Picking a Schlage Securekey.

[Anavaree]

I have been picking a securekey and I was wondering if you are still able to pick a securekey lock once it has lost its setting?
I do the occasional lockout and have not yet come across a failed securekey. Are the securekey locks still able to be picked if they have become inoperable by their change key?
Can i simulate the failure that a the securekey locks undergo? Maybe ill try banging one against the work bench a couple of times...
Thanks for your time...
~Jesse

[sandplum]

Yes, they can be picked even after they fail. They can also be reset back to the key, but in my experience they fail again.

[Anavaree]

That is also what i understand, never a good idea in the first place. Just wondering if you could get past them to let someone in the house before i suggest they buy a new lock.

[FarmerFreak]

I have been picking a securekey and I was wondering if you are still able to pick a securekey lock once it has lost its setting?

Most of the time, yes it could still be picked. However that is entirely dependent on how it lost it's setting.

If the tab that connects the pin to the slider ratchets to another position/depth, yes it can still be picked/bumped.

If that tab is broken, you can no longer move the slider by moving the pin, so no it cannot be picked (reasonably with normal picks, or just reasonably at all why bother at that point).

[Anavaree]

If the tab that connects the pin to the slider ratchets to another position/depth, yes it can still be picked/bumped.

I assume that this is the more common reason for the lock to fail?

[Eyes_Only]

If the tab that connects the pin to the slider ratchets to another position/depth, yes it can still be picked/bumped.

I assume that this is the more common reason for the lock to fail?

I think the main cause for most failures is the tab breaking. Schlage uses 9 depths so this tab needs to be pretty small. Look at the photos of this thing if you've never seen the parts in person. http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Schlage_SecureKey

Once that tab breaks, don't bother trying to pick it the normal way. The pin with that busted tab won't lift the slider in place for the sidebar to retract into anymore. This lock will fail this way even with used normally with the proper key. This sucker is just too fragile.

[Anavaree]

So if the securekey fails by the breaking oof the tab, what method remains to open the door? do you have to go straight to DE? If so is it time to drill?