defective deadbolt?

[Fifth_Man]

I got a Black & Decker deadbolt recently to practice on, now I'm not sure but I think it's defective and it's definately hindering my picking practice.

One side of the bolt (this one's a double cylinder but the two are held to the door with about 5" long screws, now it's not mounted to a door or a piece of wood so I don't know if the fact that it's not bolted to a door and therefore not held very well in place, that may be why it's not locking) won't lock but will unlock, one side will both lock and unlock. Note that this is using the key on either side and this was happening before I ever picked it.

I've also noticed that on the side that doesn't unlock, it seems to get stuck at about a quarter turn to the right,

I'm unsure whether or not the distance between the two cylinders affects how the locks work, because unscrewing the screws a half inch and pulling the defective lock back seems to make it work once in awhile.

Now I re-pinned the defective lock to include only one pin, to work with digital blue's exercises and it still has the same problem when picking.

Any suggestions?

[Shrub]

Are they screw in cylinders? if so it could very well be that youve screwed them in too far,

[Fifth_Man]

yeah screw in's

[Shrub]

Read you instructions, see what thickness doors they are meant for and then with the escutions fitted measure the right depth they are to be screwed in,

Personally i would advise you dont fit them to the hardware and simply use the cylinders, buying the full hardware kit for practiceing is a false ecomony, you only need the cylinders themselves,

[Fifth_Man]

but I mean doesn't having the lock bolt help one get a feel for the wiegh attached to the lock or something? Just a thought,

[Shrub]

All it would do is help you realise you need to turn the plug a bit harder once its is picked,

If you are learing to pick locks get rid of the hardware,

Once you can regulary pick the locks then screw them in and see the extra force that may be required to then open the deadlock but its a fad that will only last one or two pickings to be honest,