Old Yale lock

[bigone5500]

I have an old yale brand lock that is about to make me break out the blue tip pick if you know what I mean...(acetylene torch). Has anyone had any dealings with these locks? The top of the keyway is sort of angled and also seems to be a 5 pin. The lock is 1 3/4".

[stick]

Yale keyways are arguably one of the most irritating keyways to manuever around in. In my area, we don't see much of these, so I'm getting a few of eBay for fun.

[toomush2drink]

Not a problem, 2 spools normally in 1st and last or 2nd and last.

[bigone5500]

What would you guys say that the best pick would be and what tension should I use?

[jason]

I'm going to fly in the face of accepted practice here which is half diamond and featherlight tension.

I prefer a shallow hook with a tension wrench at the top of the keyway but loads of tension - I find that for me the antipicks click really easily and when that happens I ease off the tension and push up just a smidge until the cylinder pops back again, then I work on the next pin. I've usually found the anti on 2nd and 4th

[toomush2drink]

I use the small hook on these too jason.

[raimundo]

you say its old, hold it by your ear and shake it, listen to see if the pins are loose in there. the old springs could be all compressed. the advise on the medium to small hook and tension is good, though you can try other tension possiblities, like light tension and a tension tool bent on it's blade to jam into the lower keyway tight from side to side but not binding on the bottom. definatly don't use that sparkle wrench on it.

[bigone5500]

Thanks guys! I'll give these a try and let you know what the outcome is.

[Rick-the-Pick]

Yale's, era,bird they're all the bloody same! Some yale's are easy and some bird's are very trying. I always use the hook.
On the yale's, try picking without touching the first pin, go straight to the second then the back/last pin of the lock with very light lift!
Failing that, get the gun out!

[Luke]

On yales i like to use a deforest pick and a medium to slightly heavy tension, just gets those shrooms and spools setting quicker.

[plot]

Another vote for small hook here... even though it's not on the voting options for some reason...

[bigone5500]

Sorry I forgot about the hook....it's a MUST HAVE!

[skold]

Yales are nothing, compared to the keyways i deal with..absolute crap.

but very well built.

don't let this lock bring you down

[frostbyte]

I'd vote hook myself, but as previously mentioned, it's not an option.