Key pin staying up

[Dyonzi]

Hi
I recently started lock picking and I've been practicing with a simple kwikset lock that I took apart and put in one pin stack. I'm starting to get a feel for a binding pin and a pin with no tension but after the driver pin sets the key pin doesn't fall back down. I know I'm not over setting because I'm able to turn the lock but I'm having trouble building feedback for a set pin. From what I've read it's supposed to fall back down and it's supposed to be lifted up with no resistance but instead it stays right up to the shear line. Maybe because it no longer has the pressure of the spring is no longer on it and it's a tight pin hole?
I hope I did this post right, it's my first question, so let me know (I looked through FAQ's and didn't find anything)
Thanks for the help

[GWiens2001]

clean the lock. That or you are over lifting the pins.

Gordon

[Dyonzi]

It's a brand new lock and I can't be over lifting because when add more tension the plug fully turns.

[ltdbjd]

Kwikset isn't known for high quality. Could be dirt or grease, even in a new lock. Or an oddity in the manufacture process like a burr or a poorly drilled chamber.

If grease from the manufacturing process gets in a pin chamber, the pin will stick. We use a dab of grease to hold the ball bearing in place when rebuilding a padlock.

Since you only have one pin chamber pinned, you might want to move the stack to a different chamber and see what happens.

[Dyonzi]

Thanks I'll try that

[ltdbjd]

If you're using a zero-bitted lock and didn't change the pins, or have a shallow pin, you can be over lifting and still turn the plug ... You pushed the bottom pin into the bible.

If you don't mind me adding a bit of advice, people like Gordon having been doing this for a long time. If he said you could be over lifting, perhaps a better response would be to ask for an explanation, rather than in essence saying he's wrong. Because he's right. Since you're new, you considered over lifting to be getting the pin wedged above and below the shear line - which it is. But over lifting includes lifting the pin completely out of the plug, and that would cause the issue you are having.

Again, I'm just making a suggestion, not being critical. There is so much to learn, and such talented people here, asking "why" can lead to some eye-opening revelations.

[Dyonzi]

You're right the pin slides easily in all the other holes thanks.

[Dyonzi]

I'm sorry gorden I didn't mean to come out that your wrong I just didn't understand how I could be over lifting and yet still able to fully rotate the plug

[Dyonzi]

Itdbjd thanks for the added advice, your right I'm new and should realize most of the people here know much more than me.

If you don't mind me asking what is a zero bitting?
Also I should add that I am able to see the key pin still in the plug just not extended all the way down
So could it make sense it's a manufacturing thing?
Thanks

[mseifert]

Zero bitting, means that the key is cut at the "zero" or "0" depth. The lower pins in the lock are all, what ever the zero or "0" size is for that manufacture. Schlage locks, for instance, use a .165 bottom pin for their "zero bitting", this means that each pin chamber will need to have the lower or bottom pin replaced with a .165 bottom pin. Once this has been done an uncut Schlage key will operate the lock. The lock will still operate correctly, but ONLY an uncut key will operate it.

You probably have a stuck pin .. Even the slightest little bit of muck can cause it to stick .. When you rotation the cylinder back does everything drop back

[ltdbjd]

Keys are typically cut to depths of 1 to whatever (6 and 9 bending common). Those depths match up to the pin lengths. A number 1 cut on a Kwikset key corolates to a number 1 Kwikset pin (measured in thousandths of an inch). Frequently, but not always, a zero cut means a key blank will open the lock. Some manufacturers use a slightly deeper cut than just a blank.

"Bitting" basically means the cuts on the key. 0-bitted is cut to a zero depth.

If you Google "ALOA locksmith dictionary," you'll find a comprehensive, free, downloadable dictionary. It's nice to have when you first start out, especially since not everybody uses the same terms for things. Such as driver pins or top pins, bottom pins or key pins, tumblers or wafers, etc.

As for your lock, you can clean it to see if that fixes the one chamber. I use electrical contact cleaner. Lots of people use different things. If that doesn't work, I'll use a small rat tail file to clean up the pin chamber on the plug. If the chamber is really messed up, I'll use a Dremel with a small cone grinding wheel to clean it up - a little, you're not trying to make a funnel, just making it a bit more round.

[Dyonzi]

Thanks for the help