Control Sleeve on Best Padlock

by **TOWCH** » 20 Dec 2004 22:16

I finally got around to making an SFIC tension tool and started messing around with a Best padlock I had lying around. Then something happened that completely shocked me. The lock popped open. This being the first time I had ever picked a Best I was more than a little bit surprised as it only took about 1 minute. Anyway, I do actually have a question. My understanding of picking using an SFIC tension tool is you are applying tension only to the control sleeve and control shear line. This makes things easier because the control shear line is the only one binding pins. Now if this is the case why did the lock pop open? I thought that the control sleave only rotates disengaging the sidebar allowing the core to be removed. Will the control sleeve operate the lock or does this mean I picked the wrong shear line and my tension tool wasn't working properly(I find this hard to believe because I doubt I'm good enough to pick a Best core the hard way.) I tried to pull the core to test to see if the sidebar had been disengaged but no go. I hear the cores can be a bit hard to remove sometimes though. The plug is turning about 70-80 degrees if that tells you anything.

by **D_Shane** » 20 Dec 2004 22:46

I believe it needs to be rotated 15 degrees clockwise too remove the core.

by **TOWCH** » 20 Dec 2004 22:49

I picked it clockwise but it didn't stop at 15, it went almost 90 degrees. Does that mean it was a fluke and I picked the operating shear line?

by **HeadHunterCEO** » 20 Dec 2004 22:54

you and your sfic pick can come down to norfolk for 15 cores i gotta remove from simplixes

by **TOWCH** » 20 Dec 2004 23:45

Well to see if I was dealing with something similar to Dumbo's magic feather I just spent the past 10 minutes picking it again with a normal tension wrench and the lock is acting exactly the same. I'm thinking my tension tool isn't working and I just got really lucky with the 1 minute pick time. On the bright side I just found out I can pick Best cores. Something I wasn't even sure I would be able to do with an SFIC tool. Anyway, I think I need to give up on this homemade bit and just cough up the dough for the peterson set.

by **Romstar** » 21 Dec 2004 0:02

TOWCH wrote:Well to see if I was dealing with something similar to Dumbo's magic feather I just spent the past 10 minutes picking it again with a normal tension wrench and the lock is acting exactly the same. I'm thinking my tension tool isn't working and I just got really lucky with the 1 minute pick time. On the bright side I just found out I can pick Best cores. Something I wasn't even sure I would be able to do with an SFIC tool. Anyway, I think I need to give up on this homemade bit and just cough up the dough for the peterson set.

Why give up on home made? I make the same SFIC tools here in my shop. They aren't that hard really, you just have to be careful of what you are doing is all.

Romstar

by **Exodus5000** » 21 Dec 2004 0:29

I don't understand something about Best cores. Some claim the lock can be opened with any permutation of control and operating shear lines. Some claim only the operating shear line will open the lock, while the Control shear line will only remove the core. Can someone shed some light on this?

Another quick question, I have some Best cores with the master key and Control key for them. The Master key will spin the plugs freely, but the Control key doesn't seem to do anything. Is this because the core isn't housed in a Shell, or do I have a bad Control Key?

PS - I share your woe, my homemade I-core wrench doesn't help me at all for picking the control shear line, I just keep opening the thing.

by **TOWCH** » 21 Dec 2004 0:50

Well, this is my third attempt and third failure. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/TOWCH2/220_2011.jpg

The first was a modification to an HPC tension wrench(I think). This didn't have enough teeth to grip. Second was the black one. This was made our of a streetsweeper bristle but I ruined the temper when I was bending it. I've tried to fix it but I botched it a bit anyway so I decided to start over. The middle one I made out of windsheild wiper stip that cold bent nicely and was plenty strong but the teeth aren't gripping the control sleeve. Considering the amound of time it has taken to file these by hand I don't think I have a fourth attempt in me. If I can modify the latest one to work then I'll give it a shot but right now I'm not sure why it's not working.

by **Exodus5000** » 21 Dec 2004 1:34

I like the middle on made of windshield wiper inserts, but don't you have too many teeth on it? 3 teeth should be plenty I believe. Maybe that's the problem.

by **rakemaster** » 21 Dec 2004 1:55

Exodus5000 wrote:I don't understand something about Best cores. Some claim the lock can be opened with any permutation of control and operating shear lines. Some claim only the operating shear line will open the lock, while the Control shear line will only remove the core. Can someone shed some light on this?

Exodus, you have to pick all control or all operating to turn the plug. A combo of the two wont work. If you get the control you can pull the core out and turn the lock with a screwdriver.

If you think about how it works it makes sense that you have to get all to the same shear line.

Rakemaster.

by **Romstar** » 21 Dec 2004 1:56

This may sound wacky to you, but I find that if there is a slight angle on them, they work better.

When you are putting turning force on the wrench, it can sometimes lift out of the control sleeve. So, add a bit of an angle to the twist in the wrench, so that turning the wrench causes the teeth to grip the control sleeve.

Romstar

by **TOWCH** » 21 Dec 2004 2:28

How do the teeth look? My friend has the Peterson set and mine are a bit long and wide in comparrison. If that makes mine wrong I have no clue.

It's weird. I can feel the teeth grabbing if I turn the plug CCW or pull the wrench out but when turning CW I don't feel them grabbing. I've taken your advise and made the angle of the bend more shallow although slipping didn't really seem to be the problem. The only thing I can really think of is the teeth are too long and are going all the way through the control sleeve into the bottom of the core.

by **Romstar** » 21 Dec 2004 2:44

Take a look at the thickness of the sleeve. That is about how tall the "fingers" or "teeth" should be. Anything more than that, and you are right. They can bite right into the core.

Romstar

by **Hollywood** » 21 Dec 2004 10:38

TOWCH
I will try scanning The 2 Tension wrenches that I have And I'll post it here for you.

by **Hollywood** » 21 Dec 2004 11:27

http://tinypic.com/ydzf7
http://tinypic.com/ydziw
http://tinypic.com/ydzm1

well I gave it my best shot hope it helps

Control Sleeve on Best Padlock

Control Sleeve on Best Padlock

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