Trouble with a #3... yeah I've heard.

[Dontbethatguy]

Hey guys, new to the site so if I'm posting in the wrong place etc feel free to let me know with fewer than 50 sarcastic comments haha. Basically I'm having trouble picking a new #3, just got it a week or two ago. I've tried SPP and raking and nothing has worked. I have a whole bunch of the crappy padlocks (generic china 40mm, mountain?,even a 5-pin brinks...which i think is defective because it opens after like 2 pins) that I can SPP no problem, 10 seconds, but the master number 3 I got recently just wont open for me. Ive tried a thousand times. got it twice in a row a while ago and still cant figure it out to do it again. I get all of the pins up, nothing happens, get them to where it seems they have all set... nothing. Ive tried everything I can think of and just nothing, i might be over-setting them or what not but i reset a few and go again and nothing...Its driving me nuts. Only strange thing ive noticed is the key wont open(turn) it unless you push the plug in all the way with the key or pull it out all the way with the key (if that made sense). Any thoughts, ideas, directions? anything will help, sorry for the long post.

Thanks

P.S. the package says it has a pin tumbler key for resistance to picking. Does this just means its a pin tumbler lock or im missing something?

[thesheerline]

The key, so to speak, to picking the #3's is applying the correct tension. I own at least 15, #3's. I have 1 that will rake open on the first try every time, and others that you need to take a little more time due to to whacky binding order. However, something that i've found to be pretty universal is that the tension needs to be exact, a touch too hard and the pins wont set, a touch light, and the pins will overset, or not stay up. Every lock is different. One way to get an idea of how much pressure you need to apply to the tension wrench is to insert the wrench like so, but do not put any pressure on it. push all the pins up as far as they will go, while the pins are up, add a light tension to the wrench and put the lock close to your ear. Slowly drop the pins and remove the pick (while still applying the same tension) now slowly reduce the tension, if you hear pins falling, you have enough tension. Repeat that exercise a few times, determine the lowest amount of tension that will still allow the pins to set.

Also, Master#3's can be picked either direction, as will other masterlocks 1-5. Try picking it both counter-clockwise and clockwise. Most of the time the pins "prefer" to set one or the other. It actually seems like a good majority of the #3s I've picked will pick easier counter-clock.

If you still can't crack this one, then it's possible that you're over-setting. For pins that are over setting, try setting those using a shallow snake rake, lightly scrubbing the trouble pin(S).

[thesheerline]

Also, as for your last question in regards to the packaging. It says that on most padlocks I've purchased and it means that the lock is a simple pin-tumbler, no spools. It will usually say "Spool pins for optimum security" or something to that effect if the lock has modified components like that.

[Dontbethatguy]

I must say, after reading your response about picking in the counter-clockwise direction, all I could think is "this guys nuts, that couldn't possibly have anything to do with it" .. I went at it once again today and after another few rounds of with no result I gave it a try... I've been trying this lock for weeks with literally almost no success.. and then like right out of a movie I got it on the first try when turned ccw, and then again a second time... I dont understand it, maybe it reverses the pin order or something along those lines.. but it worked. Thank you very much. You may have saved my new found hobby as my frustrations were getting the best of me. I apparently am the "nuts" one

[raimundo]

master #3 is four pin tumblers, occasionally the bitting could be difficult, but never impossible.

Your problem is that you have a pre concieved notion of what to do and you just do it with more force when that dosent work.

You are trying to hard and are committed to some dogma about whats happening.

go much lighter, and just play a small pick over the pins, use the smallest pick tip you have, it doesn't matter which one you chose but it should be the thinnest shaft and some pick tip that does not raise high above that shaft. don't try to "set" the pins because thats just going to make you want to force them to make a setting click which is too much force.

watch something you really like on tv and just hold the lock with a light tension set in the plug and go in there and visit the pins just gently like your getting to know them,

theres a good chance that if you give up the frustration and force and do the tv distraction you will find that lock opening easily.

[thesheerline]

DBTG- Glad to be able to help and yes, when you reverse the direction you apply tension, the pins bind in reverse.

[sterry20]

make sure you dot have a high set with a low set in front of it if you do the shaft of the pick could be giving you a false setting this is ez to fix with a deforest pick its angled upward at the back try peterson he will know what you need and has one in stock!