American 5100 crazy bitting

[Taurus420]

I'm having trouble with my new american 5100, I'm usually good with tension and fine tune spp. But the bitting on the key is crazy in my opinion. You thing the reason I'm having hard time is not just because all the pins r serrated but because the bitting on the key is so "high & deep" ..... any strategies for this thing?

[FarmerFreak]

What pick are you using?

I don't think you could get this with a half diamond. But I think a lot of hook picks could get the job done. I personally use an HPC hook pick that I think could get those pins lifted enough without bothering the deep ones too much.

Good luck have fun and remain patient. You'll get it.

[thelockpickkid]

My Hpc hooks wouldn't have no problem opening that, but thats probably about the only tool that is going to make it pop.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

If you're not already doing so, you'll want to strongly consider top-tensioning that lock. Doing that will give you the maximum possible maneuvering space in the keyway below the pins, and given the bitting of that lock, every millimeter is going to help. I have a 5100 here myself that I haven't been able to crack, simply because the bitting is too varied for a bottom-tensioning approach to work. Unfortunately, I don't have a tension tool that's suited to top-tensioning the American keyway at present, but I'm hoping that a Peterson Prybar waiting for me in the near future

[cppdungeon]

One test you can do is to see if you can move your pick along the key in a reasonable fashion (without hitting the wards). If you can do that, you can technically reach all the places you need to in the lock-you just need to figure out how.

--Cpp

[raimundo]

the american lock is a smaller cylinder, for this lock the tensor is very important, I would recommend that you aid your tensor with a piece of paperclip put into the bottom of the keyway to stuff some of that area without creating a bind against the cylinder wall. This is a JGOR tip.

also, looking at your key, you have two deep cuts and one or two cuts between them.
the keyway is small but you can get beneath some of these deep cuts by putting the pick in at an angle to the topdeadcenter of the keyway, where the keyway will give it more mobility to get under those deep pins, find a place where this angle\ helps to get below those pins, and use a small hook or halfdiamond. You do not need the larger pick because the whole thing is just small.

you will be working in a very tight spot, so sanding the picks smooth will help to move inthe lock and around the pins, use a slimline pick, you can make one fairly quickly, one hour vs whatever time it takes to get a new commercial one shipped.

[CptedIV]

did you ever get it? I have an american but no key, and I'm new, have had no luck at all, I usually just play with it when I'm bored...

[DrexenDelsangre]

Fortunately, I use the American 5200 and 5100 locks on a daily basis at work. Ive had the best luck with a slimline hook and my home made (windshield wiper insert) tension wrench. Also, I typically use bottom tension, though I have had success with top aswell. I just have better luck with bottom tension.. No real technique to speak of just SPP and a lot of practice.

[ChicoSlim]

I have been sucessful with a half round. I made some Bagotas from Raimundo's how to pictures which are freaking awsome. I took me like a minute to pop my 5100 with those. the half round takes me a while, I do use bottom tension when picking this lock