my tumbler lock is stuck!

[SBDeadly]

Here's my first post and it's not a good start =)

I got my lock pick the other day. Heeding the warnings of several posts here I decided to buy a couple of pad locks to pick instead of picking my front door.

I sat down to really understand how this lock works. I read many posts and articles. I think i have a pretty good handle on the interworkings of the lock. In theory anyway.

I took my pick and one by one pushed the pins up to the shear line front to back. All looked good but the lock didn't open. After a couple tries I decided to give the rake a shot. Same result. Switching back to the pick, I pushed up all 4 pins again. The lock still didn't open. I noticed the pins aren't resetting so I tried to open the lock with the key. NO DICE.
I thought I might be able to knock the pins loose by bashing it on the floor but that didn't help. I do feel better though.

So anyone know how to fix this problem? It's not a big deal. It's a $4 lock but I just bought it today. I'd like to pick it at least once before chucking it in the bin.

[Wrenchman]

Hi and Welcome

Did you try to open the lock with the key, when you first bought it?

What is the name of the lock, it is a padlock right?
Give us all the details from the package!

Where do you live, buddy?
There might be someone in your area, to help you!

One more thing, if the key/lock does not work, you could ask for a new one, at the hardware store, free of charge, because you should have guaranty!



Wrenchman

[SBDeadly]

yup it's a padlock. I bought the only thing NobHill had which is a "Helping Hand" padlock.
The key did work before I tried to pick it so I'm guessing I pushed up a little too hard. If that's possible.

I can't give you any more detail than that because the package is in spanish <sigh>

i think i'll just return it and get a new one. I picked up a warded padlock too but figured I'd hold off on trying to pick that until I can get the hang of the tumbler.

I sure hope my next lock is of better quality

[upick2]

That's too bad. You may have wrecked the springs by raising the pins too high. I learned that lesson that hard way. But, mine came back down, if I scratched at the pins a bit.

In my limited experience examining locks, I think it might be better to start with a cheap (less secure) version of a well known brand rather than a no-name. Also, I think cheap deadbolts provide more feel and better practice than cheap padlocks, plus you can usually remove some of the pins and re-key them to flatten the learning curve.

Good luck.

[Wrenchman]

Yeah, you were unlucky, try to get your money back!

And don´t be afraid to pick the other lock you have, just don´t pick your front door, or atleast make sure that the back door is open,

Anyway, it sounds like you pick to the max, try to keep the pick in the buttom of the keyway, and feel the pins, get to know each pin personally, then if a pin binds, with light tension, lift it, not to the max, but just a little, with care, till you feel a click!

Keep it up!

What is the name of the warded padlock you have, again?



Wrenchman

[Bud Wiser]

I've had 3 Helping Hand locks. One did break after practicing on it for a couple of weeks. The other two are still fine. I wouldn't call them dirt cheap, they are actually pretty decent for the price, better then Mountain! But the one that did break was literally starting to come apart on me

You may want to consider trying a better padlock. Kwiksets are just too easy. Faultless provides a little more challenge and can be found right next to kwiksets at Walmart. Master #1 #3 #5 are also good to start with.

Good Luck!

[Romstar]

I have a couple of Yale mortice and rim cylinders here that I pick from time to time, a bunch of Schlage and LSDA cylinders, some basic Weiser cylinders a couple of different pad locks, a Medeco or 20, some Corbin and a host of others, but recently the thing thats been going me the most annoyance is a crappy little Home Hardware brass padlock.

Five pins, fits in your palm and just won't bloody well open. I couldn't tell you what the pinning is because it came without a key. At this stage I keep thinkinng maybe I can't pick, and grab something else only to be rewarded with a click.

So, at this stage I think maybe I might just impression the little bugger. The reason I mention this is that the same thing happened to me before, only in that case, the pins were stuffed right smack up into the bible, and there was just no way the pins were ever going to work right again.

Done properly, you CAN pick a damaged lock, but you have to know its damaged, and you really have to work at it.

I would say in your case that you overlifted the pins possible and stuffed the springs. Most spings are pretty good, but occasionally you get crappy stuff, and it breaks.

Don't feel bad, just go onto something else, and maybe keep the broken one around to pull apart or maybe practice picking a damaged lock.

Good luck,
Romstar