180 degrees and beyond

by **logosys** » 23 Jun 2004 14:10

Ok, I'm tring to pick a Kwikset lock in a door, but the plug stops at 180 degrees. I have tried inserting my pick to avoid any driver pins falling into the plug, and I can rotate it back to its original position without opposition, I just can't get it forward. Any ideas of what is going on and how to fix it? Thanks in advance.

by **mbell** » 23 Jun 2004 14:30

When I've encountered this in the past I've just used a tension wrench or the back of a pick.

Then got some keys of different keyways and filed them down past the minimum cut - approx. 3mm tall.

They serve two purposes - to turn the lock past 180 degrees and to open locks which require higher tension to retract the bolt, particularly if spring loaded.

by **Chucklz** » 23 Jun 2004 14:55

If a Kwikset deadbolt, the problem may be that the door has settled a bit, putting a pressure on the bolt. Where I used to work, there was a door like this, took an incredible amount of force on the key to unlock the door. (Never was corrected... would have taken effort on part of the management).

by **logosys** » 23 Jun 2004 15:01

Chucklz wrote:If a Kwikset deadbolt, the problem may be that the door has settled a bit, putting a pressure on the bolt. Where I used to work, there was a door like this, took an incredible amount of force on the key to unlock the door. (Never was corrected... would have taken effort on part of the management).

I thought that too, originally, but I used as much force as I could without bending my tension tool (LAB 2-prong tool) and it was intent on just sitting there. I have never seen a Kwikset that's pins fall back into the plug, but then again, I've only seen two...

by **Chucklz** » 23 Jun 2004 15:11

I have a ground down offset screwdriver for turning deadbolts. Most tension tools wont cut it anyway.

by **funboy79015** » 23 Jun 2004 15:59

Try picking the lock in the other direction.

by **logosys** » 23 Jun 2004 16:38

funboy79015 wrote:Try picking the lock in the other direction.

The other direction hits a stop 90 degrees in.

by **frollard** » 23 Jun 2004 16:46

is it just me, but shouldnt it?

the 180 stop is the no-go, and the 90 is engaging the deadbolt - thats when you need the high torque to turn. usually turn the top AWAY from the bolt itself to unlock. (I've found)

by **logosys** » 23 Jun 2004 16:58

frollard wrote:is it just me, but shouldnt it?

the 180 stop is the no-go, and the 90 is engaging the deadbolt - thats when you need the high torque to turn. usually turn the top AWAY from the bolt itself to unlock. (I've found)

I did turn the top away from the bolt, thats the 180 degree stop. I'm going to try to make a plug spinner and see if that works.

by **funboy79015** » 23 Jun 2004 17:19

I'm not sure how much good a plug spinner would do. As I understand it, plug spinners aren't really designed for high torque which is needed in this situation. I think Chucklz suggestion of a bent screwdriver would be a better option.

by **frollard** » 24 Jun 2004 10:23

yes, plug spinner is just to 'flipit'

past the shearline when you initially pick it the wrong way.

180 degrees and beyond

180 degrees and beyond

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