To open an American Lock question

[Squelchtone]

What locks are good to practice on to work up to opening an American Lock TNEr4 series 5200 us padlock? So far I've been able to spp master no. 140, 1, and 3.

[femurat]

Why are you focused on opening that padlock?

Thanks

[Nightingangel]

Why are you focused on opening that padlock?

Thanks

I have 6 of them without keys that I was given when asking friends for unwanted locks. So mainly because it's currently the only type of lock I have that I can't open. I'm willing to buy other locks, just wondering what would be for building up to this specific model.

[Squelchtone]

Why are you focused on opening that padlock?

Thanks

I have 6 of them without keys that I was given when asking friends for unwanted locks. So mainly because it's currently the only type of lock I have that I can't open. I'm willing to buy other locks, just wondering what would be for building up to this specific model.

are you an American stationed (military/embassy) in Spain? just curious..

[femurat]

I like the 5200 very much. You're lucky to have a few of them.
To warm your hands you can start by picking the 1100 that are usually a bit easier...

Good luck

[Nightingangel]

I like the 5200 very much. You're lucky to have a few of them.
To warm your hands you can start by picking the 1100 that are usually a bit easier...

Good luck :)

Many thanks. Will search ebay for some!

[Nightingangel]

are you an American stationed (military/embassy) in Spain? just curious..

Yes.

[Squelchtone]

Update: so at work, we have a lot of 5200s without keys, today I finally picked one! Next step is to get better at it and open them all. Then I'm going to try to make keys for them which will be another challenge in and of itself. Thank you everyone for your help.

http://i.imgur.com/JNJmqRl.jpg

[jbrint]

I like the 5200 very much. You're lucky to have a few of them.
To warm your hands you can start by picking the 1100 that are usually a bit easier...

Good luck

I can't tell much difference between one American or another. Aside from required force to open once picked. Is there much difference internally from one to the other? I have a bunch of Americans that came with keys and an equal amount that did not. I have been taking the cores from the 1100's and putting them in the 700 bodies and have had no issues. The ones without keys have gone back in the 1100 bodies as they are easier to hold while picking.

[femurat]

I like the 5200 very much. You're lucky to have a few of them.
To warm your hands you can start by picking the 1100 that are usually a bit easier...

Good luck

I can't tell much difference between one American or another. Aside from required force to open once picked. Is there much difference internally from one to the other? I have a bunch of Americans that came with keys and an equal amount that did not. I have been taking the cores from the 1100's and putting them in the 700 bodies and have had no issues. The ones without keys have gone back in the 1100 bodies as they are easier to hold while picking.

I haven't played with a ton of them, but I find easier to pick the 1100 rather than the 5200. I also find easier to pick them once the shackle is already open. I've been told there's no difference, but I find it different. Dunno why.

Cheers

[Nightingangel]

[quote="femurat"
To warm your hands you can start by picking the 1100 that are usually a bit easier...
Good luck :)

So the main difference I could find from my past few weeks of looking around is that the 5200 is one of the harder to pick ones, however, that also depends when it was made. Master lock bought American lock around 2004 and started using less pins, 5 vs 6, and not as many security pins, and also from what I've seen on others findings, all the key pins are standard

[Nightingangel]

And here's a pic, Squelchtone told me how to resize.

[jbrint]

I personally just can't tell a difference between any of them aside from the fact a 700 requires more space in my hand than a 5200 and a 5200 requires more than an 1100. Some of the high/low 5 pins are harder to pick than the 6 pins with a more even bitting. I guess this falls into the same category of why some are more successful with one pick over the other. Congrats though on picking that, its always fun to see progress in skill.

[Squelchtone]

for me the 1105 aluminum is just much more comfortable to hold all day long because it's so light compared to the 5200. They both have that nasty return spring, so half the time you're not even sure if the lock is already picked unless you wobble the tension wrench to test the waters. I know what femurat means when he said it's easier to pick them while the shackle is already open, you dont have to deal with that heavy spring. I seem to be able to pick these better counter-clockwise (Br. anti-clockwise) using Top of Keyway tensioning. But that doesn't help since top pop the shackle it has to be picked clockwise. =)

Picking a 5200, or any American Lock padlock for that matter is no joke. it's a stepping stone lock and a sign the picker has gone from beginner/noob to intermediate level picking.
Squelchtone

[Nightingangel]

I seem to be able to pick these better counter-clockwise (Br. anti-clockwise) using Top of Keyway tensioning. But that doesn't help since top pop the shackle it has to be picked clockwise. =)

Picking a 5200, or any American Lock padlock for that matter is no joke. it's a stepping stone lock and a sign the picker has gone from beginner/noob to intermediate level picking.
Squelchtone

Firstly thank you. 2nd sorry for making you do extra work. 3rd, I watched a video Bosnianbill made on spinners. Would that work for you if you pick it the other way?