Padlock Troubles

[TheCrow]

Hi, i've been messing around with an American Lock CO. padlock, its really old so i figured it would be easy to learn on. This is my first lock, i've read the MIT guide to picking (i think thats what its called), read the wiki on it and just about everything else i could find. I made a pick and a tension wrench from some U-shaped metal plug type things (they are a very strong metal so they wont bend). I can easily set the first two pins (the two that are closest to me), and ocassionally i can set the third pin. But it seems to me that the further back i go the less tension i need to use to set the pins. Now this may just be that i'm a beginner but when im starting my finger is just partially resting up against the wrench. The problem comes that when i get to the 4th (and ocassionally the third) pin it requires so little tension for me to even move the pin that it resets the first second (and third) pins. Any ideas what my problem is?

[TheCrow]

ok so a bit more reading, and i have come to the conclusion, and correct me if im wrong, that the American Lock Co. locks aren't the easiest locks to pick and probably not so great for a beginner right?

[jimmysmith]

you got that right. get something repinable and cheep.
american padlocks have security pins and if you just started picking them you are going to need something not so advanced.

you must walk....then run,... grasshopper..

[TheCrow]

Alrighty then, thanks for the advice. I just couldn't find much about the american locks. That happens to be the only padlock i have, and i dont want to screw anything useable up, so I was giving that a try. Anyway thanks for the help, and i'll try some easier stuff.

[JackNco]

A picture and a model number could be helpful. chances are you can rein an American lock. but its easier if you have the key. Does anyone know if the American cores can be shimmed, i haven't got my hands on one yet.

[helloman]

try setting the back ones first with a hook pick then move up it might have sucurity pins and you might want to try on an easier lock first. pm if you have any questions.

[m3ph15t0]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds as if you might be picking the pins in the wrong order. Try doing it back to front instead. Of course, if you were to run into security pins, that would be another problem. But you may as well try.

[raimundo]

yeah, the cores can be shimmed, but when disassembling this lock, there are several things to bear in mind, you will need a smaller follower, I think there are ballpoint pens that fit, don't lose any pins or springs, as the american lock has its own smaller pins and springs, the standard lab kit won't work, but if you have other junk american padlocks, you could salvage some pins there if necessary. and remember to put back the thin half circle security flaw patch. (how do you describe it). you can go on dissasembling the lock, taking out the ball locking dogs, shackle, everything is mechanically reached on an american lock once the shackle is unlocked. the american locks offer good pick resistance due to a spring that is directly opposed to the tension, and good security pins. THERE IS A BIG SECURITY FLAW IN ALL AMERICAN LOCKS, AND SCHLAGE LOCKS AS WELL. This is simply the fact that original keys have the cut numbers written in the clear, (not cryptcypher). Anyone who can see the key long enough to read the numbers and write them down is a potential security breach.

[JackNco]

Yep, i got my Hands on some yesterday. couldn't believe the code was written on the key. still a hand file can fix that then you have a very secure lock.