'American' Combination Locks

[Raymond]

Here is an expose on the American combo.

I have mentioned several times how difficult American combo padlocks are to open. I was even having tremendous trouble shimming one open. I finally realized why I was having so much trouble. The lock on the left has had the back cover cut off so I could try to figure out how to find the working combo. I could shim it easily. The lock on the right has been kicking me now for several months. If you look closely you will see that the shackles open on the opposite sides. I have been trying to shim the wrong side. The lesson here is that the most common lock can have a twist thrown in to surprise you.

From the second picture you can see the inside through the cutaway back. Once you figure which side to go for, (duh) shimming is easy. The target is to catch the small tab attached to the bolt. This tab is present for locks that have a key bypass. The cam on the key bypass cylinder pushes the tab back when the key is turned. This lock has no key bypass but the case is cut out and prepared for a small pin cylinder.

Most interesting is the fact that it uses a flat piece of spring steel as the locking bolt pivot return spring. This also prevents spying the wheels through the shimmed shackle hole to determine the combination. I have measured the gate and false gates in the drive wheel and found them to be the same width. The only way I know to get the combination is by progression dialing or by drilling. Any other advice would be appreciated.

[img][img]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb277/cookiebear7/AmericanFront.jpg[/img][img]
[img][img]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb277/cookiebear7/AmericanBack.jpg[/img]

[mcm757207]

Wow that's cool, thanks for sharing. Is that dark discoloration on the in-tact lock from you trying to shim it on the wrong side?

[Raymond]

The dark coloration was not noticeable before I photographed the lock. Its probably a light sensitive plating that reacted with the infrared rays coming off of my face.

[raimundo]

I haven't even seen this lock before, where are you, geographically? I also can't really associate this little thing with the heavily built 'american padlocks' which once were made in ill annoy, but now someone has posted photos of one of them that say made in china. Anyone got some information on this?

[Eyes_Only]

My high school issued this lock out for lockers. Too bad I tossed all the ones I had out. I should have saved them for experimentation with shims and other opening methods.

[Raymond]

The locks I pictured were made in Crete, IL. They are military throw-aways because of no combos. All in all they are pretty good locks.

I used to have some American combos that were much thicker and heavier. They were just as easy to shim open but I could read the combo through the open shackle hole.

[Eyes_Only]

Does American Lock still manufacture these things?

[Gordon Airporte]

Ah, I've also taken one of these apart and I'm also impressed with how they're thought out - like the spring hiding the wheel pack.
I can't really tell from your picture but there should be a little thumbnail gouge in the locking dog. It looks like it's there to inhibit shimming, but it sounds like it doesn't really make a difference.
The keyway in the back is cut so it's really hard to get a wrench to stick, too.