noob help please

[samlis]

i can get the pins into the right place but how can i keep them there

[WhiteHat]

one of the main failings of the MIT guide (which I assume you've read) is it's lack of time spent on tension and appropriate placement of the wrench.

you need to apply tension to the plug (the bit where the key goes) in order to set the pins. www.howstuffworks.com had some nice interactive diagrams of people picking a standard pin tumbler lock - have a look there and see if you can't figure it out.

bear in mind that you only need the amount of pressure that you'd normaly apply to a key in the lock - sometimes even less than that.

[CaptHook]

You arent getting the pins to the "right place"........ Read some more, and follow Whitehats advice.
Chuck

[Wolf2486]

Basic walkthrough.

1. insert tension so that the pins can be easily accessed.
2. Apply light amount of tension (just enough to turn the cylinder slightly)
3. Insert pick
4. Find a pin that is harder to push up than the others.
5. Push the pin from step four up until you feel/hear a click
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 until the lock opens.

Hope this helps.

[omelet]

1. insert tension so that the pins can be easily accessed.
2. Apply light amount of tension (just enough to turn the cylinder slightly)
3. Insert pick
4. Find a pin that is harder to push up than the others.
5. Push the pin from step four up until you feel/hear a click
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 until the lock opens.

7. Oligatory celebration. woohooo you're not as big a noob anymore

[pyrodude145]

Your problem is not turning the tension rod enough so that the pins lightly rest and don't go down again. A little more tension and you should be ok.

[skold]

I havn't heard the word tension rod yet..i am guessing that you use a round tubular piece of metal as a tension tool?