tensioning an American Padlock 700 series

[south town ninja]

So top tension on my American padlock is great when i have the actual lock cylinder pulled out and put into my vice. However, when I put the padlock fully back together, I can't seem to pick it, because my flat style top tensioner (part of the TOOOL credit card set) doesn't reach past the plate that holds the lock cylinder in. can anybody help me out with this?

[Mitchell S]

Probably just easiest to buy a tension wrench set to give you more options on various locks. I just bought a tension wrench set from sparrows for about $25 and it has every tension wrench length and width under the sun.

[cheerIO]

Find something that will lay flat against the lock and protrude far enough into the key way but doesn't touch the first pin.

My favorites are:

an allen wrench that you can cut to the right depth then file to the right thickness
or
a bicycle spoke, bent, then pounded with a hammer to the right thickness, finished with a file.

Anything metal laying around. If you have a junk draw or a garage I'm sure there are about 10,000 things that can be made into a tension wrench with a pair of pliers and a file.

[GWiens2001]

Peterson pry bars also have two lengths, one on each side.

Gordon

[smokingman]

All you need to know is in here.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ion+wrench

[Comrade627]

All you need to know is in here.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ion+wrench

Yep. I had this problem with my first ever recessed plug. I simply bent another piece of wiper insert to the desired length and bam. Problem solved.

[nick08037]

The best part about these suggestions if done well is that you will have a more stable tool. Otherwise when I use TOK on a more challenging lock I spend a great deal of time chasing my tension wrench around the floor. -Nick

[GWiens2001]

The best part about these suggestions if done well is that you will have a more stable tool. Otherwise when I use TOK on a more challenging lock I spend a great deal of time chasing my tension wrench around the floor. -Nick

A well-fitting tension wrench, and a little practice, should not go skittering around the floor very often.

Gordon

[nite0wl]

If the lock has the common AM3/AM4 keyway the original (thicker) Peterson Prybar works very well, just use the longer end which is designed to provide enough 'stand-off' to let the handle stand clear of the retaining plate. Most other 'flat' tension tools designed for ToK tensioning will usually have a longer end to provide similar clearance but many lack the very useful 'shoulder' cut to keep the tip from impacting the front pin.