How do you find out the number of pins?

by **kuefler** » 30 May 2004 3:35

My front door is one where you push on the knob on the inside and it locks, I have picked it alot... but i'm really not sure of how many pins it has, is there any way to figure this out? Can you tell the number of pins by the key?

I have a picture of the key for it on my website. Also included is my toolset(cut me some slack on this) and pictures of both sides of my pesky deabolt that I can't get to turn past 180!

http://www.geocities.com/flash_glider/lock

by **CaptHook** » 30 May 2004 3:42

Read, search, read some more. Yes looking at the key will tell you how many cuts there are. Read the MIT guide, you will be better off for your effort. READ.
Chuck

by **kuefler** » 30 May 2004 4:26

any advice for that darn deadbolt?

by **marso** » 30 May 2004 4:27

As mentioned above do a search. This will probably answer this question but please search before your next one.

viewtopic.php?t=1768&highlight=count+pins

by **HeadHunterCEO** » 30 May 2004 8:14

the drivers are falling into the bottom of the keyway

by **mcm757207** » 30 May 2004 10:27

When the drivers fall into the keyway (after rotating the plug 180 degrees), simply use the flat edge of a pick and push them all up while applying tension.

by **kuefler** » 30 May 2004 13:30

can you get me a picture of these driver things and how they work? i o what you say and I use varying degrees of tension and the lock stays at 180... I hear clicks when I put the flat side of the pick go in, but erm, obviously I need a visual aid.

by **Romstar** » 30 May 2004 13:37

You are most likely turning the deadbolt in the wrong direction. Try picking in the other direction. Or if you are sure you are turning in the right direction, insert a very heavy tension wrench after it picks, and then turn. The bolt is spring loaded.

Also, if you are sure that you are going in the right direction, the upper pins are most likely falling into the plug. Simply use the flat side of your pick, and push the upper pins back up and keep turning.

As for the number of pins, in instances where you don't have a key use a feeler pick to lift the first pin all the way up. Then the next pin, and the one after that and so on. Keep looking into the lock until there are no more pins. Commonly there will be 4, 5 or 6 pins. Depending on the quality of the lock.

Or, you could get a lock scope. These things look pretty much like the same thing your doctor looks into your ears with. If you find the cheap home version, great. Otherwise they can be expensive.
I think they are called ottoscopes. HPC's version is called a Magnascope, and I have that one. It's actually useful. Although, expensive.

Good luck.
Romstar

by **funboy79015** » 30 May 2004 17:26

I agree with romstar you may be picking in the wrong direction. If not use the flat side of you pick to keep the driver pins from falling into the keyway.

Another thing you could do to keep the drivers from falling into the keyway is to get a key blank and file the top half of the blade off. Once you pick the lock use the filed off key blank to turn the cylinder.

by **kuefler** » 30 May 2004 22:11

yep, I sure was turning it in the wrong direction... got it now guys. thanks for the help.

How do you find out the number of pins?

How do you find out the number of pins?

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