Problamatic Schlage...

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I have this door cylinder that is driving me insane, and was wondering something about it. It's a Schlage, and I believe it has more than five pins. The reason is, is that when I use a hook pick, and I feel that the pins are seated, but it won't open, I let go on the tension rake and I swear I hear five clicks. So, if my train of thought is correct, it's either more than five pins, or theres a security pin that's binding?

What's your advice on trying to tackle it? I've used a feeler pick quite a few times and then after about 5 or 10 minutes I may get frustrated and pull a rake out, and go intermittantly(sp?) between the hook and the rake. I'd give a number of the lock, but I can't see any identifying model #'s on the lock...I'm assuming it's inside, and I can't go and dissassemble the lock as it is on an exterior door. Thanks guys.

[What]

first, DONT PICK LOCKS YOU(or anyone else) RELY ON!!!

now, it is probably a spool pin, and that is all im gonna say.

[DeadlyHunter]

Agreed, dont pick the locks on your door unless you dont want to ever use them again. If you really want to know what's in the lock take out the cylinder and take a look.

[jimb]

I use a hook pick, and I feel that the pins are seated, but it won't open, I let go on the tension rake and I swear I hear five clicks. So, if my train of thought is correct, it's either more than five pins, or theres a security pin that's binding?

You could be over setting some of the pins. It took a cut-away lock for me to realize I was sometimes doing this.

If the lock is installed where gravity pulls the pins down, and they are set then you will be able to lift them without feeling any spring tension, unless there are security pins in it. In other words, if you don't feel any spring tension the pin is either set or you have a security pin binding at the shear line.

Take a tension wrench and lift all the pins, then slowly pull it out and count the clicks. This will tell you how many pins are there.

[Squelchtone]

Agreed, dont pick the locks on your door unless you dont want to ever use them again. If you really want to know what's in the lock take out the cylinder and take a look.

I understand your thinking behind this, repeated raking will F* up a lock eventually, but I've heard this kind of thing from friends who have called me in when they are locked out, and the first thing their uninformed minds have to say to me "is the picking going to break my lock?" and I'm like.. no, it's not gonna break it, it's just a way to lift the pins to the correct height and turn the keyway, just like your key would do, but since you locked your keys inside, we have to pick.

I don't mind openly saying I've picked my front door once or twice just to see how easy it would be for a bad guy, but I don't make it my mission to come home from work and pick it every day to see if I can get in my house without using keys. know what I'm sayin?

I think I can empathize with the n00bs who just got their first SO set in the mail, they'll run around trying every padlock and door at their house, then when that wears off, they'll turn into me and go to the hardware store once a week to buy a new KIK, deadbolt, or padlock.

My coffee table has 18 locks on it at all times, its an interesting sight.

my 2 cents on the topic of picking locks you depend on, so guys, let's not make it seem like people who pick are all hacks out to break sh*t, it 's already hard enough to convince people that what we do as a hobby is not illegal to begin with.


Squelchtone

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With the doors at our house, I pick it till I can open it once and then leave it alone. I understand that picking will wear down a lock, but opening a door once or time isn't going to muck up the pins too much, at least to my understanding, right? (It's not like I'm using some home-brew pick made out of a butter knife or anything, )

To say the least, the back exterior door is a brand new door, on an addition we've been building to our house, and is more expensive then our front door, which was a snap to open (including the deadbolt). To make it even harder, the back door has the pins at the bottom going up, which is a picking position that I'm not used to yet (maybe I could stand on my head, LOL). Guess I'll just have to read up more on security pins...I think that's definitely what it is, because I'll seat almost all the pins, and this one pin, towards the middle always binds up. *sigh*. Maybe I'll just pick up some locks from Lowes...

[Kaotik]

Butter Knife Pick...no no no, Tension wrench...yes.

Besides, once cut or modified all it is, is stainless metal stock...I do indeed admire you humor though.

I could't help but laugh...LoL