Brinks padlock, need advice

[Bob Jim Bob]

How much tension do I use and when? This lock requires some force to open the shackle, and it's hard to tell when/if the lock is picked and I should try to open the lock.

[femurat]

I have no experience with these Brinks discus so I dunno. Nevertheless, here is my suggestion: open it carefully with the key. Check if there's a very small rotation when you start to turn the key. I don't know if this is the case, but sometimes open the lock requires some force, but just unlocking doesn't. For example with American 5200 rotating the first 3-5 degrees requires a feather touch, and after this initial small rotation it requires much more force to actually open the lock.

Cheers

[Bob Jim Bob]

that's what I was thinking but it seems to be more like a 1 degree area. If that.

[Legion303]

For the R70 you need tension heavy enough to overcome the plug spring but not so heavy that you can't bind the pins. You also have to worry about security pins. It's not an easy lock.

-steve

[Squelchtone]

I wobble my tension from medium to heavy, that way I can keep pins lifted, but also test the water to see if the shackle will turn over.

Definitely on the list of the top 25 locks anyone in locksport should own and learn how to pick.

Speaking of discus padlocks, the Master No.40 and Chateau 970 are easy to pick in comparison, but the original Abus 24/70 is better made and tougher to pick.

Squelchtone

[Josh66]

Speaking of discus padlocks, the Master No.40 and Chateau 970 are easy to pick in comparison, but the original Abus 24/70 is better made and tougher to pick.

I guess I'll have to buy the R70 then - I have a Chateau C 970, and while I can pick it, I find it pretty challenging. If the R70 is the next step up from that, I ought to give it a try.

Does the R70 have 5 or 6 pins? The C 970 has 6.

[cyrano138]

I but the original Abus 24/70 is better made and tougher to pick.

I have an Abus Diskus No. 24. It doesn't say 24/70 anywhere on it, though--just "Abus Diskus No. 24"
Is that the same thing? And if so, should I still try an R70 or did I already pick a more difficult lock with the Abus?

Jack

[cyrano138]

Also, for the OP (sorry but I forgot to put this in my previous post), I've found that with the two disc locks I have, neither of which are R70's though, the amount of tension needed is light because the plug will turn slightly before engaging the heavy shackle, so it's at least possible yours will do the same. Hope that helps.

[Bob Jim Bob]

Thanks for the help. I'll give it a few more tries and then put them away if I can't pick them yet. I'll be looking for the Master No.40 and Chateau 970.

[cyrano138]

I put up a video about the Abus I have here: http://youtu.be/Tp9wkUWnSns. I don't know if it will help too much, but maybe seeing someone work on a similar lock will provide some insight. Good luck with it!

Jack

[Bob Jim Bob]

It looks like the abus has more wiggle in the lock core area. Mine has almost none. This is a new challenge for me.

[cyrano138]

I have a cheaper lock that has almost no wriggle room. It still requires light tension, but it's also one of those locks you can pick for a while after you've opened it because there's no give after setting the last pin. That's because of the force required to move the shackle. My solution has been to keep the tension light like you normally would, but after you think you've set each pin you have to give the tension wrench a solid push to see if you've popped it. Hope that helps.

[Bob Jim Bob]

Yes, very helpful. I'll give it a few more tries.

[cyrano138]

If you're still not having any luck after more tries, let me know and I'll send you the el cheapo. It has keys so you can see which pins you need to set and how far they need to be pushed. That'll get you to the point where you can develop a feel for opening them, I think.

Jack

[brinard]

i own a brinks r70, with no key.

i use varying heavy tension to pick it, and it normally takes a few minutes. it is still somewhat difficult to pick open for me.


however, i made a snap gun tool (ala raimundo's snapper) and it pops these open in a few snaps. i reset my tension after every snap, with medium to heavy torque.

while picking is much more of a feat and gratifying, a snap gun/ pick gun works like magic.