picking the back keyhole of combination MASTER lock

[Lokka]

It is a 4 pin, and not a three pin.


Although there are only three holes in the bottom, there is another pin right under where the large cut out bit is. Hope this makes sense
:P :P


Unbreakable

sure?
i opened a cheap bicycle crappy lock and it hade same kind of large cut
on the cylinder, for this tap. that kept the cylinder inside the lock,
and prevented it moving in both directions..
after taking that away i got the cylinder out and repinned the lock.

[Lokka]

now reading this i could delete my previous post,
but then anybody wouldn´t know that i did it, or that even i think it maybe
serious bll shi.

[anbujustin]

To pick the back keyhole, i usually just use the W pick that comes with my south ord set. Its real good for this lock i guess because its worked on my other master locks too. Basically u put the pick and and not only scrub back and forth but also rock it up and down. While doing that, u gotta pull on the shackle cus it wont just pop open, u have to pull it to open it. Oh and i really use very light tension but i like to bounce the torque a bit cus i find that it helps in opening it faster.
-justin

[Murph]

My son had one that he had in school that he was no longer using. It was one of the first locks I picked. The plug is tight and I have had much success with a mild hook with small barb on the top. Use a skinny tension wrench and when you are picking, use super feather-weight torque. Light touch on the pick too. Torque to the left because that's how it opens.

Like the other members have advised, consult the MIT Lockpicking Guide and practice. BTW I have been picking for two years and I still get that MIT guide out and review it; I'm not even a locksmith!

Be patient and good luck.
Murph

[Peter Martin]

This is the Master Model No. 1525 padlock. The key in the back is called a "control key". I recall these very vividly from my high school days because all of our locks had a serial number and the code "V37" or "V57" following. I always presumed that the V37 was the key code.

I did manage to pick this lock open--it was not difficult, even with my unrefined high school talents (20 years ago).

The tension wrench was made from a small bobby pin which I bend. It fit snugly and worked well.
The pick was made a stainless steel kitchen knife--which I ground down until it was thin and small. If I recall correctly, I made this smaller than my Rytan mini-picks are. The locks should pick clockwise with no problem.

Thanks for the photos of the disassembly--that brought back good ememories. I also disassembled a few of these, however it was a little more crude... I used the rip-and-peel method back in those day!

[Peter Martin]

CORRECTION: Like Murph said... it picks to the left (CCW).

[unbreakable]

It is a 4 pin, and not a three pin.


Although there are only three holes in the bottom, there is another pin right under where the large cut out bit is. Hope this makes sense



Unbreakable

sure?
i opened a cheap bicycle crappy lock and it hade same kind of large cut
on the cylinder, for this tap. that kept the cylinder inside the lock,
and prevented it moving in both directions..
after taking that away i got the cylinder out and repinned the lock.

Yeah, Im sure. Wanna bet?


Unbreakable