Can the characteristics of a lock change?

[lockpickit]

I recently came across a 50mm padlock that was locked to the railing of a stairway. It had been there for a couple of months. No one claimed it and I was told that if I could get it off that I could have the lock. Well I managed to pick this particular lock and had gotten what I believed was another lock to practice my lock picking. Over the next few weeks I managed to pick this lock only a few more times. It was becoming increasingly frustrating to try and pick this lock. On one of the days I did manage to pick it about 6 times in row with no difficulty. I discovered that if I put my snake pick in the bottom of the plug that I could manipulate the lock open. I thought I had it made. Then all of sudden when I shoved my pick in I could no longer feel the locking mechanism that I had just manipulated 6 times previously to open this lock. It seemed to have vanished. It has been quite a few days now I can't pick this lock open anymore. So is it possible that this lock is defective in some way. I don't think that I will ever be able to pick this lock open again. Please help.

[/i]

[kspec]

I would suggest trying to pick it pin by pin. and listen to the lock. see if you can get any of the pins to bind. start with less tension and move up the tension if your finding none of the pins will se, with the pressure your using. snakes work fine. but they dont help you learn what the lock is doing, and one you can feel what it is doing you will be able to understand what is going on in there and be on the way to wanting to challenge yourself with more locks. good luck

[UWSDWF]

I don't much approve of cross posting... try cleaning the lock