Wilson Bohannan Problems...

[mgaidica]

I have a wilson bohannan padlock, just a normal brass casing, steel shackle. I have been picking for a while now, along with my friend, and this thing wont open. We got this lock from a school, and habe spent 6+ hours on it... is there any info on this lock? what kind of pins, any secrets, how many pins? Its the oddest thing, hopefully someone has some expirience with this one. Thanks...

[Mr Ules]

It would all depend on your expirience on lockpicking. Perhaps the lock has security pins and different tension springs. You must also try different techniques. Have you tried both feeling, and raking?

[mgaidica]

i can get all other padlocks, i know spool pins and all the little tricks. I've tried raking, pin by pin, snap gun, everything. I just need to know anyone that has this lock. I am generally trying to pick it clockwise, but tried counter the other night for about 30 minutes. Please let me know of anything further to suggest. I would like to see some spec's on pin's and all that somewhere...

[Mr Ules]

Remember not to pick it the wrong way. If you have a key for the lock, try the key to make sure that you're pick the proper way.

[mgaidica]

Like I said, I have been picking for a while, about 4 years, I havent looked over the basics of picking; I dont have a key, and these are the things I am trying to find out. I just need someone with one of these locks or someone that knows them or where to get facts on them...

[raimundo]

wilson bohannen is a new york company, brooklyn at one time but may have moved, you will find these locks in antique lock searches on google or ebay. I would assume yours in a pin tumbler, though many are flat steel key antiques. put some wd40 in it, It probably has years of dust in it. count the pins by the drop method, this will also allow you to listen for soft or broken springs. it could be that a broken spring has snuck into the gap between the cylinder and the core, if this is the case, the lock is toast and you won't be able to pick it. If all the springs report strong, and you still cant pick it, consider that it may have a lot of very deep cuts on the key, and perhaps even a shallow cut on both ends. this a particularly difficult combination to pick so test the pins very carefully to see if this is the case. Use the european method of picking, with a finger on the interface between the core and cylinder so that you will get tactile feedback from the lock for infinitesimal movements of the core. (thanks to jimmie for that tip)

[mgaidica]

Yeah, i'll keep trying, but if anyone knows this exact lock that may help a little, just so I can count my pins because I hit something springy in the back at about where an 8th pin would be. Its hard to count the drops of the pins because I beleive they are high security so I am getting more than one click for each pin.

[Luke]

Are you sure you have been picking for 4 years? No offence to you but you are asking a few n00bie questions there mate. Its what is called the basics....

But just keep at it, and please dont put WD40 in that lock, with all that dust a nice go will be the result, try a silicon based dry film lubrican such as Super Lube, it is expensive but the best.

[mgaidica]

4 years luke, the only reason i post is because this is the only lock me and my friend have had troubles with. We called the company and they said the pins are high security, but still I cant get it. Most of all I am looking for which way you turn the cylinder, i feel like im wasting half my time picking this thing both ways, and yes, the pins set both ways, so it is possible it opens both ways, but because it IS a pretty nice lock I couldnt imagine the internals to allow that.

What is newb about wanting to know everything about a givin lock? Its not like I asked how to pick spool pins, or what that L shaped thing in my pick set does...

[NDE Manipulation]

All of the W&B padlocks I have come across pick counterclockwise.

[TOWCH]

All my WB's are clockwise...

[Buggs41]

The water in my toilet bowl flows clockwise when flushed.