schlage practice lock

[beultraviolent]

I just bought the 5 pinned Cut Away Practice lock. It has spool drivers and is right handed. The question I have is when I try to pick it turning clockwise no pins catch, yet when I do it counter it does. Are most schlage locks like this where I can only pick them one way? Or is there a technique different from the one I am using? I'm still new to picking locks so any help would be greatly appreciated.


David

[LockNewbie21]

Never had a pre made cutaway, i am guessing its setup to only pick in one direction, i would say try a plug spinner but if its not made to go that way it could break the lock and plug spinner... hmm thats all i can think of.. somebody offer me some back up here



Andy

[digital_blue]

I can almost bet I know the problem you're having. Schlage keyways can be a bit tricky. When you tension at the bottom (as most people do) they sorta lend themselves to picking counter clockwise. When you try to tension them CW from the bottom, the bottom edge of your wrench can have a tendency to jam against the inside bottom of the shell and, though it feels like you are applying tension, you're really just getting the wrench stuck.

That's my guess. Happens to me all the time.

db

P.S. Technically, that kind of lock CAN be picked in either direction, so it's nothing to do with the lock specifically. I'm pretty certain you're just not getting good tension in the CW direction.

[dmux]

i think those pre-fab cut aways are made for both left and right handed pickers

so they only turn a certain way

[digital_blue]

i think those pre-fab cut aways are made for both left and right handed pickers

so they only turn a certain way

Unless I'm missing something (entirely possible), which side of the lock is cut away would have nothing to do with which direction the lock can be picked. Unless they've done something with the lock to prevent it turning one way, a standard Schlage lock can rotate in either direction. I'm not familiar with the specific cutaway lock in question, but I would think it can still be picked both directions.

db

[beultraviolent]

digital_blue that was exactly the problem. I changed positions of the tension wrench and it worked perfect. Thank you for the help.

[digital_blue]

Woot! Another lucky guess.

Glad it helped. Happy picking!

db