3 lever lock nightmare

[toomush2drink]

Today i had a tricky little unbranded 3 lever lock to open. I tried a 2in1 pick and wires in various shapes and forms and do you think i could get it open ? The biggest problem was i was unable to put any tension on the talon for long enough to pick the levers. Luckily for me it was a back door and i was inside and it was a sash. In the end i took the handle off and had to drill it. After making good and putting in a bs lock i went home to inspect this little horror. Inside it turned out the talon was the same thickness as the levers so in my attempts to tension, what ever i tensioned it with slid off.

Anybody else experienced this ? Ideas are welcome as that is one i dont want to meet again in a hurry and even after inspecting it i cant come up with anyway to defeat this in the future apart from mr 18v dewault.

[cred]

hi m8 when you drilled the lock was it guess work on where to drill

[pinky]

the only manufacturer to use a thin bolt was the old legge, jigglers dont work, 2 in 1 too big on legs, can be a pick, we have all had a nightmare on them.
sounds like you did the job ok in the end.
try adapting a wire to tension the bolt, it can be done.

[toomush2drink]

Yes it was guess work on where to drill but an educated guess as used one of those dinoscope's to get a better look. Glad its not just me whos come up against these but i think i prefer bs locks as you know where you are with those.

[sidpick]

Hi Toomush2drink! what was the colour of this lock and keyway height??
Have you made up a tool yet and done the photo / autopsy??
The earwigs and spiders nests in the lock were probably hampering your picking attempt
I know that a few years ago union 3 levers had a set of 6 keys which could aid in a decode, I have a set you can copy and the instructions are somewhere, I suppose you could have a look in your lock at lever height and belly cutouts and make a set up or something specific to that lock. I think you might see one again if your working in the same area as for me the same old DIY shop locks popped up over and over again. And never ever would they be locks I had info on!
With regards to the letterbox matter, I am now fully 'cammed' up.

[toomush2drink]

I found that by making a narrow button hook it could be inserted behind the talon and can just hold the tension without slipping out. The stump was only a thin pressed steel type 18mm up and the lock was unbranded, black case with a small diamond shaped ward on the keyhole.
Im not going to forget that keyhole in a hurry

[toomush2drink]

Ok so im clearing out my van and sorting the locks i have replaced that need photgraphing and adding to my database and what comes up, yes another of these 3 lever mortice with a thin talon. As this one isnt drilled got some good pictures so you can see what i was on about.This one by the way is a union rebate lock for french doors and other rebated doors and was fitted by a builder who claimed it was ok for the insurance. Obviously didnt know what a bs kitemark looked like.

[quicklocks]

hi i had a 2 lever yale that gave me some seriose greif i tryed two wires and my two in one pick could i get this little bugger open. also i had the boss breathing down my neck. i had to drill it in the end. i was very upset with myself for not opening this lock but then stuff happens it was a strange one i will post a photo when i get time

Edited by Chucklz for language

[pinky]

shame on you !!! should fine you all for using the D word.
alot of lockys suffer more on cheap tat locks than on quality locks, weve all been there any one who hasnt is fibbing

[cred]

do you not use the 2/3 lever jigglers/ i find them ok all the 2/3 lever locks i have tryed them on they have worked even some 5 levers,looking at the pics of the lock looks like it would have been an easy opening with these

[toomush2drink]

yep tried the jigglers but as i was unable to tension the darn thing it made it quite difficult.

[sidpick]

With sympathy toomush, today I had to force a 3 lever lock was wondering if it was the same.
From the outside it looked like a union 2 lever sash black case so had a search round and found an old coat hanger, bent it up for a C hook (or button hook) and had a jiggle. no joy.
With no time to make up wires - as you know time is precious - had to use the size nine pick - which worked a treat.
With no damage to the bolt or lock as I used the air wedge before my boot I took the lock out to have a look. It indeed was a 3 lever unbranded lock With only '3 lever' on the forend I took the lock out and it had 3 levers with two spacers and a really thin talon/bolt. Case was secured by two very small phillips screws and a window in the front of the case. a quick check revealed that 3 lever jigglers would not fit the case
Really poorly made cheap lock - anybody out there know what it is or any pictures??

[toomush2drink]

Well im glad its not just me who has a few problems with them, did your one have the diamond ward on the keyhole ? I take it the size 9 was a covert technique ?

[sidpick]

very covert! its a rapid entry when picks or keys are not available
I think we had the same lock. I recon if you still have it that an overlifter would open it because the gate in the levers was massive.
I also found that the lever tension springs were poorly fitted.
To resecure set the lock to the half cocked position so the bolt sticks out just slightly, close the door and then throw the bolt back