Master Lock Street Cuff Tubular Bicycle locks

[martinger]

Hi,

as the Kryptonite thread went quite big I decided to answer in a new one:

Master Lock makes a product called "Street Cuffs" which I'm sure you could easily envision. Not sure if bypass info is public, but I haven't personally found an easy way yet. There are several models that use various configurations, all with a 10 pin (all pins present) tubular lock

This indeed is a very interesting lock, I know several people using it and at least one definitely already prevented an attempted bike theft - but one using brute force, not picking.

But I always said to my friends that the the security of tubular locks is not that they are really more difficult to open than normal tumbler locks, but that the tools are more specific and expensive. Technologically I think tubular locks are even less secure as you can easily access all pins the same time, so I am not really surprised about what just happened to Kryptonite, I already opend those using classical tubular picks years ago and who once tried that know's what I'm talking about: impressioning at your fingertips - quite impressing

Back to the master lock: not really supporting my "tubular-rant" above, I so far was not able to open the Master Lock Street Cuff at all. You say you don't know an easy way, but did you manage to open it at all? I already picked tubular locks the classical way using two hooks, one as tension tool and one to set the pins, but I didn't manage to open the Master Lock (tried about an hour or so). I don't have a matching tubular pick for it and also not have seen one for sale so far.

There are some things which make me think the Master Lock should not be too difficult, possibly there's just a small trick I'm missing?
- The lock is a 10 position tubular, but the one I have seen does only have 9 (not 10 like you say) pins, the 12 o'clock one is missing.
- 4 of the remaining 9 pins IMHO are fake. They are just to distribute the tension from the key to the lock or something, but they are not moveable and so far shoult not have to be picked
- the inside mechanism of the lock is different from the normal Kryptonite-style locks: you don't have to rotate the lock 180 degrees to open (which would require picking it 4 times or so) but the lock pops out a pin and is open already at about 45 degrees, so picking it one or two times should be enough to open.

Btw, Master Lock Co. If you read this, I want commission from all sales gained through this.

Oh, and then they sue me for the loss from my posting? To make it clear again: I was not able to pick it so far, I just think it should be doable

Martin

[Chucklz]

Have you considered getting a key duplicated/ordered for the lock,and modify it for use as a tension instrument. Leave those four "solid" pins alone, but grind down the rest of the key.

[martinger]

Have you considered getting a key duplicated/ordered for the lock,and modify it for use as a tension instrument.

Considered yes, but not really tried to. I don't even know where I would order duplicates here in germany, possibly should ask a bicycle shop, OK But then I'm also not an experienced grinder so far, and I'm not sure if it will help much.

What I tried is get two more hands and let an experienced friend do the tension on two points (so it's more of a rotation then when I do it at just one point) and me just do the picking, but with no success. We get some pins set, but that's it.

Anyone here who ever opened this Master Lock? Possibly I should go get some BIC pens

Martin

[MrB]

I have not seen or tried the Street Cuffs, but I opened a cheaper and older Master Lock with the cap from a BIC pen. This lock was very similar to the one you described, in that some of the pins seem fixed and don't depress at all, and when you open the lock it turns about 45 degrees and the button in the middle pops up. Apart from that, it has only 7 pins, not 10, and of course it might not have been manufactured with the same strength and pick resistance.

But I would suggest trying the pen cap. As long as it is the right diameter for the lock, tap it in firmly so it seats right inside the lock, then wiggle it around while turning it in the direction the lock should open. Occasionally release tension and repeat the process. Really any soft malleable tube of the right diameter should work as a picking tool. Someone even said thin copper pipe could be used.