Kwikset Smart Key

[jdudzy]

I know these locks aren't the best, but is there anyway to pick the smart key lock without having to re-key it (like Wolf's video that was posted a while back)? It seems like putting any tension on the lock at all causes the pins to bind up making it hard to pick normally.
Thanks for the help!

[FarmerFreak]

Yes they can be picked normally without resetting them. But it isn't easy or practical. ..And the lock may or may not survive the picking attempt.

As for proof that it is possible to pick them the normal way, here is one of Kokomolocks video's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW8fS9mAK1E He picks it the normal way during the first half of the video and then goes on to change the combo in the second half. But he didn't have to change the combo.

[jdudzy]

Thanks FarmerFreak, with the research I did it seems like most people instead of messing around just use one of those smartkey smashers. Since it was a locked out friend I didn't really want to go that far haha. Thanks again for the help

[crowley]

I just bought a kwikset smart key door knob for picking (wife going crazy with the amount of money I spent on locks!)

I went through some youtube videos on how to pick them, and most seem to be destructive entry. Others involve sticking something into the smart key pinhole, which is something I'd like to avoid. Other mention something about normal picking can be done via very light tension (which I can't seem to master as it's a counterclockwise rotation, something I'm not used to) due to the sidebar.

I've went through many websites trying to understand this "sidebar" concept, but I can't seem to visualise it. I can understand the way a normal plug rotates when the pins are aligned with the shearline, but for the life of me I can't understand the sidebar concept. I've seen some sites where this guy (kokomo?) strips the lock apart, but it still doesnt make sense to me - all I see are parts. Is there anyone who would point me to a visual aid or video to show the sidebar in action?

[crowley]

I just bought a kwikset smart key door knob for picking (wife going crazy with the amount of money I spent on locks!)

I went through some youtube videos on how to pick them, and most seem to be destructive entry. Others involve sticking something into the smart key pinhole, which is something I'd like to avoid. Other mention something about normal picking can be done via very light tension (which I can't seem to master as it's a counterclockwise rotation, something I'm not used to) due to the sidebar.

I've went through many websites trying to understand this "sidebar" concept, but I can't seem to visualise it. I can understand the way a normal plug rotates when the pins are aligned with the shearline, but for the life of me I can't understand the sidebar concept. I've seen some sites where this guy (kokomo?) strips the lock apart, but it still doesnt make sense to me - all I see are parts. Is there anyone who would point me to a visual aid or video to show the sidebar in action?

[GWiens2001]

Could not find a post I thought I did a while back on the parts inside a SmartKey, so reposted it.

You can find it here, and it should help you to visualize what is going on inside a SmartKey.

Gordon

[critmass235]

is this pretty much a rekeyable car wafer style lock ? my step mom got one for her bedroom. she doesnt use it so, she was going to let me pick it. ive been wanting to try sidebars

[Divinorum]

I could be wrong but if your looking to try sidebars you might be better off with an older Medeco. The smart key is a real pain because you need to tension the sidebar ontop of applying normal tension to the plug. At least that's my understanding of it from watching videos of it being picked. Search around youtube and you should see what I'm talking about.

[critmass235]

ive got a biaxial ( well its in shipping from my old home) , but using a medacoder just isn't the same, and this seems like a easy start compared to other (primus, assa, etc) plus most car locks i've seen had more than 5 wafers. would talking about picking this be consider advance only? ( the only kwikset to make if so ) ill look more into the youtube videos but so far i only seen are the ones breaking it( sad how easy)

[crowley]

My sentiments exactly. It seems easy to perform forced entry by jamming a tool in and twisting with a pair of pliers.

Gordon, I did take a look at your pictures in the link. Very interesting mechanism, but i still can't visualise. Instead of pins they have wafers. And the middle of the wafers has a depression. Would this be that the sidebar falls into the depression and "locks up" the wafers?

Divinorum here mentions that I need to apply 2 tension; to the plug and to the sidebar. If this is true, how is it done with just a peterson prybar and a hook/rake? I've seen videos of people picking them with just a tension tool and a pick.

[Divinorum]

I have seen some videos of people picking it using normal tension but others I have seen people use regular tension and also apply tension to the sidebar through the change key hole. Sometimes the wafers will bind and applying tension to the sidebar through the change key hole seem to alleviate the binding force and makes it easier to set the wafer. There's a lot going on inside the smartkey which is why when I started picking sidebars I went for an old 5 pin medeco that I could easily take pins out of and progress vs the smart key.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQi7_RvbfE

[crowley]

Thanks for that. So if I understand you correctly, it is possible in some locks to just use regular tension, and for some others (could even be the same model) I need to apply additional tension to the sidebar, via jamming in the re-keying tool while picking?

[Divinorum]

Thanks for that. So if I understand you correctly, it is possible in some locks to just use regular tension, and for some others (could even be the same model) I need to apply additional tension to the sidebar, via jamming in the re-keying tool while picking?

Not necessarily. The Kwikset smart key is its own animal compared to other sidebar locks. This is especially because of the easy re-key feature. If a lock similar to the smartkey has a similar smart key function with a change key hole you may be able to use this technique but otherwise if there is no change key hole there is no use.

[crowley]

Ok, my Kwikset smart key lock is still unpickable.

I'm trying a new variation, whereby i've bent the reset tool 90 degrees and jammed it into the tiny hole. I apply downward and (light) sideways pressure, thus it also acts as my tension tool. I did manage to get a few pins to set but it still can't open.

Would anyone tell me if I'm on the right path? Or is this using the reset tool as a tensioner a really dumb move?

[Divinorum]

No it's not a dumb move. That's exactly what worked for this picker in his video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQi7_RvbfE
However you still need to apply normal plug tension too. I have never done this before, just going off of other peoples experiences with the lock.

Other people have done it without using the rekey hole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW-wzgmtvlg