Help on the last high pin, please help!

[WDPaladin]

I've been playign with a good couple locks now and have run into a couple that I have bypassed for the time being. When I disassembled those few I noticed that the 5th pin is distinctly higher than the 4th pin. Would this be an application for a longer hook pick or what? It seems I cannot push the last pin high enough without pushing up the 4th pin up when it's already set. Thanks for the help in advance..

[lockedin]

When I disassembled those few I noticed that the 5th pin is distinctly higher than the 4th pin. Would this be an application for a longer hook pick or what?

I think a standard hook pin should work on most locks. I don't know if you mean longer as in the whole pick or as in the size of the hook itself. If that is the case I don't know if it would make it easier, I find the long hook from southord (sp-08) to be more annoying the further I get into the lock. The short hook (sp-nine, yes I had to write it out because a zero and a nine make a happy face) actually works better for me. You might also try a bogota rake, as they can be very effective on high/low pin configurations.

[lockedin]

lol- apparently a zero and an eight do too.

[WDPaladin]

thanks for the help. I can get the lock open occasionally if Im super careful, but most of the time I end up pushing the set 4th pin up a bit. I will check out some other hooks from SouthOrd in the mean time. Thanks again.

[Gordon Airporte]

There's a pick that Peterson makes specifically for this called a 'reach'...here's a link:
Peterson reach
Basically it's a deep curve with a half-diamond sticking up from the tip.
I've never tried one myself, though.

[Shrub]

There are various methods you can use, some are differant picks (you dont have to use the same tool to pick the whole lock )
Some are ways to hold the pick your useing, will it drop to a lower warding then reach up with a longer hook?
Sometimes a bit more tension will stop the other pin resetting while you manipulate the last one.

[WDPaladin]

ty Shrub, I've tried different ways to hold the pick and have goeen better I suppose. I can pick the lock in the other direction, but I like to be able to pick deadbolts both ways (ya know, just because). Its just frustrating, but I suppose I'll figure it out. Thanks for the help again, I'll try it all out.

[greyman]

It's been a while since I did any serious picking, but my advice would be to try a bit less tension. Also be cafeful with the positioning of the manual hook pick since you really need to make sure you are right under the tip of the pin to get the maximum lift. This is tricky because the tip is pointy and the pick will tend to stop on the sides of the pin rather than the tip. If there's a low lift pin in front of the high one, you have to be extra careful not to upset that while you're working on the high lift one. Another thing to try is to set the high lift pin(s) first but this might mean using more tension, which may lead to you incorrectly setting some of the other pins. Remember to use a feeler pick first to find out which pins are high and which are low.

Good luck.

[WDPaladin]

This may sound dumb and I know Ive still got alot to learn, but arent feeler picks and hook picks very similar if not the same thing? Thanks for the in by the way, just the last question on the feeler/hhok picks left for me..

[greyman]

By "feeler pick" I meant a probe - just a flat tool with a pointy end to feel the break between the pins, if possible. I think you're right about a feeler and a hook pick being the same thing.

[mmilitiar]

maybe start with a hook then switch as you get closer to the front?

[pinsetter]

I'm having a similar problem with an old brass Reese padlock. The plug is super tight on tolerance and allows very little manipulation of tension without losing the pins that you've set. The problem is that the pin configuration is 5 pins, the back one goes all the way up, the next three in a row are all the way down, then the front one is all the way up. The three in the center that can't move make picking the back one nearly impossible without upsetting them. The reese keyway is also super small with small warding grooves that prevent getting the pick in low. Basically ANY prying to set the back pin results in the 4th and 3rd pins both being disturbed and when you release the tension a bit to try and let the sticking overextended pins drop you lose everything because the plug is machined so tight. This lock is a super pain in the rear and I've yet to be able to open it. I also have a large Master 6 pin Railroad lock that is extremely difficult to pick because the bottom pins ride right on the upper ward of the keyway leaving NO room to get a pick in there with the size of tension wrench that this lock requires. So far those are the only two locks I haven't been able to open. Any ideas?

[Mr. Lock Pick]

It seems I cannot push the last pin high enough without pushing up the 4th pin up when it's already set

Try picking from back to front(when looking into the key way)