Trouble with Schlage

[YouOweMeAMuffin]

Hullo! I'm new to the forum, as well as locksmithing, though I had a lockpick set since the fifth grade (SouthOrd 8pc) it was mainly for show, I never touched the handbook. After my father started a door building business, and put me responsible for re-keying pin tumbers, I was truly fascinated by the mechanics, of locks, and thus, am fascinated with lockpicking.

I'm able to pick Kwiksets with no trouble, but with Schlage, I have problems: When I bind a few pins, and attempt to bind another, the upward pushing of that pin turns the cylinder opposite the direction I apply tension thusly unbinding pins I had previously bound. Then when I try to 're-bind' that pin, the pin I had most recently bound unbinds.

Too much tension, working pins in the wrong order? Any advice will do.

[Shrub]

Do a search for security pins, spool pins,

I think its most probable a spool pin your falsely setting,

[Krypos]

mmmm the neg plug rotation, etc the un-binding, all that sounds most definately like security pins. as stated, do a search. also- remember that you can use AND in between words to join them in the search and refine the hits.

[SFGOON]

Without a doubt it's s spool.

Now explain your SN

[Frappinweemish]

I remember this same exact dilemma. It is most definitely a spool pin, and I had a bit of trouble in the beginning with these as well. However, once you practice a bit, see what you can find in a search on this site, figure out all the symptoms, etc, you will find that you can bind them every time! Picking is an art - you gotta practice to get better.

[Bud Wiser]

I'm having trouble with a schlage too. I can pick it, but not consistently, and not the way I like! What I mean is I don't consider pot luck picking! I like to be able to feel what I'm doing and know why it happens.

What I'm getting is I can set all the pins accept the 4th pin from the front. It is binded and tough to reach and raise up. I've tried several picks, the best results was with a small hook. The tension wrench was also a problem for me. I got 4 that came with my PXS-14 Southord. Only 2 are useable. I also found that pulling the tension wrench out a little helps a little to provide more room to maneuver the pick on the back pins.

When I can pick it, I do it in 3 to 5 minutes. When I can't, I can't!!!

Just keep practicing!

[Wolfman]

When I can pick it, I do it in 3 to 5 minutes. When I can't, I can't!!!

Try picking it as you watch tv.

[undeadspacehippie]

My favorite place to pick is under the table at the restaurant I work/hang out at - almost everybody is oblivious to what I am doing, and sometimes even I am... mainly because I am watching the floor, listening for the sounds in the kitchen, such as the wok sizzle and hiss stopping signifies a dish is coming up, and keeping an eye on the undesireables who loiter out front (hookers and dope pushers, such a lovely area i work in, but that is why I am there). Point being is that if i am distracted by ohter things I can usually pick the lock I am working on, its like muscle memory and neural algorithms take over and know what to do - all on a subconscious level. This is probably why we should practice alot, but also just pick to pick for pickings sake.

Have a great day folks

[unbreakable]

and keeping an eye on the undesireables who loiter out front (hookers and dope pushers, such a lovely area i work in, but that is why I am there).

That's the Windsor I grew up in........

Are there still a ton of strip clubs downtown? Most per capita in canada, if i remember correctly. I'm kinda glad I moved, but I still miss it at times.

[Bud Wiser]

Sounds like Yung Street at Toronto (spelling could be wrong).

We had a sales meeting there and did some exploring. I can't count how many times I was propositioned. Finally I asked one lady how much, she said $100. I told her for that much she would have to do my laundry and cooking for a week. No sense of humor Canadian hookers

[assweasel]

Lol I pick while driving. Talk about a road hazard!!!

[psyk0s1s]

i have been consistently and easily picking kwiksets, so would i be able to pick schlages or do you think i should buy a padlock of some sort?

[kepiblanc]

Sounds like Yung Street at Toronto (spelling could be wrong).

We had a sales meeting there and did some exploring. I can't count how many times I was propositioned. Finally I asked one lady how much, she said $100. I told her for that much she would have to do my laundry and cooking for a week. No sense of humor Canadian hookers

The correct spelling for that street in Toronto is "Yonge".

I lived in Toronto last year during the winter months. I mostly drove along Yonge Street, being that I lived on Queen Street in the Beaches section of the city. I don't recall ever seeing any hookers on Yonge Street, but perhaps the winter weather kept them away, or I just was too busy minding the traffic. I was told at one point that the hookers were mostly on some block a bit East of Yonge Street, but I didn't really care enough to investigate.

[Bud Wiser]

it's been a few years since I was on Yonge St., and it was in the vicinity of the strip bars. We were walking and they would come out of no where! It was in walking distance from the hotel we were staying at. After the sales meetings we would wonder around Yonge St hopping from bar to bar.

I guarantee you didn't miss much! As I recall they were pretty skanky. Even the strippers didn't look that great.

[kepiblanc]

Although I still have not tried to pick open a Schlage deadbolt cylinder, I did obtain one for the purpose of study about two years ago.

The Schlage lockset that I got has a five pin cylinder. With the included key, a 5/8" dowel for use as a plug follower, and precision screwdriver set, I disassembled this Schlage cylinder. This is how I confirmed that this Schlage cylinder had five spool top pins.

Whenever possible, I would suggest that one should disassemble and then reassemble a new lock cylinder before starting to try picking it, particularly if it is one of the higher grades like Schlage or Kwikset Ultramax. This will provide a better understanding of what the cylinder's components are.