Newbie: How do you pick an outdoor Yale FDA3

[kaisersose]

Hiya, new to the forums. I've obtained the slim japanese southod lockpick set and I've already picked a few old bikechains. I decided to get a Yale FDA3 from Homebase. It is rated at security level 4, whatever that means. Anyway, I can't pick it, I've tried a home-made bump key, don't know if I made it right, but I sawed it right down.
I've had a look inside the lock, and it seems the secondary pins are
shaped a bit like this:
|___|
_|_|_

I'm guessing that means it's pick proof, because if you try to twist whilst pushing up the pins, they'll jam on the sheer line. Am I right?

Please help.

[zeke79]

That is a spool pin. Do a search here for mushroom pins, spool pins, or security pins and have a good read.

[UWSDWF]

pickproof does not exist if it is a mechcanical lock it can be picked

[Orwell]

As mentioned above that is a spool pin, but the lock is still pickable.

When you made the bump key did you file a bit of the tip and shoulder too?

[kaisersose]

The best I've found when I scoured around the forums is a DIY guide to making your own Bogota pick. I understand what they are, they have smooth, curved peaks about 1.5-2 pins away from each other.

I don't understand how a Bogota rake will help me overcome a spool pin (Thanks, I know what they're called now).

Please explain to me in laymans terms how to pick a lock with spool pins.

Cheers.

[natastna2]

Basically the spool pins are shaped like mushrooms or can even sometimes be serrated on teh edges to catch the shear line when you put torque on the cylinder. A common technique is to insert a pick such as a small half diamond, then insert the tension wrench, lift all the pins above the shear line, then put light tension on the wrench. Slowly lower the pins back below the shear line and hopefully the spool pins unique shape will make them more likely to stay above the shear line. There are probably many different methods of bypassing spool pins depending on their shape, and im sure if you do a search for mushroom spool security pins you can find out enough info.

[Shrub]

A spool pin is shaped like a spool as in the thing you get cotton around,

A mushroom pin is shaped like a mushroom,

A serated pin is like a spool pin but has narrower and any number of grooves in the pin,

The overlifting technique is ok and one i used to suggest but the most common and accurite way is as follows,

Work through the lock picking it like normal, you will feel pins setting and the plug turning a bit,

When you meet a spool pin the lock will act like its being picked but wont open,

When you have had the plug turn and the pins 'set' but it still wont open go back to each pin and gently lift them whiulst feathering the tension wrench,

When you come up to a flase set spool pin the plug will try to turn back a slight amount, youve found a spool pin thats falsely set,

Work through the lock and decide which pins are spools,

Once you know that you simply reset the lock and start picking again only this time you be gentle on the tension where a spool pin is and make sure you lift it higher than last time, with practise and feel you will be able to tell when the pin is set correctly or not,

If you struggle doing that then you can use the overlifting technique on the spool pins once you know where they are,

[Schuyler]

A spool pin is shaped like a spool as in the thing you get cotton around,

...why do you know things about how cotton is delivered?

[Shrub]

Lol i watch a lot of dicovery channel and have done a lot in my life but in this case i rather refered to the spools that cotton is on for sewing machines, go to a sewing shop and buy some cotton to see what i mean

Maybe you call them bobbins or somthing,

[Schuyler]

AHHHH!

Right, then

[Romstar]

That would commonly be known as thread.

Romstar