Can't pick old lock

[jparker412]

Hi All. This is my first post - i just found this site and joined. I've been picking locks for fun for a few months. I have successfully picked deadbolts and other door locks - nothing super security or anything - again just starting.

Anyway I decided to try my hand at padlocks. I bought a few old padlocks at a garage sale but haven't been able to pick any of them. So I thought I'd start with this one and ask if anyone has any tips on how to pick this lock? I've read through the site about corbin locks but this is an old one and doesn't look like any that i've seen pictured on this site. It doesn't have the ball bearings or anything.

I'm not sure if this picture will include properly or not - if not can someone tell me how to include a picture from my computer?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EyWaL7jmVno/UMuTGH2x6qI/AAAAAAAAGac/c6nqCUsYjV4/w391-h521-p-k/20121214_154455%255B1%255D.jpg

Any ideas?

[Josh66]

The link to your picture works fine. If you want the picture to show in the thread, copy the same link and paste it inside the 'IMG' tags. Like this [img]paste%20address%20to%20picture%20here[/img]

Can you post a picture of the keyway? I'm not really familiar with that lock...

[jparker412]

ok here is the lock:

and here is the keyway:

[MrAnybody]

Do you have a key for it? Does it open with the key? Can't see the keyway too well. Any chance of a pic of the key?

[jparker412]

Sorry no i don't have a key.

Here is another pic of the keyway - hopefully better to see:

if it's not big enough maybe right-click and view image then you can zoom in?

[Josh66]

From what I can see, it looks similar to the keyway on my American 1204.

Top of the keyway tension will buy you a lot of room for the pick to operate. Have you tried that?

That tension wrench in that credit card set may not work for that, but it's pretty easy to make one. I'm fond of stainless cotter pins - straighten them out, bend the end, then file it down till it fits good.

[jparker412]

Yes I have used the top of keyway tension. In fact I've tried both ways top and bottom. And both directions.....

[Raymond]

If it is any consolation I also have a very similar Corbin that I have not been able to open for a couple of years. All 6 pins move very freely and the plug moves enough that I am not worried that it is frozen. I pull it down off of the board every so often to give it another go. Just one of those long term personal challenges. Most Corbins I have worked with had spools.

[atticRR]

i also have one just like that, i can rake it open. i do, however have locks (functioning) that i cant open for the life of me.

[i_b_larry]

I have an old Ilco brass padlock without a key that I acquired about 6 years ago. It had been in the weather a lot. Over the years I tried picking it about 1000 times without success. A few weeks ago I found that I could disasssemble the lock without key by removing a pressed-in plug. The insides of the lock were full of dirt so I cleaned it with WD-40. Lots of WD-40. With the core now out of the lock and heavily soaked with lubricant, I decided to have another go at picking it. It turned in less than 15 seconds.

I am now convinced that no matter how much "spring" you may feel in the pins in an old lock, one or more of them may be hanging up due to dirt and or dryness. A healthy shot of spray lube may go a long way to cure that problem.