Information about locks themselves. Questions, tips and lock diagram information should be posted here.
by Elz » 9 Mar 2011 18:57
Hey guys, I'm sure this is about as amateur of a question as there is on this forum, but I am having a bit of a problem with a Best deadbolt lock. I can pick the 5 pin stacks and get the tumbler to move almost 180 degrees, but about 2-3 degrees before it gets back to the north/south position it just stops and won't go any further. The lock is a deadbolt (not built in to the door knob), but it obviously has some interlocking mechanism with the door handle because the handle doesn't move unless the door is unlocked.
In looking through the forum, I came across someone saying that the driver pins may have been getting stuck in the bottom part of the keyhole when the tumbler is rotated 180 degrees. His recommendation was to take the flat end of a pick and push the driver pins up until you can just move the lock... I don't know if I am interpreting this wrong, or just don't have the skill to perform this maneuver, but I could not feel any driver pins in the bottom part of the key hole to move.
Can anyone explain this technique a bit better/in greater detail or provide another possible solution to the problem? It's frustrating to have the pins picked and still not being able to gain entrance to my own door!
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Elz
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by ckc123 » 9 Mar 2011 19:29
what was described is exactly the problem you are having..
think of the keyway like an inverted U.. the bottom of the keyway (when in the normal position) is open on the bottom.. when you insert a key it "fills" that gap..
when you rotate the lock 180 if there is no key, that gap is "open" and the top pins will drop into it, locking it at the 180 position.. you need to take a pick and push the pins back up so that you can finish rotating the lock.
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ckc123
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by Elz » 9 Mar 2011 21:08
Alright thanks a lot ckc... It seemed reasonable to me at the time I initially read the thread giving that advice, but I just couldn't get it to work the couple of times I tried to get the tumbler to turn so I gave up too early! I'll let you know if/when I'm successful.
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Elz
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by Elz » 9 Mar 2011 23:55
So I got the lock picked again and it isn't bonding or getting stuck in the north/south position... It just will not rotate past that point. I can freely turn it back the way it was picked from, but I can't get the lock open. I have felt for driver pins in the open end of the keyhole and can feel none. Is there another security mechanism in place on certain Best locks that accounts for this?
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Elz
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by Violaetor » 10 Mar 2011 0:07
Do you mean to say that the deadbolt is protruding out? If that is your indicator of open/closed, you may require extra effort if it's stiff, or you could be turning the wrong way and effectively just "re-locking" it.
If you have the key, take note of the amount of force it takes to open/close, and double check which way you're turning the key.
If that's not it, when you get it to 180 degrees, put the long end of your wrench in and depress the pins while trying to continue the rotation.
 Looking to get something made? Send me a PM!
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Violaetor
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by Evan » 10 Mar 2011 0:27
Elz wrote:So I got the lock picked again and it isn't bonding or getting stuck in the north/south position... It just will not rotate past that point. I can freely turn it back the way it was picked from, but I can't get the lock open. I have felt for driver pins in the open end of the keyhole and can feel none. Is there another security mechanism in place on certain Best locks that accounts for this?
Are you certain you are rotating the plug in the correct direction ? If you are, it sounds as if the lock mechanism operated by the cam attached to the throw members in the housing is binding... Try to release the pressure, perhaps you need to pull on the door knob/lever as you rotate the cylinder with a stronger tool (a small screwdriver) if the deadbolt is scraping against the strike plate... If not, try turning the plug in the opposite direction than the one you are turning it in your current attempts... ~~ Evan
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Evan
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by Elz » 10 Mar 2011 4:41
Hey guys, I appreciate all the help! I used the key to open the lock and I ran in to the same problem as with the picks... So I jiggled the key and turned real hard and it made a popping noise and turned the tumbler the rest of the way. Now it appears to be working as intended. Sorry for the dumb little problem... I'm not sure what mechanism or feature of the lock was binding, but whatever it was, it seems that it is no longer a problem and I may have to take the tumbler out and check for damage after that noise, haha
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Elz
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by EmCee » 10 Mar 2011 5:56
Hi Elz
Nobody's mentioned it because either the forum's rules have been diluted or folk are tired of constantly saying it, but one of the 'golden rules' here is that you don't pick locks that are in use, even if you own them.
It could have nothing to do with it, but your picking of your front door lock could have been the cause of the later problem. It is possible to damage locks by picking - although not necessarily as easily as some suggest - and the damage could prevent the lock from working even with a key, leaving you with a locked or unlocked door.
Using the key fixed the problem here, but please play safe - get some locks to play with and don't pick locks that are being used to secure your property and safety.
Cheers...
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EmCee
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by Elz » 11 Mar 2011 13:12
Hey EmCee, I understand and respect the policy and the reason for not working on active locks. I have plenty of tumblers that I've pulled out of door knobs to keep me a happy, busy guy!
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Elz
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