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American 5200 disassembly mistake

Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
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Do not post safe related questions in this sub forum! Post them in This Old Safe

The sub forum you are currently in is for asking Beginner Hobby Lock Picking questions only.

American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby tejedor » 9 Apr 2015 6:17

Hello,

I'm teaching myself to SPP and made a mistake with an American 5200.

I wanted to change it to a single pin (I've got plenty of these and they were free) so disassembled it. Unfortunately, I did it wrong and reassembled the cylinder with the springs and driver pins still in it. Should I just put this up to experience, or is there a way to still get it to open. I've tried to pick the cylinder, but can't get deep enough into the holes.

Colin
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Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby Comrade627 » 9 Apr 2015 6:42

Are you saying you pushed the plug back in with 1 keypin, and all springs and driver pins?

If so, you could use a hook to shove the drivers back above the shear line, then pick the one pin as normal. Try using a hook, deforest diamond or a good ol' fashioned bent "something from around the house" to get that extra needed reach.
Remember: Pick something every day, no matter how small and insignificant it may be…it helps maintain proficiency.”

SPP purist.
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Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby tejedor » 9 Apr 2015 6:52

Comrade,

What you describe is exactly what I did. I'll keep working at it. I'll get some wire tomorrow to make some 90 degree bent wire picks and see what I can do.

At least I can say I definitely know one way to NOT remove pins from a cylinder now.

Colin
tejedor
 
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Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby Raymond » 9 Apr 2015 20:52

Is the cylinder still out of the lock? If so, you can make a VERY thin probe to insert through the bottom holes. Using a shim from the back, push the top pin above the shear line and advance the shim to hold it up. When all top pins are once again captured above the shear the plug will turn and you can continue by removing the top pins and springs.

If you managed to lock up the lock with the shackle down, this will become memorable learning experience.
Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool. Wisdom is not just in determining how to do something, but also includes determining whether it should be done at all.
Raymond
 
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Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby tejedor » 9 Apr 2015 21:42

Raymond,

A shim sounds like a good idea, the cylinder is still out of the lock. I've just got to find something here that I can use as a shim. I live in Korea and finding some things is difficult. I think I might try sacrificing a set of feeler gauges (if I can find one) to make a shim out of. Other than that, I'll keep poking at it and keep my eyes out for something to use as a shim.

Colin
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Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby Robotnik » 9 Apr 2015 22:18

tejedor wrote:Raymond,

A shim sounds like a good idea, the cylinder is still out of the lock. I've just got to find something here that I can use as a shim. I live in Korea and finding some things is difficult. I think I might try sacrificing a set of feeler gauges (if I can find one) to make a shim out of. Other than that, I'll keep poking at it and keep my eyes out for something to use as a shim.

Colin


DVD security tags are the standby for improvised shim stock (snip one end of them open and you have two thin strips of metal perfect for shimming a cylinder).
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Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby Raymond » 9 Apr 2015 22:23

Or, you could use a probe in each of the holes.
When I was a teenager I invented shimming. At least I thought I had until I discovered it was a standard practice. Anyway, my first shim was a street sweeper brush I had picked up out of the street. I hammered it on another piece of steel until it was very thin and then rubbed it back and forth on a concrete step until it was smooth enough.
Where there's a will there's a way. You just have to figure it out with what you have available.
Nothing is foolproof to a talented fool. Wisdom is not just in determining how to do something, but also includes determining whether it should be done at all.
Raymond
 
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Joined: 18 Jan 2004 23:34
Location: Far West Texas

Re: American 5200 disassembly mistake

Postby tejedor » 11 Apr 2015 5:00

Success!

Here's what I've learned.

1. Don't be dumb in the future, never leave the all the springs and driving pins in the cylinder with only one keypin.
2. Don't throw out several hundred DVD cases without removing the Security Tags.
3. If you spend about an hour looking through every electronics box in the house, you will eventually find a Security Tag.
4. Security Tags yield great shim stock.
5. A rounded end on a shim works much better than a flat end.

This was actually an interesting and informative learning experience. Now I've just got to work on SPP when the cylinder is still in the lock!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and assistance with this.

Colin
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