Brain Damaged TSA Lock

[craptaincash]

https://imgur.com/jhbgJ3l

What's up with this lock? It calls itself an AustinHouse. I've opened all your standard beginner locks; Kwikset, Master, even played with some security pins, but this thing is such a POS I don't know what to do with it.

The TSA key is supposed to release the other side of the shackle, but I've not been able to make any progress whatsoever.

Ideas? Hints?

[jwrm22]

I don't think the key will release the other side of the shackle as it's used for the combination lock.
Have you picked it while it was open or while it was closed?

TSA locks are also not well made and that makes locks harder to pick some times.

Good luck!

[craptaincash]

It appears that it should function like the second lock in this video -- the silver one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWcUdJJsb4

The combination opens one side of the lock, and the key opens the other. I just found this video, and seeing that the lock core essentially drops down for it to open might explain some of the odd behavior I've been seeing.

I think you might be onto something when you say that really cheap locks can be hard to open.