Opening a Kwikset

[Cman22]

Hey,
I opened one of my Kwikset locks byut the other one i can't open. When i release tension i hear 4 pins pop down but i have tried many times and can't manage to get the 5th pin up. Do you have any helpful tips for opening this lock?

[WhiteHat]

sounds like you're using too much tension - try less and only push the pins up as far as they need to to click.

search first for the pin that's binding the most and set that one, then go for the next one that's binding (i.e. don't blindly set them from front to back or back to front).

and practice practice is very good. do lots of it.

[Solo_Sneaker]

i would also add that sometimes it helps to go back to a lock you can open and practice on it it. i have noticed that when i get stuck on a particular lock, if i go back to some locks that i can open easily, it seems that my "mojo" returns and i have an easier time on the difficult lock. i think it is like most other projects. if you get hung up, taking a small break sometimes works wonders.

[Kodack]

sounds like you're using too much tension - try less and only push the pins up as far as they need to to click.

I agree. I have picked both my Kwikset deadbolts and I know what you mean about the sound of pins falling back.

Here is what I figured out. If the pins are pushed up too far so that the bottom pin is binding I will hear several 'clicks' as I release tension. That's when I know I pushed them too far. The pins that were 'just right' don't make as loud a noise and you feel them more than hear them.

So if you are releasing tension and it sounds like someone just cocked a gun, your using too much tension and pushing the pins too far up.

To get the tension right, imagine there is a cooked green pea or something in between your finger and the tension wrench. You want to apply just enough pressure that the bar doesn't wiggle around. If the bar bends even a little, it's too much. you will be surprised how little torque it takes once the pins set.

[Bonuts]

yeah... this morning i picked a brinks lock that i have been picking (sucessfully) for about a week now and i was experimenting on how little tension was required. i got to the point where i could set all the pins without making the lock turn... i was like "why isnt this opening?, all the pins are set" then i added some tension and the barrel turned to the unlocked position. i was pleasantly surprised.