Masterlock 175 Bypass Fixed?

[trilliam708]

About a year ago I got a Masterlock 175 and over Christmas break I got myself the Sparrows Ultra Decoder.
I have seen the Masterlock 175 bypass performed countless times and even on Sparrows website, it says how to perform the bypass.
However, trying to perform it with my tool was futile. I tried over and over, different angles, on each side of multiple wheels.
It feels like there is something blocking my path, I can get my shim/decoder about 1cm in and even with wiggling and some force, it doesn't go in any further.

Does anyone else have this as well with newer Masterlock 175s?

[dontlook]

Can you post a picture? I've had a bunch of people bring this up but so far I've been unable to find one that is not vulnerable.

I believe, for reasons unknown, Master does strange things with their model numbers which make it hard for me to determine what the guts of the thing are, but I can tell from sight.

[trilliam708]

I will post a picture when I return home tonight.

[Squelchtone]

Sorry it is late for anyone who was following, but this is the lock.

I messed around with it some more and eventually was able to bypass it. However, angle and ease at which I was able to insert the shim was much much narrower than what I have seen in other videos/tutorials.
Maybe I just got one that had some smaller tolerances :

https://ibb.co/FbWpPsv

[dontlook]

Ahhh maybe, learning to get the tool in there takes a bit and it is a little harder the less used a lock is.

I have long thought and little tested that the position of the flywheel might help or hurt the bypass.

Additionally, you can pull the wheel to the side to give yourself a bit more room.

Are you using a brand name shim or homemade? What is the thickness?

[trilliam708]

I'm using the Sparrows Ultra Decoder.
Since I found the sweet spot and done the bypass several dozen times, it is much easier now.
In videos it looks like it just slides right in, but it's really done at a precise angle and takes some practice to find it, I guess I underestimated the difficulty of the bypass.
I just hope my decoder/shim lasts for a while.
I might look into buying some feeler steel and making my own. Paying like $15 for the thinnest most easily bent or broken tool seems rough.

[Squelchtone]

I'm using the Sparrows Ultra Decoder.
Since I found the sweet spot and done the bypass several dozen times, it is much easier now.
In videos it looks like it just slides right in, but it's really done at a precise angle and takes some practice to find it, I guess I underestimated the difficulty of the bypass.
I just hope my decoder/shim lasts for a while.
I might look into buying some feeler steel and making my own. Paying like $15 for the thinnest most easily bent or broken tool seems rough.

Other than a neat parlour trick, are you opening a lot of 175 padlock every day? Seems like a very specific facet of the hobby lockpicking hobby or even real locksmith work.

[trilliam708]

I have been getting more and more into locksport in the last two years. I am currently working on dimple pins.
I currently work as an IT admin for a small private school but would love to get into penetration testing or at least start my own locksmith business after I leave here.
I know that this 175 bypass is a real niche thing, but still, the tool used for it can be used for decoding other combination locks I have and my lock collection grows by a couple every month.
I'm guessing as long as I am careful, my shim should last a while.

I've lurked here for a while and hope to become more active in the community as I get more serious about my passion.
I think after dimple pins I am going to get some S&G cutaways and pick up safe cracking.
Anyways, feel free to close or lock this thread.
Thanks guys.