fit due to the unusual wavy key profile, so i knocked together a quick 2in1 and popped it after a couple of attempts. Ive still got the 2in1 and done a couple more of these since. Two bits of piano wire and a bit of brass tube, works a treat

[illusion]

2Hammers: If you have the same lock as the one I pictured, all the picks will work except the commercial overlifter.

[EvoRed]

If you have to open one then just file a bit of the side of the keyway to get your 2 in 1 in...

[2hammers]

Here are some pics of the lock




sorry about the size i haven't worked out how to re-size yet.
Cheers

[illusion]

The wires in the template I posted should work on your lock.

I've found that heavy tension on some 3 lever locks works since the bolt is a bit stiff.

You tension wire and lever lifter both look too small.

I know it's like cheating, but you may consider putting a clear cover to replace the front cover - this will allow you to see what you are doing inside the lock and allow to to see how the lock reacts to picking.

Cheers.

P.S: Use MS Paint to resize your photos if you wish, but the photos you posted are ok in terms of size.

[2hammers]

Thanks illusion I will take it to work tomorrow
and put a clear cover on it and make some more tools.

I will let you know how I get on.

Cheers Jim

[sidpick]

I found great success picking these locks with a 5g 2 in 1 pick, the tension arm and lifter arm cut down and 'thinned' down to bypass the bullet warding on the keyway. Heavy tension needed on the ones I did as there was a fair distance between the bolt stump and the levers.

With regards to wire picking the souber pre made lever picks tension tools are good for this, you need the heavy duty one and cut it down to size

Enjoy!!