The lock that cant be picked (Yale Masterlock)

[Comment]

I've tried everything, shims, safety pins, about every combination lock cracking method there is. This thing can not be picked.
Here are pictures of it
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3924/007xrz.jpg

I dont know much about it except for it says Yale on the front and its a combo lock.

Ive made 10,11 shims trying to open this, and ive used a factory made metal shim from a pick kit, no dice.

Any ideas guys?

[Squelchtone]

I've tried everything, shims, safety pins, about every combination lock cracking method there is. This thing can not be picked.
Here are pictures of it
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3924/007xrz.jpg

I dont know much about it except for it says Yale on the front and its a combo lock.

Ive made 10,11 shims trying to open this, and ive used a factory made metal shim from a pick kit, no dice.

Any ideas guys?

did you shim BOTH legs of the shackle or just one?

73
Squelchtone

[Comment]

Both. Neither will shim.

[hydruh]

Try both at the same time.

S

[Comment]

Would it really make a difference? it only opens from one side o_O

[cryptocat]

yes. some locks only have a ball on one side, others have a ball on both sides to resist shimming. in reality that just means you'll need to shim both sides at the same time.

[Squelchtone]

Would it really make a difference? it only opens from one side o_O

yeah that's what I meant, BOTH at the SAME time =) yes of course it makes a difference, there is normally a cut out for the locking member on each side of the shackle, unless the lock is from 1950 where there was only a cut out on the part of the shackle that came out all the way out of the padlock body.

Squelchtone

p.s. crypto, if there is a ball, as in a ball bearing, there is no way to shim such a lock.

[Comment]

Just tried shimming both sides, it didnt work, but it almost seems like the shim gets stuck on something, like it doesnt go down as far as it should. I have the combination to the lock so i opened it and looked, looks like any other combo lock, nothing tricky.

[Comment]

Sorry for the double post

heres what it looks like from the inside

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2999/009gdhhzr.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5663/010dhl.jpg

[sfi72]

That photo, really doesn't help, try using a flash on your camera, or shining some light in the hole.

[mcm757207]

You only need to shim the left side, the side with the notch in it. It will shim, I promise

Instead of going straight down, try starting it to the front or back and working it around the shackle to the inside. Also, make sure to jiggle the shackle up and down so it doesn't bind on the latch you're try to shim.

[nothumbs]

What are you using for shim material? Commercial shims are generally too thick for this, they run about .005. I don't care for soda cans, too soft. Best is .002 or .003 inch thick spring steel stock.

Put the tip of the shim in on the outside of the lock, then rotate it to the inside of the lock on the side of the shackle with the latch. It sometimes helps to move the shackle up and down while rotating the shim. Occasionally, a tiny amount of oil down the side of the shim also helps.

[Comment]

Hmm, I havnt tried putting it on the outside and twisting inward, sounds smart.
I've been using commercial metal shims which havnt worked, and ive tried homemade soda can shims, which usually bend or break.
I dont have any spring steel, is there maybe another material or something I can use?

[sparkster]

buy a set of feeler gaugesm you should find a gauge in there that will do the job, these locks are low security and as already said, they will shim, its just getting the correct thickness of shim in there.