AmericanLock 5200

[Troylock]

Hello,
Would anyone be able to give me some advise or tips on picking a American Lock Padlock 5200 series?
I've seen and read about the grooved notches on the pins and have tried a feather touch on the tension wrench but still no open.
I'll get 4 or the 5 pins set but it's that last pin. Is there a sequence to the pins to be picked.
I've been starting with the pins with the highest tension first.


thanks.
Troy

[Legion303]

I go after them with light-medium tension. Remember that they have 5 security drivers and 5 security key pins, and be ready to fix the false sets that are going to happen.

-steve

[GWiens2001]

A lot of the newer ones with bump stop pins have no security pins at all. The #1 and #2 depth pins are not serrated. Also be aware that American frequently used spoorated pins - spooled pins with a serration at each end, too.

You can get a feel for the serrated pins because they feel slightly different than a real set. The sound is slightly different, too.

I agree about the medium-light tension.

Gordon

[phrygianradar]

One thing that helped me get the feel for these types of pins (in the American locks) is to pull out the cylinder using a plug follower, and then start with only a few of the pins. I started with three pins; one regular driver (which you should be able to find in an American lock, but sometimes not...) and then two, either serrated or "spoorated", pins. Once I got the feel for their subtleties I built up to four and five. Even when you know how it is pinned, they can be tough, so just keep at it.

Like the others said, medium tension, and I have to mention that my life changed when I started using a top of the keyway wrench on these locks, like a Peterson Prybar. There is so much spring tension on the cam I would have it picked and not know that it was picked because I was using too little tension from the bottom of the plug. One day I got to where I thought all the pins were set and it still wouldn't open?! I had a bottom of the keyway wrench in it. I just put more torc on the wrench and it popped open! I am not saying that is what is happening for you, it was just something that I experienced in my working with American Locks.

Good pickin'!

[daniel22747]

Best tension tool for these guys is the peterson pry bar, standard size. Always use top of the key way tension with American brand locks.

Americans are really hard when you first try them but once you pick them for the first time they get alot more easy. They are over all a really fun lock to pick.

The serrated pins are tricky cause they feel like they are set when they are not. Just test them by giving them a little push and they should snap up another notch to the next seration.

Also american locks are odd cause the core of the lock does not have a spring that causes counter clock wise roation. They are kind of like a door knob lock or a dead bolt in that way. This design causes an odd phenominon with American brand locks. You can have them picked and not know it! To get the lock to open you got to give the tension wrench a little harder push than the softer tension you should be using to set the pins. So if you are picking away at the lock and all of the sudden it seems like not much is happening you should test to see if the lock is in fact picked.

[Troylock]

Thank you guys! That helps bring some clarity to this puzzle and that I'll have to get a peterson pry bar standard to make things easier.
I found this lock in one of my Dad's tool drawers and it had no key to it.
I read of a method on how to make a key for it by the serrations and that's how you determine the pin size.
It's a great solid steel lock and would like to maybe make a key for it to have for future use, but for now it makes for good practice when I'm watching a movie at home.
Thanks again.+

[Troylock]

Now does anyone know what kind of key blank it takes? ilco or other blank manufacture code?
It's five pins in the core but the core can hold 6? Same keyway for both I imagine.

[jeffmoss26]

AM3 is the 5 pin blank, Ilco number 1045.

[Troylock]

Thanks Jeff. I found two blanks no. but I think they are the 'AmericanLock" brand blanks;
PTKB1 and PTKB2. I'll call one of my suppliers for the ilco.
Thanks again and have a happy Labor day.