Unknown type of master lock

[unlocke]

I HATE this lock. Ever since I started picked I have not been able to open it



Notice from the key it has only 4 pins I can pick a master # 3 with no effort but this...

says 30mm on it.


Also I'd like to note these locks came in set a bought a few years ago. All 4 locks have keys 4 keys the each key could open any of locks. So either it's master keyed or the the pins are the same in all 4 locks. Could that be why I'm trouble. Any ideas on how to tackle this blasted lock! I really wish I could pick this blasted one.

I've tried using a lifer pick, raking it, the, M pick, and half diamond nothing works. I can barely feel the pins on this one.

[sfi72]

That has a spool or 2 in it, that's probably why your having trouble.

[unlocke]

That has a spool or 2 in it, that's probably why your having trouble.

Any tips and could you identify the master lock # it is? I'd love to see what the inside looks like. I have extra. The only thing stopping me from opening it, is that I don't know how.

[sfi72]

I think it's a #140 with a plastic covering.

[unlocke]

I think it's a #140 with a plastic covering.

No, it's not a 140 I just checked outside, and my gatelock a 140. This lock is much smaller an different, I'm going to try and find out what it is. If anyone knows that would be great. Besides that Is there an easy way to take a padlock apart?

[unlocke]

Checking online and I'm sure it's a #131 master lock. Now I just to need to know what's pins are used. No search results here on the forum either.

[ToolyMcgee]

I don't think there are specs at the manufactoring level that call for a specific number of spools in the lock. I've not found one without at least 1 spool, but people claim there are locks without them.

Browse this thread http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=23712&start=0
I don't think your lock is in there, but it's something neat to check for reference.

[lock2006]

Is not 140 but it could be 131 or 146 like the one i have
is similar to this one you have here
but my says 40mm instead of 30mm i know they have
4-pin tumbler locking mechanism for increased pick resistance
as far as security pins maybe the 140 has some
but don't think is one has any
i picked this one with a half dimond and very light tension
and for some reason i get this lock to open very easy
this is a pic of the one i have hope this helps.

[unlocke]

Is not 140 but it could be 131 or 146 like the one i have
is similar to this one you have here
but my says 40mm instead of 30mm i know they have
4-pin tumbler locking mechanism for increased pick resistance
as far as security pins maybe the 140 has some
but don't think is one has any
i picked this one with a half dimond and very light tension
and for some reason i get this lock to open very easy
this is a pic of the one i have hope this helps.

I just tried again and I can't do it! If anyone wants one I'll send it just PM. I have extra, just not sure if I have another key.
I'm tempted to drill it open just so I can see what the pins inside look like. I'm tired of this lock. It's been mocking me since day one!

[adrenalynn]

I believe you're looking at a 132/134. It's the 30mm version of the 142/144 series. They come in a handful of colors. I had one that was cut off a footlocker, but I didn't even think about disassembling it, I just tossed it in the trash thinking it was typical 4pin junk.

Those little locks give me the toughest time. I can pick a Biax faster than some of those stupid little locks. The one I have on my gate at home is a 130 (solid brass version of that lock) and it's a pita. First time I picked it took me probably fifteen minutes. [sigh]

I should probably practice more on those little things so I can train my fingers for the "trick". I'll send you a PM, let me know what you need for it and I'll paypal you.

[tballard]

I've found a lot of people (myself included) have trouble for no good reason with the smaller security-pinned master locks. I've got two 140's, and sometimes they take a good long time to open. The only "tricks" I have found are that the lock seems to jam up easily. Light tension helps, but so does resetting the plug by twisting backwards with the wrench or pushing down on the shackle. I've had several instances where pushing the shackle down resulted in a satisfying "crunch" and the lock suddenly became pickable again.

As another bit of anecdotal evidence, I was teaching my Dad how to pick (that was fun... ) and started having trouble with one of the 140's. He said: "Have you tried the key?" I thought it was a pointless exercise, but I humored him, and lo and behold, the key didn't operate the lock anymore either! After some whacking and smacking, the key began to open the lock, but only with a good deal of jiggling. Eventually, the lock sorted itself out and works fine now. (or as close to it as a Master can come)

So, my theory is that soft metal + small parts + bad tolerances = interior binding. The key helps straighten this out because it is the right shape to push things back? I dunno... Anyway, work the shackle of the lock and use the key a few times, and then try to pick it again.

One last bit of advice is that while I normally smart, tight-fitting wrenches for picking, I've been having much better luck with my 140's since I switched to using a wrench which fills up an alarming amount of the keyway. (The blade is too big to use in a KW1 keyway, if that tells you anything) I don't know if it's a change in how the tension is being applied (more even) or just some odd coincidence, but it is helping for me.

(Oh man, did I really just admit in public that a Master 140 gives me trouble sometimes? Oh the shame, the horrible, horrible shame!)

[adrenalynn]

No shame, IMHO. I have no problems with the 140, but I experience similar things on the 130 and 120 series. I just whacked through a bunch of 130's last night and most of them have a really deep bitting on pin #4. On half of them they catch my smallest diamond and won't let go. Pin #4 is almost always the third in order of binding on these, with #1 or #2 being last. (3,1,4,2 or 3,2,4,1 in 90+% of these locks with an n=40)

The only solution I've found is to remove all tension from the wrench, there's not enough left to spring it back and drop the picked positions, but it loosens enough to jiggle the pick out. And sometimes that alone pops the last one into place, other times I pull the pick all the way out, and the act of reinserting it does the deed.

I was just telling another member via PM last night that these little locks have a personality and challenge all their own. They're "easy", but require a pretty different technique, IMHO.

I'm going up against a bunch of little locks in the next few days in a physical challenge, so I pulled out all the little padlocks I have, about 200 of them, and was whipping through them just to sharpen up on them. I have a blister on the back of my middle finger this morning, but I picked over 200 "locks" [used loosely] on both Sunday and Monday.

[adrenalynn]

forgot to mention - none of them are taking longer than 18 seconds now, with the median being 7 sec.

[tballard]

Pin #4 is almost always the third in order of binding on these, with #1 or #2 being last. (3,1,4,2 or 3,2,4,1 in 90+% of these locks with an n=40)

Interesting you should say that, my sample size is much smaller, but for me almost every 4 pin master sets 4,2,x,x. And one the lower-end ones, the "x,x" is often not even needed.

forgot to mention - none of them are taking longer than 18 seconds now, with the median being 7 sec.

Sure, sure, rub it in. My median is around 7 seconds as well, but my maximum is a good bit higher than 18 seconds.

[awol70]

i made a vid opening this lock,it may help someone ..
and i dont see ANY shame in being locked out of one of these.
they can be very tricky.
(in fact, i had to leave and come back later to the dumpster i salvaged the lock in the vid from, because it was such a whack bitting..)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S7wSHzpuIQ