Need help with a cable combination lock

[spacediver]

Hi all - new here, and should probably spend some more effort searching around this forum, but it's a bit overwhelming right now

anyway, I have had a cable combination lock on my bicycle, which has been stuck on the frame for almost a year. One day, when unlocking my bike, and reclosing the lock, i inadvertantly changed the combination.

I'm using a spare cable in the mean time, but I'd like to open the previous one so I can go back to using it (right now it's just adding weight and space and getting in the way).

It's only four digits long, so I could always use the brute method and just go through all the possible combinations.

I'd rather not break this lock, as it's a nice one.

It looks very similar to this one:



I have a 1 megapixel digi cam tucked away somewhere, but don't wanna go to all the trouble of setting it up - my phone also has a really poor quality camera, but again would have to spend some time figuring out how to transfer the files to my computer.

Not sure if this is an appropriate request, but am trying anyway.

I've spent some time playing with the lock, and seeing if there are any unique clicks or changes in the "feel" as I twist the numbers, but haven't discovered any pattern yet.

[JackNco]

Yes the lock most probably cam be opened, bypass methods are generally restricted to the advanced forums but combo locks seem to be allowed. Combo locks can be opened easily if you know what your looking for.

But as this is a bike lock and its your first post we cant really help you until we have some kind of evidence this is your lock. an image of you holding it in your house should do. this is in no way an accusation but we do get a lot of these kinds of questions on first posts and a good 50% are from people with questionable motives.

As for setting your camera up all u have to do is turn it on, seems a fair price for our time and advice. Please do try and search there are loads of posts concerning this subject. but when it comes down to it brute forcing the combo is probably the easiest way.

Changing the combination by mistake is pretty rare which is another reason i am a bit concerned. but ill take it as an honest mistake and suggest trying variations of the old combination.

For example if the old combination was 6-6-6-6 try rotating each dial 2 digits each way. then instead of 10,000 combination you have reduced it to about 20, or 80 if you moved 2 of the wheels.

All the best

[spacediver]

thanks for the reply - and i understand and respect the thoughts you present.

I'll see if i can borrow a housemate's camera and have him or her upload the file.

will post back later tonight or tomorrow!

[Isakill]

I agree with jack, it would be nice to see a pic of you holding the lock or something because a post like that is taken by us as a slightly mistrusted post.

I'd like to see this lock myself

[UWSDWF]

use the KEY

[JackNco]

Yep that works as well, kind of a bypass to the combination, ull have it off in seconds

[UWSDWF]

and have him or her upload the file.

will post back later tonight or tomorrow!

if you're not sure which one they are i gotta see a pic of him or her for myself!

[thekeymaker]

if you know the brand of the Lock could you post it as well. i do know of a certain trick that can be done to open it. actully two come to mind. Don,

[spacediver]

hey all - haven't forgotten about this thread - just have been a bit lazy with respect to getting that camera ready - will try tonight - re brand, l just had a look, and it says Ming Tay

Here's an image from a google image search:



Will get that photo up asap!

[DrStu]

I recall seeing this type of lock covered in depth a few times on this site. You might want to spend the time to do a search or just start playing around with the lock and "feel" how it reacts to different forces. I figured out a lock similar to this when I was about 10 years old. Observe how your new lock works since you know the combo to that one. It will give you clues on how to bypass the old one.

[spacediver]

Thanks for the advice dr stu - as i mentioned, I tried experimenting with the lock, but could find no regularities. I've even done this with my new lock (which is a diff brand), and even after oiling it, could find no patterns.

I'm waiting for housemate to come home from work, and then'll post up pics.

I'll also do a search on the forum as you suggest - with the keyword Ming

[spacediver]

ok here we go - sorry bout the poor quality - i know next to nothing about photography:





I also did a search for the ming tay lock on this forum, but no results came back. Any suggestions on other keywords?

[spacediver]

argh! pics are way too big and i only needed to post one. I can't edit the post tho - anyway, the lock in question is the one on top, which my hand is touching.

[TOWCH]

I use what I call the yank test method. You set a combination, yank, and see how much give. If a specific wheel moves seperate form the others great, that's a clue that the one that isn't moving may be set. Try rotating it to it's other positions to get an idea if thats the case. Anyway, you just yank, rotate, yank, rotate, until you've found a combination that gives the cable the most give. Then you identify the wheels that are set, and brute force the last two. You'll probably get some false positives, you can either try your second choices and brute force again, or start yank testing the last wheels, and back tracking once you've made progress with those. I don't know if this is understandable, but do a search under my username for the word "yank" and a more indepth post should come up. It's important to understand how the lock works before doing this. It should help.

[WDPaladin]

Hmm.. I have a VERY similar lock, identical almost. To inadvertantly change the combination requires you to open the lock, pull an extremely tight flipping C-clip over the center locking hole, rotating the combination to a new one, then again flipping the C-clip back to the original position. I dont see how its possible to "accidentally" do this.. Could be just me, but to change the combo would require direct attention at doing so, unless your BAC was 4.0+ and were just playing with it. Sorry, just my 2 cents.