Hager lock jammed halfway

[gtecha]

I'm trying to pick a Hager lock for a friend and the cylinder has locked in place halfway because I didn't use a plug spinner. The pins will not move even when a key blank of the same sort is inserted. Is there anyway to disengage this?

[MacGyver101]

I'm trying to pick a Hager lock for a friend and the cylinder has locked in place halfway because I didn't use a plug spinner. The pins will not move even when a key blank of the same sort is inserted. Is there anyway to disengage this?

I'm assuming the plug is jammed because you've turned it 180° and the drivers have pushed down into the plug. If so, take a pick, turn it upside down and push it all the way into the lock: lifting up it up should raise the drivers back out of the keyway and let you rotate the plug again.

We get a question like this pretty much every week... and it's for reasons like this (and several others) that we strongly advise that you never pick a lock that's actually in use.

[Raymond]

MacGyver101 is 100% right in his answer. There is one additional problem that can happen. When the plug was rotated 180 degrees and you pushed a blank in, you might have forced out the plugs or slide that line the bottom of the bible. The bottom pins can now be sticking out the bottom. Try turning the lock upside down (to offset the gravity) and tap it to see if the bottom pins come out of the holes. If this problem happens with a key in the lock, you will have to remove the lock to get the key out.

I have seen this problem created when incompetent or greatly confused people try to take the key out while turned the wrong way.