Problems with my first real lock.

[Sbecspeledrx]

It will rake in seconds. Use the rake pick from your set (the one with a flat bottom and wavy top). Whilst applying tension simply rake it back and forth over all 5 pins. Lightly at first but harder and harder until it unlocks.

[Crazy]

Well the good news is that the lock opened.....

.....but the bad news is that it shouldn't have!

QD and Sbec, I don't have enough time at present to read your replies properly or respond to them, so sorry if I don't answer any questions you may have asked. Hope to do so as soon as I get the chance.

What I will do now though, is quickly explain how the lock opened.

As mentioned already, I had tried turning the wrench in both directions, however, concentrated mostly on anti-clockwise. The pick got in the way even more when trying to do it in a clockwise fashion, which should really be a bad thing, but was actually the reason the lock opened!

I started at the back pin as usual and was either on that pin or the next (second last) one and the barrel just started turning on its own! How on Earth?!?! Everytime I attempted it again, the lock just kept opening before I ever got to the third pin. This proved my suspicion that other pins were being inadvertently lifted at the same time by the pick. I have tried inserting the wrench in various positions, but they either don't wedge on anything to enable them to be turned or they just get in the way of the pick making it impossible to push just one pin up at a time.

As you can imagine, I am not happy AT ALL and do not wish to pick a lock by mistake or raking; I want to pick it a pin at a time since it is for a hobby.

I have concluded the following:

- The tension I am using is correct, as otherwise the lock would not be opening each time, so that is SOMETHING I've got right.

- More than one pin is being lifted at a time, which I can't seem to avoid.

- I also think that the pins are way too jerky and just jump past the shear line instead of sliding up to it, as all I can manage is pushing the pins right to the top and hearing them click back to the bottom. I know they haven't been set because I could always still feel the downward tension of the springs.

- The locks just about fit in my mini vice, and the Wren has opened both in the vice and under the pile of books, so that also rules out the positioning of the lock.

I've decided to try my second rim cyclinder lock, in which locating each pin seems to be a little more difficult that the Wren. This one doesn't even have a name on it.

As I said earlier, I hope to post back after reading the last two posts properly.

[mh]

This proved my suspicion that other pins were being inadvertently lifted at the same time by the pick.

By looking into the keyway, you should be able to see if that happens.
Obviously, there are many different shapes of picks, and depending on that shape, and the shape of the keyway, some picks can push each pin separately, and some can't. A "hook" would be one that usually can.

Cheers,
mh

[Crazy]

Hi mh. Yes I can see that the first pin at the front moves up with the pick, but the problem is that the pick can't go any lower with a tension wrench in there as well.

The picks I use are hooks, even a steep angled one, but still does the same. It is a plain simple hook with which the lock opens. It hasn't opened with a rake, not that I've tried seriously. This should mean that the pins are probably set in a straight slanted line in this lock.

[Bahrg]

the problem is that the pick can't go any lower with a tension wrench in there as well.

Try putting the tension wrench on the same side of the plug as the pins. I actually prefer this method, because it gives me more room on the bottom to work around the warding with the pick without lifting all pins at once. It also seems to bind the plug less.

[Crazy]

The lock did slip at times, but I didn't have any success when it stayed put either. Anyway, now that I've clamped it in the vice, it should be one less thing to worry about.

I think I may also have to make my own tension wrenches as the sizes that came with my set don't seem to fit very well, but bear in mind that I may not know what I'm talking about, being a total beginner.

I am using far from minimal effort in lifting the pins; sometimes they require quite some force.

I don't want the lock to open Sbecs, I want to open the lock. I'd rather spend weeks trying to open the lock by picking than by a few seconds by raking. I'm not a locksmith, so I don't have to worry about keeping a customer waiting.

Since I have been turning the plug in the opposite direction, the wrench has been on the pin side (left of the lock) then I turn the wrench clockwise. Thanks.

The second lock I had has also now managed to open, but again, I wasn't aware of how it occured. I think the best thing to do is just keep picking and picking and picking forever until I get it done on purpose. Yes, I will also probably try taking it apart soon.

Will post back when I am successful; you all will have forgotten about this thread by then!