How do you determine the number of pins in a cylinder?

[lick]

Is there a way to determine how may pins a lock contains? Sometimes if you spp you can feel but sometimes you could be wrong and be off a pin or so depending on ones skill and knowing what to feel for. Is there a certain lock that uses a set number of pins? I my self am syuck on a brinks high security pad lock and one or two pins are real spongy and will not give me a false set? It is brass lock with a long loop that will come completely off when used with the key. I don't know the model number off hand,but haven't been able to rake or spp it open? I thin it may be a six pin by listening to the clicks when all pins reset. Any one had any expierence with this lock, it will probably help me with my other brins high security disc pad lock as well. I am having same difficulty with both, same spongy pins and no false set?

Thanks in advance for your input!
Lick

[LocksmithArmy]

heres what I do.

before you put any tension on the cylinder before you insert your tensor at all, put your pick in as far as you can. push it all the way to the top raising all the pins(Ive herd some people use the back of a half diamond for this, I use a short hook) and slowly pull it forward. as each pin falls you should hear it, so just count the clicks and thats how many pins there are.

[Wizer]

If you have a key, its easy to count the bites.
Those spongy pins could be overlifted?
Locksmitharmys advice is good, it allso helps so you know that none of the pins are stuck, and gives you some idea of the stiffness of springs.

[SnowyBoy]

Like Army said, half diamond.

I used the diamond itself as it sits nice between pin pairs, so you can feel when it rides over that pin and settles to the next.