Pickable locks wont pick anymore

[thertel]

Okay so last night I took out some wood and made a mount for my locks and mounted all the deadbolts I've picked up. Now after mounting them I can't pick a single one because non of the pins bind when I'm applying tension. I've tried applying tension in both directions with varying amounts of pressure, all to no avail.

I have disassembled the locks and check the measurements of the holes and also the assembly of the locks into the mounts. They are all correct and properly aligned. I've lubed the locks with some spray lube and still nothing. I find it strange because I've picked locks that were mounted in doors hundreds of times and never encounter this.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thomas

[D_Shane]

Try easing of the mounting screws a little.

[CaptHook]

Im curious, did you surface mount them? As opposed to a regular bore. If so you may have the plugs against wood in the back?
Post some pics if ya can, without seeing it Im kinda stumped.
Try the keys in the locks, and if they still work, you may be having trouble with your feel.
Chuck

[thertel]

Keys still work. I'm confused as to what you mean with flush mounted vs bore mounted. I used my jig that I bought from home depot for mounting locks with a 2 1/8 inch forstner for the main hole through the door and a 1 inch forstnet bit for the side hole that connects to the primary hole. I checked already to make sure that nothing was againt the wood. I've also verified that the keys work just fine. I've also today take the deadbolt off and mounted it on my front door and I was able to pick it easily but once I put it back on the mounting I couldnt get any of the pins to bind. I'll post pictures when I have a chance.

Thomas

[Romstar]

What you have here is an issue commonly known as "dead mounting". There is a similar condition, known as the "alignment issue", but I doubt that is the case.

A dead mounting is where you install a lock, and it refuses to give any feedback whatsoever. You may in fact be setting pins but you simply can't feel anything.

The other issue, alignment results when the lock is perfectly aligned. Now, you would think this would result in better feeling, but because you have it mounted in a stand, and there are no external pressures acting on the lock, it acts as if it has perfect alignment.

Why this happens is completely unknown, but happen it does. One of the ways I have dealt with it is to shim a lock slightly off center when mounting it. Use a washer, or even a piece of cardboard to give it just a slight difference in mounting.

Once you start getting some feeling from that, and can pick it, remount the lock as before, and you may notice a difference.

Romstar

[Chucklz]

Try slightly tightening one of the screws that holds the lock together, or loosening one a bit then tightening the other.

[thertel]

I got it solved right after I read Romstars post. I stuck a piece of a gift card behind one side of the lock housing and tightened the screws back up. Everything has feedback again. Romstar was right that I was setting the pins and just not feeling it because before fixing the problem I rake a bit and the lock opened right up.


Thanks for the help and information on what this "problem" was.

Thomas