counter clockwise picking

[jrogers]

I don't have much trouble picking when I use the torque wrench to spin the cylinder clockwise, but when I use the wrench to turn it counterclockwise, it becomes much harder to pick because of the shape of the keyway. Is there anything I can do about this? Should I get a different tension wrench to use when picking counterclockwise?

[MacGyver101]

I'm assuming that you're putting your tension wrench at the "bottom" of the keyway (in the North American sense) -- and, if so, I've also found that to be a problem from time to time with some of the keyways that have very little (or very open) warding. In cases like that, I usually just switch and put my tension wrench at the top of the keyway. (In fact, it's for that exact reason that I've started placing my tension wrench at the top of the keyway when picking.)

Thicker/wider tension wrenches can help in cases like this (and I have a number of different tension wrenches that I'll select from, depending on the keyway). You have to be careful, though: the larger your tension wrench the less room you'll have to maneuver your pick... so it's a bit of a trade-off.

[ToolyMcgee]

Also, applying tension to the top of the keyway is a more even application of tension to the plug. Since the top of the keyway is closer to the center. Tough to bind a wrench against the plug shell from the top too. At first, you'll probably knock it out alot, but with a little practice you get used to it.

[jrogers]

You guessed right, I'd been putting my wrench at the bottom of the keyway. I'd tried putting it at the top but it kept slipping out, guess I'll just have to get comfortable with it. Thanks guys.

[Olson Burry]

With top tension, If you modify the wrench in such a way that the part which enters the lock is short enough not to interfere with the front pin, and allows the wrench to sit flush to the face it won't pop out as easily.

[Jaakko]

And you can cut small searrations on the part of the tensioner that goes in the lock, that way it will "bite" a little to the sides of the keyway and stops slipping

[jrogers]

Based on the above comments, I think I'll modify one of my torque wrenches. What tools do I need for that?

[raimundo]

JGOR the recent champion at sneek, recommends using a paper clip to fill the part of the keyway that is causeing the trouble.

as for making the serrated edges on the very short top of keyway tensors, a tip I picked up from legion 303 is to use a wire cutter to bite into the edge, this allows for very closely spaced serrations that have material spalled out from the edge rather than the material removed that would result from cutting with a needle file. The material spalled outward from these cuts is very effective in getting a grip on the plug.

[MacGyver101]

JGOR the recent champion at sneek, recommends using a paper clip to fill the part of the keyway that is causeing the trouble.

Ah, that's an excellent tip that I'd heard before but had completely forgotten. Thanks!

[Wizer]

Another tension wrench filling the keyway works on some locks, like my 7-pin assa.
Also helps if you have to get a nasty securiy pin. -Not my idea, red it somewhere here.