Picking euro/oval cylinders

[mhole]

I've had a few recent lockouts where I've been able to pick the euro cylinder on a cylinder deadlock, but not been able to 'pick up' the cam and actually open the lock.

I know how the mechanism operates, and I know I should be able to engage the cam once the core is picked, but I'm if I can work out how to do it! Seems the only spot where you can engage the cam is in the locked position, and then anything you use to press the cam selector obstructs picking...

Any tips?

[Jaakko]

Usually the tip of the key turns the cam or pushes some part into it to turn it.

[mhole]

Indeed - but if you don't have the key...

[Jaakko]

Indeed - but if you don't have the key...

Then use some very long tensioner.

[weerwolf]

Or , you take a universal key profile (Silca UL050 / UL051) and cut it down , so that you only have the spine of the key left.

Pick the lock , insert key and turn.

[mhole]

To clarify, are these tried and tested tecniques, or suggestions?

I've had both ideas (the cut down blank and the long tensioner) and tried the long tensioner with no success. The problem is you can only engage the cam with the plug in the locked position. As soon as you turn past that point you can't engage your key blank or tool in the correct place to 'grab' the cam. It's kind of catch 22...

[jpb06080]

Try using the blank as a tension tool. Grind off the bow and drill a small hole in whats left of the shoulder to fit a tension tool through. Its like what matt blaze did with the schlage everest. Doesn't really leave you a hole lot of room to pick though. I've never tried this with a euro cylinder, so I don't know if it would work or not.