by unferth » 10 Oct 2004 17:50
That looks like a crummy old Kwikset that's seen a lot of wear. If you can't pull off a credit-card shim, you might well be able to pick it even with makeshift tools & novice skills. Get a tension tool of some sort (a jumbo hair clip opened to right angles would do) and a pick (a large safety pin opened all the way, with the tip bent up; wrap the handle with elecrical tape). Insert the tension tool into the bottom of the keyway and exert GENTLE torque in the direction that will turn the top of the cylider toward the latch. Try an in-and-out raking motion with a lot of jiggling, and bounce the tension tool. I'm not guranteeing this ham-handed approach will work, but it would 't surprise me if it did--like I said, that looks like a cheap cylinder with a lot of wear.
