Deadbolt Wouldn't Open?

[ki4r]

Okay I am kind of new to lock picking so this question might be dumb but i was picking a dead bolt on my door and when the i got all the pins set it turned but wouldn't unlock I could see the deadbolt moving through the crack in the door but it would not unlock and I don't know why it is an old titan lock that has been on my house for 15 years. Thanks in advance.

[Squelchtone]

Okay I am kind of new to lock picking so this question might be dumb but i was picking a dead bolt on my door and when the i got all the pins set it turned but wouldn't unlock I could see the deadbolt moving through the crack in the door but it would not unlock and I don't know why it is an old titan lock that has been on my house for 15 years. Thanks in advance.

sigh..

Before you break something, which happens to new users who just have to go and pick their front door, stop picking the locks that are actually mounted on doors around your house. It's too easy for a new user who doesn't quite yet understand how all the parts interact together to break things or at the least get them stuck in an awkward orientation so that the key no longer works.

I'm about to sign up another account to see if during the sign up process there is anything written up to warn new users to not pick locks that are in use or locks they depend on. We get these posts far too often, so either you didn't read any rules, or that memo isn't posted in big enough font when you first sign up.

The most probable reason that you can turn the cylinder but the door doesnt open is because you have to turn the cylinder 360 degrees. Just turning 180 degrees may not be enough to throw or retract the bolt, or you need to pick in the OTHER direction, so if you can turn clockwise now, it may work better if you turn the plug counter clock wise. The other issue with a Kwikset Titan is that your core might be removable, and even though you need a special key with a notch cut out of it for that process to work, there's a chance you're in the middle of pulling the core out, so the bolt isn't retracting.

Stop now before things go really bad, go to the store, spend $20 on Brinks or Schlage deadbolt, or an old Kwikset deadbolt that doesn't say Smartkey on the box, and pick that instead, you'll appreciate the fact that if you mess up, at least your house is still locked securely, and its easier to learn the parts, while they are all in front of you on your desk or work bench.

there's a sticky about not picking your own front door somewhere.. I'm off to look for it..
Squelchtone

[spoolspanker]

If it is turning just a tad then you may be getting caught up on a spool pin. Spool pins are shaped like, well a spool.

do a search for security pins on this forum and you will find a wealth of information.

but like he ^ said, don't mess with locks in use!

[TheSnakey]

i believe he is either turning the barrel the wrong way or the bottom lock is locked

[ki4r]

th bottom lock is unlocked and the plug was turning 180 degrees but with the key it takes 190ish degrees to unlock it the deadbolt is moving just not all the way

[datagram]

You probably have pins falling into the chamber holes from the top. Lucky for you they're probably getting caught on the warding. Just stick the flat side (bottom) of a pick in and raise the top pins back up above the shear line and you should be able to turn it.

dg

[keith82687]

Ya, I saw the warnings, but since the lock was on an old door that wasn't really used THAT much I decided to try anyway. And LOW AND BEHOLD my lock opens...but gets stuck upside down and I couldnt put the key in it, HOWEVER, a multi-tool and 30 minutes later after taking it all apart, I got humpty dumpty back together again and the key works. So, LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE!!!! Don't be stupid like me Because, had it not been pretty easy to fix, it would have been a bad day.

[greyfox0604]

So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!

[greyfox0604]

So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!

[barbarian]

So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!

Take it apart and be sure what's inside. Maybe take out a pin or two and start there.

[jimb]

So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!

Take it apart and be sure what's inside. Maybe take out a pin or two and start there.

Unless he has a change key he's not likely to get this lock apart without picking it. If the Titan is picked CCW the cylinder will fall out and it can be taken apart. Picking CCW or using a change key is about the only way to get this lock apart. The only difference in the regular key and the change key is that the change key has a notch in the bottom of the blade.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!

For what it's worth, the Kwikset Titan cylinders are populated with security pins, most likely some spools. The lock could prove to be something of a challenge if you're new to picking.

[jpb06080]

Either you are picking the lock the wrong way, or you need to adjust the strike plate, which is the metal plate on the jam of the door which the bolt enters to lock. Often times this plate becomes misaligned, making the lock bind when you turn your key. A tension wrench will make this harder because its much weaker than a key. Try picking the lock, then turning it with a screwdriver.

[tballard]

greyfox0604 wrote:
So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!


For what it's worth, the Kwikset Titan cylinders are populated with security pins, most likely some spools. The lock could prove to be something of a challenge if you're new to picking.

My limited experience with the three old Titans I've pulled from my local ReStore is that they are harder to pick than regular Kwiksets for some reason, but not as hard as a Schlage. Mine don't seem to have security pins, but then again I haven't pulled the pins to look. (And now am afraid to because it will be embarrassing if I have just been overlooking them...)

To the original question, the Titans are the locks I am most likely to get frustrated with and rake in anger. For some reason I find they open with just one or two passes of a snake rake almost every time. If you like, I can post pictures of the rake I use, since it's homemade.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

So, what is the best pick or tool for opening a Titan Residential (Kwickset)? I think it's a 6-pin model, and I'm not having much luck. The standard Kwicksets are a breeze, but the Tital is proving to be a bear!

greyfox, I have a couple of Kwikset Titan control key blanks. If you're interested, I can take a picture of one so you can get an impression of where you need to create a notch in the key warding to turn a regular key into a control key.