found 3 old master locks and don't remember the code...

[johnnq]

i have 3 master locks i foudn that i'd like to get open. what's weird is that 2 of them look like this:
http://www.holcombscatalog.com/images/e ... 521500.gif
and one looks like this:
http://www.ecrm-epps.com/Expose/V4_6/Ta ... 20Lock.jpg

the second one has a silky smooth wheel.

well there are two methods i've found and neither have worked (maybe i did them wrong)
this one:
http://forums.hypography.com/watercoole ... -lock.html

and this one (seems more logical):http://www.sahaskatta.com/html/hacks_2.html
the first two numbers are found by determining other numbers that have the same remainder as the third when divided by 4.

so my question is: which of these are "supposed" to work? i was sitting here for like 20 minutes solid, determined to open this stupid lock! i have another one that i have a code to and i'll try these both on that one.

[MeisBarry]

I'm pretty sure this sort of thing isn't supposed to be discussed in the general forums.

[digital_blue]

Nah, s'ok. These are low security combination locks. They're fair game for the public forums.

As you were then....

db

[MeisBarry]

Then why have I been witholding this stuff?


Masterlocks made after 1996 use the following method, which has been tested by me multiple times:

The third number is found first. Pull up on the shackle and wiggle the dial, and you will notice it sticks. Go around the whole wheel pulling the shackle and seeing what numbers it sticks on. Write them down, making note if they don't fall exactly on a number. Then cross off all the ones that fall in between two numbers, or are otherwise offset and aren't right on a number. This should leave 5 numbers. 4 of them will be of this format: 6, 16, 26, 36, all the same ones digit. Those should also be ignored, which should leave you with one number. That's the third number.

Two find the first two numbers you have to use the modulus operator. It's really just division, with the answer being the remainder.

10 modulus (%) 4 is 2 because 10/4 is 2 with a remainder of 2.

The first number, when divided by 4, will have the same remainder as the same operation done to the third number.

example:
if the third number is 15, 15%4 = 3. Therefore, firstnumber%4 = 3.

An easy way to remember this is to count by 4's. If the third number is 15, then the first number has 10 possibilities; 15,19,23,27,31,35,39,3,7,11.

The second number is the same as the first, offset by 2. Using the previous example: 17,21,25,29,33,37,1,5,9,13.

This gives you 100 combinations, which can be rattled through in about 5 min. If you're careful you can pop it. Note that with masterlocks, if you try a combination and it doesn't work, you can dial backwards from the third number back to the second, 'move' the second number over to your next possible number, then dial back to the third and test again. Just be careful you don't go all the way around the dial to get back to the third number. This makes it so you only have to put in each first number once, then do this and rattle through the second numbers systematically.


I hope I explained that well.

[digital_blue]

Seems like a lot of work to open a lock that you can pretty near smack open with a rolled up newspaper.

All kidding aside, good info Meis.

db

[MeisBarry]

Thanks, I remember going through some trouble finding that info so figured I'd post it. I think the Anarchist's Cookbook explains locks before 1996, and that's what I kept running into when searching for this.


And smacking and shimming is more fun, but this gets you the combination and saves you, like, $5 per lock.

[johnnq]

yea that's what i tried...and didn't work.

i tried this on a combination that i still use. the combo is 4-18-12, but it stops on 5, 5 1/2 - 18 1/2,19 - 12,13. are all locks just a bit off like this? are they all off + 1 or -1?

[illusion]

yea that's what i tried...and didn't work.

i tried this on a combination that i still use. the combo is 4-18-12, but it stops on 5, 5 1/2 - 18 1/2,19 - 12,13. are all locks just a bit off like this? are they all off + 1 or -1?

The dial cimbo padlock I bought was off by 1 digit in either direction.

[MeisBarry]

the combo is 4-18-12, but it stops on 5, 5 1/2 - 18 1/2,19 - 12,13.

So are you saying one of the numbers it stopped on is 12? If that's true then that would be your third number...4-18-12.

But wait, it only stops on these? 5, 5.5, 18.5, 19, 12, 13 and no others? Or are you saying it stops at between 5 and 5.5. again between 18.5 and 19, and again between 12 and 13? All of the masterlocks I own and that I have tried on stop as I described above, which I believe was a total of 12.

If it is made by Master, how old is it? This trick only works on locks made in the last 10 years by Master, because before that they didn't have the false gates you feel when it sticks. It was an attempt to make them harder to crack I suppose.


For good measure though, here is the trick that works on pre 1996 Masterlocks (I haven't tested it but it's all over the place): http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/locks_and_security/masterlo.html

[johnnq]

i have slack between 5- 5 1/2, even though the first number is 4. i do find 12 numbers on all 4 locks (including the one i knwo the combo to), but i dont' know if the they're the correct numbers and the numbers are offset. and they all came out after 96...

[MeisBarry]

Ah, I see. When you start looking for where the wheel sticks, the number you obtain from that is the THIRD number. you found 12 stick, which was your last number in the combo you gave.

[LockNewbie21]

Just do what Barry the key did, shim it. I wouldn't even bother with the combo actually i would probobly cut the back of to see what was happening as i tried to manipulate it.




Andy

[MeisBarry]

Shimming is a heck of a lot easier, but if it's a lock you want to actually use later on....

Plus if you're bored it takes up a few minutes of your time.

[LockNewbie21]

I'd still use it.. just carry a shim I wish iw ould have known how to shim in grade school.. i couldnt remember my gym locker combo.. almost failed gym becuase i could never dress:O) lol so i bought a keyed lock.. just use a shim.


Andy