upside down masterlock no. 3

[eof]

I am new to this community.. i just read through the FAQ, searched for both 'upside down' and master lock no. 3, #3, 3, etc.. with really no luck.

i found out which i already suspected that masterlock no 3's have 4 normal pins. i think it turns to the right, but i'm not sure.

i read the mit lock picking guide a few years back, made a pick with a dremel and hacksaw blade, a torque wrench from an allen wrench, got them taken when i was in australia, made another pick from an old key that sucked and finally bought a nice set. i've been able to pick the deadbolt on the front door, a non brand name padlock that says hardened and 40mm on it, as well as a wafer lock on the mail box. (recently i picked those.. a few years back when i first read the guide i picked a few dead bolts)

the lock in question is a masterlock #3 on a latch against the wall (the key was locked inside the closet, and my friend asked if i could try and pick it) and when pulled to be perpendicular to the wall the lock is 'upside down' with the pins on the bottom. i have spent about an hour with my homemade pick, tried making a shim from a coke can, and then two, one hour sessions with the bought set i got recently. i can't get the stupid thing to open. i hear 4 pins unset when i release tension. i can't really tell if i'm over-picking the pins.. pushing them too far.. i've tried pushing the lock up against the wall so i could approach it from the top.. nothing.

i guess my main question is, is it significantly harder to pick a lock upside down? (or harder at all).. i really thought once i got this pick set with a legit torque wrench and all i'd just pop the lock right open, considering the marginal success i've had with other locks. a #3 seems to be a recommended practice lock, so i have to assume its not particularly difficult.

i've tried turning both ways, raking, and going for the individual pins.. am i at a stand still or should i just spend another couple hours.. thanks a lot

[hippy5749]

Go out and buy yourself a #3 Masterlock to practice on for a while. That will get your technique going and provide you with that model's particular quirks.

hippy5749

[scorpiac]

Master #3 will open when the plug is turned in either direction. As far as picking it in an upside down position personally I don't find it makes any significant difference.

Phil.

[JackNco]

yep it will turn both ways. and technically it makes no difference if its upside down it will make it harder to hold and pick

[jimmysmith]

you can open that lock if its up side down ....right side up It should not matter, as far as it just being harder up side down its mainly because your just not used to it.. keep trying it will open.

another thing might be that you may be over setting those pins. ...try putting the tension wrench at the top of the key way only insert it a little..just enough to get a grip. doing this will give you more room to work. and not over det those pins..

a healthy shot of some kind of lube helps a lot to..

dont give up on picking it.

[JackNco]

ive cut down some of my wrenches to go in the top, makes them much easier to use.

[eof]

thanks a lot, i never saw or heard about putting the wrench in the top part of the keyhole... i definitely felt like i was having a hard time with room to manipulate the pins.. i'm heading over there now for another go.

keep trying it will open.

thanks

[blackfoot]

picking it in your hand is one thing now you freind calls and tell you they lost their keys to the shed you go over and the lock is upside down through the hasp now picking take on a whole new meaning and it raining out these factors all play a part in picking any lock if your tire or hungry but practice does help alot.master locks and quikset are the best to learn on.

[Raccoon]

Do master #3s have spool pins? This could explain why it seems all 4 pins are set, when in fact one may be false-set.

[JackNco]

some do some don't. just going by brand is is a bit vague. thats like asking id all <insert lock brand> use side bars or check pins.

[eof]

well i got it. so the truth is my friends apartment has two doors on it with locked latches, they are both #3 master locks and i assume they have the same key. pretty small apt and they are both attic space, and said friend said it would be ' sweet' if he had access to it.

i went back tonight and spent like an hour dicking with it, i was using a lot of torque because i was getting 3 pins set that way, then switched to a really light torque and it was working well, getting close but still never opening, and then one time all the pins were down and it wasn't opened (which happened all the time) and i was looking at the pins to see which would pop up when i slowly let the pressure of the torque wrench and it just opened.

the next lock took a few minutes. both of the spaces are totally saturated in dust. i ended up using just a rake pick.. and when a third friend came over, a roommate of mine (he walks in, he knows or atleast has heard i've been trying to open this lock for nearly a week and when i told him i 'got the lock' his first, honest response was 'what lock?') saw the lock that went to the upper attic, he fiddled with it and relocked it. after making fun of him for a minute for being a donk it took a couple minutes at most to open it.

thanks for the encouragement and telling me i could turn it eitherway

[nice7175]

i have a relatively old master 3 where the cylinder is very very loose, it seems like it is almost seperated from the lock body and i haven't been able to pick it yet. could this be adding to the difficulty of picking it?

[Raccoon]

well i got it. so the truth is my friends apartment has two doors on it with locked latches, they are both #3 master locks and i assume they have the same key. pretty small apt and they are both attic space, and said friend said it would be '<censored> sweet' if he had access to it.

I think it worth mentioning, then, that you just broke into an unauthorized section of your friend's apartment complex. If your friend was authorized to have access to the attic, his landlord would have provided keys or unlocked the padlocks for him.

This situation is very similar to someone who picked the lock to locked closet in their rental home, which contained canned food and personal property of the home owner. They broke the law by breaking into that closet.

the lock in question is a masterlock #3 on a latch against the wall (the key was locked inside the closet, and my friend asked if i could try and pick it)

You lied to us. First you told us that your friend locked his key in a closet, and now you confess that your friend never actually had a key or the authority to access the locked attic.

While I appreciate your latent honesty, this doesn't change the fact that you lied and manipulated us to help you.

Do not expect any further assistance from people on this site, or at the very least, from myself.

[zeke79]

Me either........

Oh and LOCKED