Need help with American 5200.

[Gapper402]

I'm fairly new to lock picking, been doing it for a month or so now and I keep challenging myself. I have picked the master 1, 3, 5, 141 and 525 and the Pacific 95G. Now I'm trying for a the 5200 from American. Is this too big of a jump or am I just having all my own issues? I keep trying to SPP with some South Ord hooks but I just can't seem to get it. It feels like the #4 pin of the one I'm trying to pick right now is serrated. I read up on picking serrated pins but I still just can't seem to get it. Any advice??

[yono]

hi Gapper402, having a mentality for advancing, is always "to dare" do new things, American 5200 is not a real Big jump, in fact it is an introductions to serrated pin picking.. this will give you the idea and the initial "feel" of the serrated pins behaviour. and once you have that idea..go to its basic.. from one or two pins serrated pins picking or jump to three.. and then five.. as you improve. there are lots of info in here regarding picking serrated pin types of lock..but the most important is your own discoveries of how does it feel as you picked. regards

[raimundo]

I hope you have a slimline pick, some of those southord and others are really large for that tiny keyway
You can make your own if you find the right stiff metal, there are threads here that list some sources of metal.

[WolfSpring]

I started with the 5200 with a normal southord, but you have to use top of keyway. The trick to the 5200 is variable super light tension because it will false set there is 2-3 spools in there and it will false set usually. When it does you have to go back and find the stack that false set and since it is key retaining there is no spring reversing the plug so you pushing up on the stack will start the reverse and you have to feel it just right going back an let up on the tension wrench without it flying out of your hand... This becomes a serious issue for begginers, and it was for me. Go on Youtube and look up wizwazle and T.O.K.E. video he creates a cool tension wrench with a giant handle that allows for easy variable tension and it is a big help. The lock can be finacky and times and every one is differant. If you have a key open it, take out three stacks and start with just two and work your way up, learning the spools and serated drivers. It is an awesome lock, and can be easy, but I've heard some of the best pickers tell me it gives them a run for there money. I've picked close to 100 of these or more, as has another guy on here LockSmithArmy look up some of his vids on youtube too. you can also CCW pick it, but you will have to go all the way around the top of the plug causing the drivers to fall into the bottom of the key way and then take your pick flat side to push them back and continue around. It can be easier as the binding order usually starts in the front. Good luck and you will come to love that lock, espeically how easy it is to change the pins up in it.

[femurat]

... since it is key retaining there is no spring reversing the plug ...

Are you sure about this? This weekend I picked 4 5200s in a row and with just one of them I think I felt a sort of resistance.
Since it was a used lock, and I hadn't the key, gave it a little oil and I picked it CCW to test if it was working, and it popped open extremely easily. Then I decided to try the rubber band trick, since I thought the problem was the shackle spring. So I added a couple of rubber bands to press the shackle down. Once the shackle was resting halfway between the standard and pushed down positions, I managed to pick that lock.
The strange thing is that just one out of four had this problem. What do you think?

Cheers

[femurat]

Sorry for the double post, but I realize I was not clear.

I know very well there isn't a spring reversing the plug.
I'm talking about the spring that pushes the shackle out. I think that this spring could make the plug difficult to turn due to the friction created.

Cheers

[WolfSpring]

Actally you do bring up a good point I must clarify, the military 5200 stamped US is key retaining, the civilian alluminum looking one is not... I always forget there is a non-military one. So if you have a non US stamped one it does have a spring on reversing the plug.

[femurat]

All the 4 locks you see in that picture are stamped US and are key retaining. Just one of them felt like it had some friction on the plug while picking, this made me think it was the shackle spring. Am I wrong?

Cheers

[WolfSpring]

You are correct they do have a spring shackle.

[femurat]

Thanks for the confirmation WolfSpring, I was starting to doubt about what I felt

I went off topic... my apologies to the OP. I hope you appreciate the additional info, even if these are not what you were looking for. Give your 5200 a try, if it's too difficult for your actual level just put it aside for a couple of weeks... then try again.

Cheers

[raimundo]

I believe that the lock has changed over the years, back in the 1970,s there was a spring that did push CCW on one I was picking. Sometimes my memory is good about certain things.

[Gapper402]

I went off topic... my apologies to the OP. I hope you appreciate the additional info, even if these are not what you were looking for.

No need for apologies at all, I love learning new things, all the replies here are very helpful and much appreciated. Thanks for all the insight, all the off topic stuff is either new to me or reassuring to here all the different approaches. Thanks again!!

[le.nutzman]

If you do a search for posts by me, i've cracked every military stamped American 5200 i've come across, most in under a minute, as well as several noted postings about the different types of tension and how to distinguish what you're using. The biggest secret for me isn't variable light tension, it's tension period. Anything heavier than fingertip weight on the end of you tension wrench is too much until the lock breaks free and you'll feel it and you'll know.

[lockpickfan]

I've ordered some American lock 5200 not so far.

Realy nice to pick this padlock, it's a challange for hungarian pickers, cause nobody have picked this lock before

This padlock's secret is the strong plug recovery sping, when we picked one, turn the pug with a strong tension tool or a srewdriver.