Bolt problem on a sticky door?

[blake1803]

Since I don't have much experience picking locks that are actually installed on doors (never pick a lock that you rely on!), I haven't had this problem come up yet -- but the deadbolt on my shed is being replaced, so I figured I'd have a go at it.

Here's the problem I'm experiencing:

I can pick the lock very, very easily when the door is open. It's an old, junky Kwikset that has been acting fussy lately (hence the long overdue replacement).

But the door is very sticky -- hard to close -- and the lock is sometimes hard to turn with a key. If I had to guess, maybe the bolt is not properly aligned with the striking plate and is creating unecessary friction, or something like that?

In any case, when I try to pick the lock while the door is CLOSED, I can do it, and can get a small rotation out of the tension wrench, but that is it. After that point, the wrench sticks and I'm no longer able to turn it. I don't want to turn too hard for fear of snapping the wrench!

So: is friction in fact the problem or is it something else? How do you overcome this when picking a closed door? It's funny how an incredibly easy lock can become very difficult when placed into a context with which you are not familiar

Cheers,

[Afisch]

I had this problem, but it was with a padlock which was 50% rust. And id say it was probly friction problems, have you tried pushing on the door as you rotate the cylinder, this sometimes frees them up.

[cjames73]

it does sound like bolt is sticking.
open the door and throw the bolt, check for marks from where it's rubbing.

also check around the inside of the door frame for anything thats stopping the door closing tight.

to overcome this while picking you need to take the pressure off the bolt.
try pushing/pulling/lifting the door.

[linty]

ahem....don't pick locks you rely on...

[blake1803]

check for marks from where it's rubbing.

That's the odd thing -- I did look and there are signs of wear on both the top and bottom. It's hard for me to figure exactly where the friction is taking place. It seems to me that if the bolt were rubbing on both sides, that the lock wouldn't really be able to function under normal key use, but it does, albiet it's a bit finicky.

to overcome this while picking you need to take the pressure off the bolt.
try pushing/pulling/lifting the door.

Ah. I had tried this after pikcing and getting that initial rotation with no luck, but not before.. it's a bit awkward as I may need to lift, but I'll give that a try, thanks.

linty: with nothing in the shed at this point except for a few stacks of empty boxes, and the lock being replaced this week, it's hardly something I rely on. as I said in the very first sentence of my post, this is the only reason I am playing around with the lock

[cjames73]

check the hinge screws are tight, if they're loose this will cause the door to sag and the bolt to catch on the bottom.

[DaveAG]

In any case, when I try to pick the lock while the door is CLOSED, I can do it, and can get a small rotation out of the tension wrench, but that is it. After that point, the wrench sticks and I'm no longer able to turn it. I don't want to turn too hard for fear of snapping the wrench!

So: is friction in fact the problem or is it something else? How do you overcome this when picking a closed door? It's funny how an incredibly easy lock can become very difficult when placed into a context with which you are not familiar

Cheers,

If you are convinced that the pins are all past the shear-line, and its only friction on the bolt you will find that you can get more torque with a screwdriver or tip of a keyblank than with a tension wrench.

[raimundo]

old buildings shift and settle sometimes unevenly on the foundations, the door frame may no longer be square, the the weight of the door may be resting on the bolt when it is closed, the easy correction is to widen the strike hole a bit with attention to not overdoing it and weakening it. get your gf's lipstick and put it on the bolt face, then close the door and print the lipstic on the door frame by moveing the bolt in and out a few times, the red will show where the problem most likely is,
to move a sticking bolt after picking the lock, as someone has already mentioned, use a small screwdriver inserted in a part of the keyway that will not damage the lock and use finesse and intelligence, not brute force and stupidity

[Eyes_Only]

If the door is sagging downward you can use a air wedge used in car openings to lift it by sliding it under the door on the side of where the lock is installed.

[ponsaloti]

Its a shed, lean /pull/stick a screw driver under it.

[Shrub]

Pick the lock with the door open, if its stopped being stiff its the pressure the door is putting on the lock,

If the lock is still sticky its likely the tail piece too long or the retaining clip bent that holds it on,

Other than that its a strip down and inspection to see what wear there is, any damage etc etc,

It could be somthing as simple as a spider in there or dirt even,

[unjust]

to diagnose where it's rubbing you'v egot a few options:

carefully stick carbon paper inside the female bit, and see where the bolt marks

color plate and inside it with a crayon and see where the wax comes off

color the bolt with a sharpie and see where it's scraped off. open and set the bolt a few times to see where it's marking from the lock and nto the plate.

i've had luck with a old stuck masterlock with adding a flat head screwdriver to the keyway after i feel i've picked it and turnign that to apply more torque.
if using the KEY is stiff then using a tension wrench is goign to be as well.

[blake1803]

Thanks to all, I was able to use a combination of techniques here to get it open. The door definitely needed to be lifted while picking. It's very clear to me now that the strike is off by a little bit.

I don't have an air wedge or anything like that, so I just used a small piece of wood to shove in and step on. Even after picking I still needed to use a screwdriver to complete the turn of the lock, but it worked like a charm.

Great team effort

[Afisch]

Congratulations. Well done for keeping at it.

[Afisch]

Congratulations. Well done for keeping at it.