Master No 3

[dmux]

tension can be wierd on master locks, the cylinders are soo loose that sometimes you have to give "directional" tension

i know on mine, i kinda had to pull on the cyclinder to pick it, if i pushed it in, it didn't work

[Charodei]

My Master #37s could be described as 'loose'. The cylinder rattles so much I'm surprised it connects to anything else in the lock.

[hubie]

Very True, the cylinder in both of my #3's aer very, very loose. I'm going to clean my first one with the long shackle tonight and see if I cannot pop her open.

[samfishers]

what is the matter is its loose?

[hubie]

I dont suppose it probably does, my old #3 was filthy inside and needed to be cleaned. i did pop it last night after I cleaned it, btw.

[scissor83]

It could be a problem that its dirty or check the keys if you have them and if it is like a very odd key like one high cut one low cut then it could make it harder to pick the lock.

[Afisch]

what is the matter is its loose?

Well if the cylinder is loose it can cause dificulties finding the right tension and getting pins to bind, i presume this is what you mean.

[quicksilver]

In the one that is a challenge it could also be a simple matter of the depth being greater toward the opening of the keyway so that the pick keeps bumping the last one off the shear-line.

///////////////// Sort of like a low roof.....
/ // ///
///

[samfishers]

i was just woorried, but did i lost my skils or are they any securitys in the #3?

[nemesis61]

For what it's worth, I had similar problems with an old couple of No 3's that were given to me. It took me an awful long time whenever I tried picking the pins.

I had some success, but I was very inconsistent.

After a lot of head scratching, I decided to look at how I was approaching the lock. I noticed that I was sticking my tension wrench all the way in, flush up against the keyway. As a result, when I was sticking my short hook in, it was binding against the tension wrench, when I tried picking.

I found that if I put the tension wrench in a 1/4 of the way (and no more than 1/2 way in) I was better able to reach the pins and pick it consistently.

Just my 02/100ths of a dollar - everybody else's results may vary.

[dmux]

my friend tears up master locks

he has a broken pick

let me say it again, it is a pick without any tip, just a flat piece of metal no ridges, no hook nothing, just like a blank and he can pick 140's 3's it cracks me up every time

[raimundo]

If you guys are picking the same master padlocks over and over, be aware that in such small cylinders, the tensor can easily cut a notch in the cylinder wall at the base of the keyway, and this can effectively ground much of the tension. it can also be hidden when the tensor is out if the plug turns and covers it. keep the locks lubed and clean. this is also a lot of the problem.
What the problem really needs is a tensor designed especially for that lock probably out of wiper stiffener, not too deep and designed to help fulcrum the pick rather than pinch or bind it.
if I were designing a tensor it would look like a ( ! ) with the dot at the bottom much larger, it would combine round profile at the edge that meets the cylinder wall, and a flat profile at the top. or if grinding one out of an allen wrench, it could just have the teardrop profile of a pippin file. and this would always be fitted in the lock with the thick edge toward the cylinder wall, If I was haveing a manufacturer make this type of stock, I would go to one of the suppliers of the street sweeper bristles, or possibly the makers of the wiper stiffeners, and see if they could make a rolled wire (round wire flattend through rollers) that has a round section in the center, so that this tensor could be made by cutting off one edge flange, the wire could also be used in other app. such a making picks with round shafts, etc.

[samfishers]

let me say it again, it is a pick without any tip, just a flat piece of metal no ridges, no hook nothing, just like a blank and he can pick 140's 3's it cracks me up every time

I too have one, but in hacksaw metal and it works perfectly with little locks!

[ObiWonShinobi]

I bought a few no3s to mess with a while back.
after picking a few bazillion times the first few hours...
they suddenly got harder.
I also noticed my silver/gray picks were turning gold.

the homemade picks had sharp edges and the
brass/copper inside the locks was getting chopped
the powder that was sticking to the picks was also
gumming up the internal workings.
cleaning helps a lot.
So does rounding off your picks a bit.

I still keep a few "dirty" locks around, they are pickable,
but take a little longer.

Sometimes even after setting the pins I have to remove
the pick to insert a SECOND tension wrench for more leverage!

Summery:
dirty #3= major pain in @$$.
but also = good practice.

[cryptonic]

let me say it again, it is a pick without any tip, just a flat piece of metal no ridges, no hook nothing, just like a blank and he can pick 140's 3's it cracks me up every time

I too have one, but in hacksaw metal and it works perfectly with little locks!

my very first pick was made like this... after an hour of practicing i was popping open my first Master #3. come to find out that masters aren't really master of security, just of speed of production.