picking an american padlock series 20

[papa_delicious]

hello all, I'm fairly new to picking (just got my first picks a few days ago in the mail) and have only actually picked a master no 3 so far - it took me a bit to get it at first, but then I could beat it no problem in a few tries.

So yesterday I decided to get another lock at everyone's favorite depot, and got an american lock 5 pin brass padlock for $10 or so. But I'm having a tough time getting it so far - the tension wrench keeps slipping in the bottom of the keyway, and it's kind of a loose fit in the top of the keyway as well. Anyone have any tips for cracking one of these?

they came out hideously big for some reason, even though they're from my phone :/

pics of the lock here: http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp151/jide_11/

[thelockpickkid]

use bottom of keyway tension, just make a wider tension wrench out of some windshield wiper insert, there is also a large discussion on here about this, but I never have had any problems with these keyways, but I am smart enough to make my own tension wrenches, comes with experience I guess. These American locks won't defeat you for very long, they really aren't much trickier than your #3.

[MacGnG1]

i have a series 30 and i cant get it yet. worst part is that the retaining screw is a rivet, so cant get the cylinder out. but i shall still try to pick it as i also have another american series with no key. i see if your tips work

[WolfSpring]

i'm still a begginer, but been picking for about 2 months with both homeade and southord picks, I prefer top key way and had a similar problem with it slipping, esepecially when I hit the last pin(first pin going in, last to pick) the Twrench would fly as the the lock set and the spring set in. I found a shorter tension wrench with a longer handle and a little thiner to make it tighter in there helped me a lot. That and my best Twrenches come not from wiper blades but sweeper blades, they are easier to manipulate and get to fit in the key hole. Just my $0.02

[papa_delicious]

I picked it! I just got it open a little while ago with a combination of raking and spp, using top tension. I liked the amount of space it gave in the keyway, but it made getting the nearest pin a little tricky.

the next few times I tried to open it, though, I thought I had it and the plug turned maybe 1/4 of the way and then stopped... am I experiencing some sort of false turning or are all the pins not set?

off to get another lock tomorrow

[rrkss]

times I tried to open it, though, I thought I had it and the plug turned maybe 1/4 of the way and then stopped... am I experiencing some sort of false turning or are all the pins not set?

off to get another lock tomorrow

That is called a false set. You hit a spool pin which traps at the sheer line and blocks plug rotation. You will notice when you press on the trapped pin, the plug will want to turn back. Let it turn back but maintain light tension. As soon as the spool clears, the lock will either open or bind on another spool forcing you to do the same thing until you've cleared all the spool pins.

This false set is a good thing because it means that you've taken out all the regular top pins (drivers) and also the serrated ones allowing the plug to rotate enough to false set and puts you very close to opening the lock.

[papa_delicious]

I thought that might be the case, but I didn't think this lock had security pins. I'm going to keep working on it 'til I can spp it reliably, but I'm gonna get a new lock today anyway. any suggestions? I've only picked padlocks so far (this one and a master no.3 ) so I was thinking of getting a kwikset deadbolt on the cheap from that home improvement store. or should I try to get something else?

[judd]

I had the same thing happening with my Series 20 and two 1105's, turns out I had them picked at this stage, it's just that the force neccessary to turn the plug was greater than my TW could exert. When I got to this point again, (on all of them) I simply inserted a small screw driver and turned the plugs the rest of the way. (I take no credit for this tip as someone, on one of these boards had posted this before, I just can't remember who) This may not always be the case, but it has been my experience...........YMMV

[LocksmithArmy]

I would agree with judd. If it is turning 1/4 turn its probably force. if it is a false set it will turn about 15 degrees

[papa_delicious]

well I've picked it a few times more, and I think it was the force. I tried it with the key a couple times and realized I still might not be turning hard enough - next few times picked it, a little extra torque opened the sucker right up, thanks guys I worked with a guy named judd this summer, said he only knew of one other person at his whole school with that name. he was a helpful guy, and so were you

I need to get better at opening it still, but now I know I can get it. Now to get my new schlage open...

[judd]

Cool..............as a relative newbie myself I'm glad that I could be of assistance, again it was originally anothers tip, I simply passed it on.

Cheers, Judd

[raimundo]

Not much that is original happens every day, most of what we do is derivative, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before.
Yeah, some of these american locks will be picked and you wouldn't know it if you didn't test the plug with a small straight blade screwdriver some will do this with out the quarter turn yours gave to indicate it was ready, some of them are picked when they barely indicate even a false set amount of turning.
A little lube may make your lock easier.

about bottom of keyway tension, a tip recently gotten from JGOR, he uses paper clips to fill the bottom of the keyway enough to get a good perch for the tensor blade.
just bend enough to go in alongside the tensor, Im gonna try this next time I pick a difficult american lock. (some are difficult, some are easy, lube helps)

[papa_delicious]

I'll have to try that paper clip idea, raimundo. Although it can be a little tricky sometimes, I've been finding that top of the keyway tension gives me a whole lot of room to work with inside, witch is also nice.

lockpickers using paperclips. of course