How to properly pick a deabolt (without getting it stuck)

[taracor]

So I know that with deadbolt, if you pick it open, the driver pins (and master pins if the are there) will drop down and make the lock "stuck". My question is, how does one avoid this scenario; what's the proper way to pick a deadbolt without getting it stuck?

[Squelchtone]

So I know that with deadbolt, if you pick it open, the driver pins (and master pins if the are there) will drop down and make the lock "stuck". My question is, how does one avoid this scenario; what's the proper way to pick a deadbolt without getting it stuck?

It's not in preventing the stuck condition from occuring, but in knowing how to get past it if it should occur.

The driver pins also don't "drop down", they are pushed out by the spring pressure behind them. All you have to do is over come the spring pressure by pressing the driver pins back into the lock body, and out of the way of the plug so it can continue turning in which ever direction you want it to turn.

Squelchtone

[Solomon]

What squelch said. It rarely causes any problems if the pins jam into the plug, it's only a tiny amount and sometimes you can even turn past it without having to actually push them out again. But if you want to avoid it happening, same thing... just insert your pick before it hits the 180 mark and push outwards with the pick shaft as it goes past, that way you'll keep the drivers from going into the plug.

[shadow11612]

Here is my tip for this. I have a few locks that this happens with when I am picking. For some of these locks, I also have a bump key. So after I pick the lock, and before I turn it 180 degrees, I insert the bump key and just turn it the full 360 until it locks back.

[raimundo]

excellent suggestion shadow.

[Solomon]

I have a set of keys filed down to just the spine for the same reason, they're very handy although I hardly ever use them. It's no trouble to use a pick, although they're nice to have for when I'm having issues engaging the cam.

[OrangePick]

My Kwikie deadbolt does this. The drivers drop into holes at the 180 degree mark. However all I have to do is scrub my hook over them with a little bit of tension on the wrench and they pop out of the way, allowing the plug to rotate back to the normal position.

[chriswingate]

Here is my tip for this. I have a few locks that this happens with when I am picking. For some of these locks, I also have a bump key. So after I pick the lock, and before I turn it 180 degrees, I insert the bump key and just turn it the full 360 until it locks back.

I never thought of doing that either, great suggestion. I have a bunch of old blanks and bump keys laying around gathering dust, may as well make use of them.