Grrrrr, how do you get the levers to ""bind"&

[The Key Maker]

Ok im trying to pick a uk lever lock, 3 levers no curtain or coller, union style lock. Very simple lightly bitted key.

I`ve take the back of and i can see exactly what i am doing, i can push on the levers and move them ect, i understand all principles, (i think) of how the lock is working. Now the tool i need to open the lock must have something to push the bolt therfore so i can just practice picking the levers i am picking the lock closed ( i am actually unlocking the lock) this way i can apply pressure to the bolt from outside of the lock directly on the bolt and push it inwards. This applys pressure on the bolt and applies friction between the bolt "pin" and the levers.

My problem is that when i lift a lever, high perfectly or two low, it just doesnt stay there, EVER!! it falls right back down again, the spring just pushes it down. I have tryed pickin the levers in different orders, because some will have more pressure than others but still no luck. I dont understand!!! I am quite pleased with myself tho, i am atleast getting somewhere with no help of my own.

Yesterday i actually cut all the springs of a 3 old levers i had and then put them in and picked that. There was obviously no tension pushin the levers back down and i had no problems, i picked it so i must have the general principles ok. Its just when the springs are there the levers fall right back down! Anyone, give me HELP!!!

Also if anyone knows the way to picking lever locks with wire, i havent a fantest clue, even if you dont wanna say straight out just tell me the general principles, i dont understand how that works!?

[riva]

can't say i can help you much here to be honest, i've only just started experimenting with mortice locks myself. i have however managed to unhook the springs on an old 3-lever mortice using a very fine precision screwdriver (doubtful whether that would work on all locks) although i am still no nearer to positioning the actual levers. i use a length of fishing line to hook around the end of the bolt, though whether that works would depend on the shape of the bolt in the lock your using, plus its quite tricky to hook it around without actually seeing what your doing.

have you ever tried impressioning these locks? i'm looking for information on how its done. in theory i seems easier than picking.

[akidosamuri]

right heres what i did and it works!

right its very hard to guage which type of lever lock your picking, bs3621 or non-bs, because the bs locks required much higher tolerances to ythe tool you use to apply tension to the levers..

however the way i did it was that you need to apply around 5-6 pounds of pressure to the lock lever. that i discovered tot he key the higher pressure the better. this causes more problem wen i came to making a tension rench to fit the lever locks since the high pressure and thus leverage i needed to apply to the rench required that i make a special rench of high tensial steel to cope with the amoutn to f pressure being applyed..

ps.. the way round the lever lock the non-bs kind is to delibrateley over lift the levers. firstley bydoing this you will here or feel when the lever is set by the rattle it makes and slight free movement verticaly as the lever sits astride the bolt. secondly lift each lever in sequence not-randomly..

thirldy by doing this you will free all the levers exsept the anti-pick levert his looks difrent from all the others because the top of the lever has a hook cut into it to prevent tension being used in the lock. however when all the levers are free you have to remember that the lever that does not move and does not make a rattle is the anti pick lever. which one this is bodes remembering becuase when you release and reset the lock you can try agian using the same method as before, but this time keep the lever identifyed as the anti-pick lever high (way-high) so that i clearers the hook set in it, pick all the other levers first leave the anti-pick lever last.

but if you know all this i apologise. but the key is pressure about 5-8 pounds pressure (the more the better).

[quicklocks]

[Dark Angel]

Picking a lever lock with wires is quite simple you will need two wires both bent at right angles.

Tension wire:
This wire is used to put pressure on the talon of the bolt,which in turn will cause the bolt stump to press against the levers.
(Insert the wire to the back of the lock and position it in the groove of the bolt,then apply the pressure.)

Lever lifting wire:
Another wire is used in conjucton with the tension tool and enables the belly of each lever to be lifted until the bolt stump starts to enter the lever gate.
(Once you have inserted your first wire and have applied tension to the bolt,you will then have to insert the second wire to lift each lever.)

[Safekey]

It all depends on the make/brand of lock you are trying to pick.
Wire coat hangers.... use one to push the bolt (the way a key does) and a second to lift the levers as mentioned previously.

A collection of "Try out jigglers" using cut keys and filing down is a good way. You can make your own or buy them from good suppliers.

Try out jigglers can also be made (or bought) for the 5+ lever locks, with or without a curtain.