Oldest 5200 I've seen, found today.

[Comrade627]

As some of you may know, I run into a LOT of American lock military locks. I found this one today with no key, in surprisingly good condition. Per the reference http://www.lockwiki.com/index.php/American_Lock_1100_1200_1300 , this was made in Jan of 86.

If this being almost 30 years old is super cool, do let me know. Something like that belongs to a collector, not an experimenting amateur like myself. The most I'd do is try to clean it up and restore it, then lose it in a box somewhere to be honest.

[GWiens2001]

Nice find. Definitely one of the oldies but goodies.

Gordon

[Comrade627]

My intent is to pick it, rekey it and clean it up. The last 5 hours of my picking attempts beg to differ.

[Squelchtone]

My intent is to pick it, rekey it and clean it up. The last 5 hours of my picking attempts beg to differ.

Have we already talked about overlifting all pins, pushing them all as high as possible with the back of a tension wrench, adding heavy tension, then inserting a pick, and ever so slowly releasing the tension letting the pin stacks drop into place? this eliminates the top pin serrations and spool sections, leaving only the key pin serrations to deal with. using TOK tensioning also works well on these for me, you probably already know enough to do that.

good luck,
Squelchtone

[deolslyfox]

Nice hit !! I agree .... Looks like it was made in Jan of 1986 ....

At the risk of being stoned to death here on the forum, I'd suggest that you give that lock a liberal squirt of WD-40 to wash all the crud out of the cylinder. Work the lube up into the pin stack with a pick and rinse 'er out with alcohol. Then another squirt of WD-40 and let it sit overnight.

I have "saved" many an older lock with this technique .... You would be amazed at the crud that builds up inside these locks. Even if they haven't been outside. If you start picking corroded security pins and get a bunch of ground up junk in the works, it makes the pick a LOT harder .... Pins hang up, you can't get a false set, etc, etc and ad nauseam .... Just not a fun day ....

Anyhow - just a suggestion .... I'm a picker - not a collector - so my interest is getting an open and "movin' on" ....

Good luck with that 5200 !! Let us know when you get 'er picked !!

[Comrade627]

My intent is to pick it, rekey it and clean it up. The last 5 hours of my picking attempts beg to differ.

Have we already talked about overlifting all pins, pushing them all as high as possible with the back of a tension wrench, adding heavy tension, then inserting a pick, and ever so slowly releasing the tension letting the pin stacks drop into place? this eliminates the top pin serrations and spool sections, leaving only the key pin serrations to deal with. using TOK tensioning also works well on these for me, you probably already know enough to do that.

good luck,
Squelchtone

I keep your overlifting trick in the back of my mind for situations like this, but I can't seem to get it to work right. The failing point is getting all pins to bind when I push them up. When I remove the pick that pushes then up, at least 3 of the stacks fall back down.

TOK tension is my default use of tension. BOK feels just weird to me, though I still use it when need be.

On that note, is it worth making one of those comb picks for this?

Deolslyfox, it is a little gummed up, like everythings a little muffled, so I'm probably going to attempt to flush it clean.

[deolslyfox]

It has been my experience that the older the lock, the dirtier the lock (if its been in use of course). That being said, the crud, dead squirrels, chicken bones and lost cats inside tend to hang up the pins, which makes picking hard and overlifting nearly impossible ....

My succeess with overlifting is pretty much limited to NEW / clean locks with few or no serrated pins ....

[Comrade627]

It has been my experience that the older the lock, the dirtier the lock (if its been in use of course). That being said, the crud, dead squirrels, chicken bones and lost cats inside tend to hang up the pins, which makes picking hard and overlifting nearly impossible ....

My succeess with overlifting is pretty much limited to NEW / clean locks with few or no serrated pins ....

I believe that's what it's coming down to with this one. I've popped 2 other 5200's for a sanity check since starting on this one so yea, it's time for a bath.

[Comrade627]

Flushed, SPP'd, torn down and cleaned. I don't have any blanks to make the key though.[/URL[URL=http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/comradehotsauce/media/20150301_151514_zpsy6qcickb.jpg.html]

[Comrade627]

And here it is, all parts are original.

[deolslyfox]

Great job on the cleanup and BZ on the pick !!

I got my last ebay order in yesteday and it had three US Government series 5200s in the lot. New in box !! All three were made in June of 1986. I took one apart just to see how it looks inside. All I can say is UGH !! .... The lube was so dried out that the pins wouldn't fall out of the cylinder. The drivers were just about as bad. They will all need a good cleaning !!

[Comrade627]

Great job on the cleanup and BZ on the pick !!

I got my last ebay order in yesteday and it had three US Government series 5200s in the lot. New in box !! All three were made in June of 1986. I took one apart just to see how it looks inside. All I can say is UGH !! .... The lube was so dried out that the pins wouldn't fall out of the cylinder. The drivers were just about as bad. They will all need a good cleaning !!

I'd believe it. I had to flush rinse and repeat a few times on this one to get crisp feedback. After that it wss open in about 5 minutes.

[deolslyfox]

If you intend to store this lock, or if you are going to repin it and send it on, I would suggest that you give it a good rinse in alcohol.

WD-40, like any other liquid lubricant will attract and hold dust / dirt / brass bits / chicken bones / etc. If you're going to keep on picking the lock for learning purposes, you should be OK as the picking action will keep things loose. Likewise, you'll be able to tell if a pin is starting to hang up ....

I have found the little plastic dishes that frozen meals like "Healthy Choice" come in are perfect for "bathing the lock". I also keep one under my hands when repinning in case I drop a pin. Its the first line of defense before the pin / spring bounces onto the pinning mat ....

Hope this is helpful.

[Comrade627]

If you intend to store this lock, or if you are going to repin it and send it on, I would suggest that you give it a good rinse in alcohol.

WD-40, like any other liquid lubricant will attract and hold dust / dirt / brass bits / chicken bones / etc. If you're going to keep on picking the lock for learning purposes, you should be OK as the picking action will keep things loose. Likewise, you'll be able to tell if a pin is starting to hang up ....

I have found the little plastic dishes that frozen meals like "Healthy Choice" come in are perfect for "bathing the lock". I also keep one under my hands when repinning in case I drop a pin. Its the first line of defense before the pin / spring bounces onto the pinning mat ....

Hope this is helpful.

The lock is bone dry. I cleaned it all out with alcohol after I took it apart. As dry as it is, it moves smoother than it did lubed up.

[deolslyfox]

Super job. Good pics too!!

I knocked off two of my 1986 5200s this afternoon. I am saving the last one for later.

Again, super job on the rehab. BZ!!