Oops

[J.D.]

My elderly neighbor was intrigued when I mentioned my picks. She challenged me to open the Kwikset deadbolt on her door and gave me permission to try. Though nervous with she and others watching, I managed to open it in a couple minutes using my Bogota rake.

I tried to stick the key in to turn it back, but the key wouldn't insert from the side I had picked. Oops. After playing with the lock a bit, I presume a driver pin must have fallen down past the shear line into the keyway. The key still inserts from the other side.

The lock body is secured from the inside of the door with two exposed screws. They weren't tight, which allowed the whole lock to rotate. Maybe this contributed to the problem.

I have full access to the lock, including the key, and need to fix or replace it. I have picks and basic tools. What's the best way to approach such a problem?

[mh]

? It's quite usual that you can't insert the key while the plug is not in the 0 degree position. Like you can also not pull the key out in those positions.

Have you simply tried to turn the plug back with the tension wrench?

Other than that - The Kwikset Rekeying Manual available here http://www.kwikset.com/Trade/Literature/default.aspx (bottom right)
might help to explain how to properly dismatle these locks.

(And of course - now you know why you shouldn't have done that in the first place ... )

Cheers,
mh

[pip]

stop me if you've heard this before....









Never pick locks in daily use



i think maybe this " OOPS " thread
should be made a sticky for beginners

[cL4y]

Yeah a agree PiP a thread should be made containing quotes of all people picking their own in-use locks.

[zeke79]

[J.D.]

I thought the plug was back in position, but it was actually out 180 degrees. Quite a few locks around here are installed upside down, so it wasn't glaringly obvious. Having an audience didn't help my critical thinking. Oh well, live and learn. Simple fix: viewtopic.php?t=15408 After that I tightened the loose screws and gave the bolt and keyway a couple shots of silicone spray. It works fine.

I realize it is commonly said not to pick locks relied upon. My personal guideline is "Don't pick a lock you aren't willing to fix or replace." Frankly, if a lock is in bad enough shape that it can't tolerate being picked (non-abusively) a few times, it needs to be replaced. I'd rather have any lock I depend on go belly up from picking than at a less opportune time, such as during an emergency.

I wouldn't mind buying my neighbor a new deadbolt so I could use her old one for practice. I might do that anyway.

[Bud Wiser]

I've only been on this forum going on 3 months and I already see a pattern here. At first I thought it was rude when others laughed at other peoples misfortune and continually preach about not picking locks you rely on as if we couldn't make such decisions on our own.

Now suddenly however I have this uncontrollable urge to...

[illusion]

Hey Bud Weiser - what happened to the 'creepy-pervert-guy-in-the-hat' part of your sig?

[burchlockkey]

If you turned the plug 180 degrees the top pins may have dropped into the keyway bottom (which would now be on the top), just push the top pins up alittle and the plug should freely turn back to the upright and locked position.

I pick locks that are used daily all the time. I am a locksmith and I get paid to do that for people who, for whatever reason, are on the wrong side of the door without a key.

[unbreakable]

Hey Bud Weiser - what happened to the 'creepy-pervert-guy-in-the-hat' part of your sig?

[Schuyler]

I pick locks that are used daily all the time. I am a locksmith and I get paid to do that for people who, for whatever reason, are on the wrong side of the door without a key.

Yah, we don't need it bold. It's generally the unwritten rule that if you are able to immediately and definately correct any problem that you might cause, (Like if you were a long-time hobbiest or locksmith) you are excused from any percieved persecution this rule may have imposed.

I believe DB put it more eloquently at some point, but that's the gist.

[Schuyler]

Sorry!

That came out a bit rude. I just read it back. Should have previewed it. I just meant to say that when you put it in bold like that, it seemed weirdly defensive. It's generally to keep new pickers who don't fully understand what it is they're doing (this is a hobbiest website after all, so there are a lot of people completely new, just like I was a while back) from causing damage to a potentially important lock.

I wish I had been told this prior to joining LP101, as I had a similar incident.

[Shrub]

Quite a lot of us are lockies byt the way,

On the 'i pick locks that im willing to repair or replace' thing, i dont agree, a lock can feel fine on a quick try afterwards but then mess up later, its best to stick to the simple rules,

[Schuyler]

That's an interesting point, Shrub.

Now, to that point, would you say that that's the case for either a lockie or someone at that level? Because I don't mean to say that someone like me, (learning and gaining confidence every day, but not quite clever enough yet, or likely anytime soon to consider myself at that level) who is simply willing to fix crap I break, but I mean someone who is competent to set things right the first time, and should something come up in the process, have the equipment/ability to do the job.

I don't know, I'm likely not explaining myself well. Sorry.

Anyhow, there are also far too many people unable to recognize the competence of others, much less recognize their own incompetence...

I'm just rambling at this point. Lordy...

[Shrub]

What i think you mean is what i was goign to put in my last post but decided to keep it simple without being accused of goign off on one at somebody again,

I think what you meant was this,

Its ok messing with locks and saying you will fix them if they are faulty or you damage them in the process,
EXCEPT,
You need to be of a relevant standard to a) notice and realise there is a problem there before leaving and b) know what to do to any particular part for any particular problem,

In other words someone used to picking kwiksets could go play with a MTL interative and then damage the inner pins, they simply say fine ill strip it and repair it as i cant afford to replace it,
Its halfway through that when they take a big gulp and own up they are in a mess and dont know what to do next,

Owner left with broken lock and unsecure property and picker panicing asking questions on here lol