Question on Plug stiffness

[ckc123]

I managed to get a lock SPP'd yesterday that I was a real pain for me (Master 930 with 5 spool pins), and one thing I noticed was that the plug felt really hard to turn once picked(to the point where I didn't turn it all the way to open the shackle..)

is this a normal thing to encounter on some locks? if not, what does it indicate (Note.. I did have the key, and removed the pins earlier to clean out all the dirt, and confirm it has 5 spool pins... could I have put the spool pins in upside down)

[FarmerFreak]

It's hard to say for sure what the problem is without tearing it apart. But the first thing that comes to mind is that a spring was crossing the shear line when you turned it.

If picked correctly it should turn just as easy/difficult as turning the key.

[Raymond]

As Farmerfreak stated you might have a spring jammed in the shear line. Every so often the manufacturer will pin a lock with such a short bottom pin that the driver fully enters the plug. In picking you think it is a long pin and force it around. I have run into this many times with factory keyed cylinders.

Another possible problem is that in picking a padlock, the bolt spring puts a heavy pressure on the plug to stay straight. Even turning the key is sometimes stiff.

When dealing with padlocks that have been outside remember that they probably need lubrication just to work at all.

Most of us have had to resort to a screwdriver to open picked locks.