It's been a few years.

[Mike6158]

I got back into picking a few weeks ago when an LPL video popped up on my feed. I've got an American lock, 5200, that I'm not able to pick without a Lishi. Time will get me there I think. I've got two Masterlocks. The #5 is really easy to pick. The #3 is giving me trouble but I'm sure it's me that's giving me trouble, not the lock. That's where I am with relearning how to pick.

I've never re-pinned a lock. I have a Kwikset deadbolt that I want to re-pin to be the same as a deadbolt on the garage door but I don't have the key. I'm assuming that I can just use the Lishi to pick it open then re-pin from there. Is that a valid assumption?.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

Hey Mike

Yes if you can pick your lock and spin the plug to use a follower, then you can rekey it.

[Mike6158]

Good. Thank you.

I actually said it backwards. Both deadbolts (house and garage) and the garage door have the same key but the house door lock is different than the other three (door, deadbolt on the garage and deadbolt on the house). Every now and then I accidentally lock the house door with the key for the door still in the house. Thankfully I keep a spare key in the garage but man it's annoying to have to carry around 2 keys for 1 for one lock of and one for 3 locks, all the same mfg..

I could just take it down to Home Depot to re-pin it but where's the fun in that?

[Safecrackin Sammy]

As long as the fourth lock is the same make so that the key goes in the lock then sure you can rekey it.

[GWiens2001]

Before you try that...

Is there a rectangular hole next to the keyway?

Gordon

[Mike6158]

Nope. These are just the standard cheap Quickset locks that you can get at the home store

[GWiens2001]

OK. I have been called in to fix locks when someone tries to rekey their Kwikset Smartkey locks using a pin kit.

Gordon

[Mike6158]

That's good to know. I don't think I've ever even seen a Smartkey lock. I typically don't mess around with door locks. Just Masterlock, American, and the wafer lock on my gun case. "Someone" <--- me forgot where he put the key. A real thief would just break the glass, after they got into the storage building, if anything was in the case.

[Mike6158]

The #3 is giving me trouble but I'm sure it's me that's giving me trouble, not the lock.

I haven't been trying to rake because I wanted to focus on single pin picking. As I said above, I single pin picked a Masterlock #5, which is not a big deal to someone with experience. Next stop... the smaller Masterlock #3. I've probably made 10 or 12 attempts to get this lock open. I started by going too fast. After I slowed down I could feel the pins moving and setting but the lock wouldn't open. I varied the tension, used colorful language, gave up forever and an hour later was back at. Ie. usual new picker methods were employed.

About 10m ago I got it to open. I could feel the same pins setting and I got some rotation but the lock didn't open. I was at the same place that I've been numerous times except this time I added more tension and got the core to move some more. Click. It opened but the core rotation felt "gummy" for lack of a better word. So gummy that I used a small screwdriver to turn it.

The lock is at least 10 years old. I don't know where the key is but I probably have it on an old keyring somewhere. I sprayed it out with WD40 but only to clean it. The core rotated back to center by itself once I sprayed it out. While it's open I'd like to clean it as best as I can by soaking or whatever is recommended here.

The lubricants that I have on hand are:
3 in One oil (probably not the best choice)
3 in One Dry Lube - this stuff dries fast
CRC Dry Moly Lube
Spray on High Performance Silicone

Do any of these look useful?

This lock will spend the rest of it's life as a practice lock.

I've picked my American 5200 with a Lishi. I guess it's time to tackle that one with a pick.

[femurat]

OK. I have been called in to fix locks when someone tries to rekey their Kwikset Smartkey locks using a pin kit.

Gordon

LOL That must have been fun!

Cheers

[femurat]

Back on topic, if you spray wd40 and wipe it out, the lock is ready for you to practice picking. No need to add anything else.

Enjoy

[BlueLock]

Might be a good idea to chase off the remnants of WD-40 with something like Houdini or Tri-Flow. WD-40 is great solvent for cleaning, but not so much as a long-term lube. Then again, it is a practice lock

[Mike6158]

I used some of the dry lube. I picked it and it popped open this time vs not moving. I'll try it a few more times and then tackle single pin picking the American 5200. It's funny how just as little success makes me want to find more different locks to pick.

[BlueLock]

The 3-in-1 dry lube was a good choice.

Not funny at all. That click of a picked padlock with a spring loaded shackle is very satisfying.

[Mike6158]

I was going to repin the Quickset this afternoon but decided to lock it and pick it with a Lishi tool so I could map the pins. It picked fine. When I turned the lock cylinder the the door remained locked? The inside knob that you turn to lock it didn't move and if I had been outside I'd have had to resort to using a key (oh the shame ) on one of the other entrance doors. I'll pull the knob set out and see what, if anything, is missing or broken. I can't leave the knob and lockset out out. It's cold outside, especially at night.