R70 tension?

[hornetdt]

Hey everyone, i KNOW there are a bunch of threads on R70's, but i have read them all and still have a question. So please bear with me.

Raimundo and others suggest a light tension for the defeat of this lock. I have tried this approach many many times and cannot get a single pin to set, so here's my question:
What tension is suggestable in relation to the plug spring. should i be aiming to turn the plug fully so that it JUSt stops turning, or should i be using a tension that kinda sits halfway between the original plug position and the stop position.
This lock has driven me crazy, i have tried all kinds of tension, and am alright with the spool pins. I have no problem with spools on locks like the 142, of which i own two. Additionally the spools on the brinks 50mm pad are also easy for me to manipulate. the problem i'm having with this lock is the combination of the spring tension on the plug and the heavy spring tension on the pins. i have yet to even achieve a false set....PLEASE lend advice. This lock has become my enemy for life.

here's the key:

[hornetdt]

just as a follow up, would it be smart to buy one that doesn't have a high-low for the first two pins, defeat that, then move on to this one?? this keying didn't strike me as horrible, but i dunno. I've never had a lock i coudn't get after 1 hour of picking, EVERY other lock in my collection is broken like a 3 year old pair of jeans.

[Gordon Airporte]

About the R70 - I count four cuts in that key, the Brinks locks that usually come up as being difficult have five or six pins... Is the R70 just a 4 pin version of the five pin brass Brinks? I was thinking it was the chrome shrouded-shackle model until I saw this.

[pinsetter]

The R70 is a bit tricky because it has a couple of security pins in it. You'll have to get to know picking spool pins. The spool pins are the reason you need to know how to manipulate tension to your advantage. OK, we know that in the R70 the plug is under a high spring load, so you're obviously going to have to apply enough tension to overcome this. BUT, you don't want to apply so much tension that you release all the tension on the shackle. Feel the shackle of the lock with no tension on the lock, you'll notice that it feels tight.
Now, insert your tension wrench and start applying tension. You'll see the plug rotate slightly, and soon you'll take the tension off the shackle and it will become loose and rattle around. I find that the ideal tension to BEGIN picking with is holding it steady right at the point where the shackle first begins to loosen. This will be before the plug stops moving. I'll hold it there until I reach false set, then apply a bit more tension, but not much. The spool pins that are stuck at this point are going to have to be pressed on into the cylinder, so you're going to have to let the plug do a little "controlled" moving about. You have to apply just enough tension that the plug can rotate back CCW to let the spool pins through, but not lose your other progress. That is where the "light" tension you're hearing about comes into play.

*edit for spelling*

[hornetdt]

hey, thanks a lot for the advice, i'm pretty solid picking spools, just couldn't figure out that crappy plug. Once i get moved in for the summer i'm going to make this thing my nightly mission.

[Legion303]

I've had some luck with sticking spool pins by bouncing the tension wrench very slightly while I pick.

-steve

[LockNewbie21]

I did a complete break down of how to open an r70, simpley insert tension wrnech, apply heavy tension.. now you'll notice no pins move good thats what you want, now take you hook pick, push up the first pin while reducing tension, as soon as it clicks put the heavy tension back on, repeat till lock is opened this will open it everytime with any of the r70 discus locks i have a video explaining it but my camcorder is analouge so i am redoing it look for it in the future



Andy

[conker]

yes, good tips. I learned a lot from that, thank you. Tension is hard to get down but after you master it you can get past any lock. Just wish I could master it.

[LockNewbie21]

I am trying to ge ta digital camera to show everyone how i do it with the R70, i cant get ahold of a digital recorded as of now, i will pst once i get it.


andy