by raimundo » 12 Jan 2007 12:40
the best tension tool for this type of lock is wide, one of the wider windshield wiper stiffeners is a very good choice. do not make the blade go more than half the length of the keyway into the lock, this tensor can adequately apply to the plug and yet leave manouver room in the keyway. the handle to the tensor need not be more than 3 inchs, you will want to pick the lock normally or rake it, then holding medium tension, go in and test the various pins with a hook, if forcing one of them up causes the cylinder plug to press back against tension, thats a good sign, do this until it sets and the bottom pin is loose then look for othes like it and do the same, you may find that doing another one sometimes will cause pins already set to fall, no big deal, just reset them. when the plug is counterrotating against tension, you are doing the right thing and should allow it to counter rotate until the pin sets. if you are doing the security pins like this, just keep doing it, and you will soon have the lock open, there is another thing about american locks to be aware of, when you think that you have set all the pins but the plug dosent turn, get a small screwdriver and apply a little bit more force, before dropping the tension, these locks are sometimes just jammed and they do have a spring that counterrotates the tension. this is the cause of the final resistance even when the cylinder has been picked. Use 3 in 1 oil on the cylinder, this also helps.
