ace a527 padlocks

[rickal]

Hello, somewhat new but, not totally new to this trade. I have a A527 heavy duty padlock. Not that difficult to get the pins up but, it seems there is something fundamental that I am doing wrong. I am certain that numerous times I have gotten all five pins up but cannot turn cylinder. What am I doing wrong? I believe the ace A527 is the same as the Hurd 716 line of padlocks (A6,A8&A9). This is based on my Foley Belsaw lesson #31. I will not know if it's the same until I take it apart, which I shall soon do.Based on exterior looks, probably the same lock. this of course, open to debate.

[SFGOON]

Sounds like you've got some spools or mushrooms maybe? 1. Do a search on the aforementioned pins, 2. use less tension, and rake gently. These things are hard, so 3. Don't let yourself get frustrated.

[rickal]

You are right sfgoon, because after I posted, I took the lock apart which is fairly easy to do and it had 2 of the spool type pins. actually I never saw those pins except in my Foley book but, 2 of them were the spool type and the other 3 were similar except they were evenly round from top to bottom. Anyhow, I removed 3 pins to practice picking the spool pins. Wish me luck & thanks for the reply.


Rickal

[quicklocks]

aint spools fun

[rickal]

This post concerns the Ace 527 series padlock with spools; very hard to pick, as any lock with spool type pins. I finally got it with all 5 pins, oh what a feeling! It's especially good for me because, Ive only been doing locksmithing since last March when I enrolled in the Foley Belsaw course. Just got back my grades for advanced locksmithing and aced that too. So all things considered, I think that is pretty good, from a personal stand point of course. I might also add, I recomend this course for how they break it down and gradually build an individual into a bonafide tradesman. One negative about their lesson plan is the typographical errors in their lessons also, there are people that feel they (Foley Belsaw) need to upgrade their course. They feel it is out dated. For someone like me, being new to the field, I think it's fine however, to start your own business directly after completion of the course is another story.