Broken lock... can I pick?

[tom2]

Hi guys,
I hope this question is in the correct place.
I have my garden gate lock totally broken the wrong way (see images attached).
Its a European lock on a garden gate, the key got broken inside and the lock is open.
I need a pick on it, can I do it? is there a way I can get the cylinder out? as it seems I am unable to pool it out even.

Hoping for something creative as I am one step of braking the whole gate.



Cheers.
T.

[MrAnybody]

If it's your gate, you don't need to pick it.

I'd suggest you retrieve the broken portion of the key (needle nose pliers or inserting a cut-off fretsaw blade and dragging it out), and then either taking the 2 pieces for a new key cut or using the spare key.

And even if you have to pick it, you'll need the broken portion out first.

[tom2]

Hi MrAnybody,
Thanks for the answer,
The problem is that the key that is in the lock is already there for 3 years I guess, there is no way that the half in it is going out!
more then this, I have tried to turn the key so the lock will go in but with no success.
I am in a stucked out status and I need to get the cylinder out!
Any suggestions will be appreciated
T.

[Mikeh727]

It looks to me that the lock is turned, and if it's a Euro lock and installed with the pins facing down, then the lock looks to be in the position one would turn it to in order to lock the gate. You won't be able to remove the key from the lock until you can turn it. The fact that the key is broken off and the lock won't turn leads me to believe that either the mechanism that engages the bolt is damaged and won't allow the key to turn back the other direction, or there might be corrosion that is preventing it from turning.

I'm not an expert, but I would consider spraying some sort of penetrating oil past the bolt on either side and also past the lock to try and dislodge or dissolve any corrosion. If there is enough of the broken key to hold on to with a tool, you might want to try pushing that key back INTO the lock a little bit and try operating it that way. It could be that whoever broke the key off pulled on it with a tool and actually got the key bound up in the pins. It might push in a little bit and work.

If the lock was installed with the pins facing up, then I would almost bet that the mechanism that engages the bolt is damaged since the key would be turned to the unlocked position but the bolt is still out.

Good luck!

[Squelchtone]

Take a slotted screw driver with a thin blade, and a small hammer like a brass hammer or a small claw hammer, put the screwdriver vertically with the tip resting on the little ledge made by the broken key sticking out of the keyway, and if you look at the plug where the key is broken off and imagine that the key is at 3 o'clock, tap the hammer against the screwdriver which is on top of the key and try to turn the rusty plug down to 4 oclock and try to push or pull the lock out of the gate, if that doesn't work, tap some more on the screwdriver until the plug is at 5 oclock and see if the lock cylinder will come out of the gate, The cam inside the lock, which acts as a flipped to push or pull the bolt in and out has to be flush with the lock body. keep doing this until you try 6 o'clock, 7, 8, 9, 10 and it should make the cam/flipper flush with the lock at one of those and you'll be able to slide the cylinder out.

Here's a typical cylinder and cam, you may want to actually start by tapping the screw driver under the broken off key and move the key from it's current 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock and 1 o'clock, but what ever you do, don't make the key go to high noon, things may get tricky at that position.

You may be able to put a flashlight/torch in the bigger screw hole on the bottom of the plate and take a look in the cylinder set screw hole and try to see what position the cam is currently in, then you'll know which direction to turn the plug and how far.



Do let us know if this worked for you, I also recommend spraying some penetrating spray in there first to loosen things up a bit, like the other reply already mentioned.

Squelchtone

[keysman]

Follow Squelchtone's directions ... Remove the retaining screw first.

[daniel22747]

Well the first thing to do is get the broken key out. For that you will need a broken key extractor. They are often included in basic pick sets.

[Squelchtone]

Well the first thing to do is get the broken key out. For that you will need a broken key extractor. They are often included in basic pick sets.

I strongly disagree.
A: he cannot currently remove the key while the key pins are mated to it in the current position, he would have to relock the lock
B: the plug is stuck if you read his post so he cant move it without force or some sort of spray to loosen up the rusty bits.
C: If he relocks the lock and removes the key, then he has to get lock picks and learn how to pick in order to pick it and rotate it to various angles in hopes of making the cam flush with the lock cylinder body in order to slide it out of the door.

This guys isn't a picker, he's just a guy with a broken lock. Let's help him using common house hold tools, under the assumption he doesn't have an extractor, picks, or anything else we here use for work or our hobby.

Squelchtone

[ARF-GEF]

I use car break cleaning spray to get lock clean. I think it works wonders. It's a bit agressive for plastic parts but hey, this is not the situation where teh health of the lock is to be preserved.

What do you guys use to clean locks without taking them apart?

[tom2]

Success!!!
Thanks guys, I have followed squelchtone instructions and it worked perfectly.
I was actually surprise from how easy it was
Thanks a lot for all of you, here is the victory image.
Cheers.
T.

[tom2]

This guys isn't a picker, he's just a guy with a broken lock. Let's help him using common house hold tools, under the assumption he doesn't have an extractor, picks, or anything else we here use for work or our hobby.

squelchtone you are right on the spot although I have made a bit of home work before I got here and I have watched this guy on youtube: http://youtu.be/63tQH1DIqIw?t=2m39s he use a hand gig saw blade which actually I have. and I guess ppl do have these things.

Its a nice trick to help ppl like me.

Thanks again
T.

[Mikeh727]

squelchtone you are right on the spot although I have made a bit of home work before I got here and I have watched this guy on youtube: http://youtu.be/63tQH1DIqIw?t=2m39s he use a hand gig saw blade which actually I have. and I guess ppl do have these things.

Its a nice trick to help ppl like me.

Thanks again
T.

I'm glad that you got your lock removed. The method that Squelchtone suggested was far easier than any other method mentioned in this thread (or on the video) and saved you a ton of time and frustration.

Enjoy your gate!

[phrygianradar]

Another satisfied customer. Nice work, and great advice from Squelchtone. It's nice to know that there are people out there who are willing to help and actually know what they are talking about!

[ARF-GEF]

I'm glad too that the situation was resolved by Squelchtone's advice.

[Squelchtone]

I'm glad too that the situation was resolved by Squelchtone's advice.

aww shucks, thanks for all the nice comments guys, but it takes a village to fix a lock. I'm just curious at which o'clock the cylinder was able to be removed from the gate.

Squelchtone