False sets?

[Shadowx]

How often do false sets happen? I am wondering this because I have a lock I took apart and I know it only has 3 pins. I raise each pin and hear a click. I stroke the pins and here rattling I feel them, they are loose. I turn the lock upside down and the pins fallaway showing the spring isn't acting on them. the plug doesn't turn and the lock doesn't open. I release the torque slowly and hear 3 or more distinct clicks. This is a defiant door nob lock with 5 pins minus 2. This happens about 90% of the time now what the heck is going on?

[NKT]

You are either lifting the top pins a bit too high (which isn't likely if the bottom pins drop down when you invert the lock) or you haven't quite lifted them high enough. Just give them a little tickle upwards, one after the other, and the lock should pop open.

A false set would be if the plug turned a few degrees (sometimes up to 15!) before stopping, preventing the lock from opening. I don't think that's what you are talking about?

[digital_blue]

I agree that it sounds like you have one or more pins that have not been lifted enough. Just maintain light tension and apply some more pressure on each pin until you find the one with some give.

If you've taken the lock apart already, I presume you know whether or not there are any security pins in it such as spools or serrateds. That could also cause a low false set like that.

Happy picking!

db

[Shadowx]

Yeah thanks guys it turns out I was lifting them way to high and no the lock has no security pins or anything like that. I can easily pick it with 3 pins every time now and I can pick 4 pins easily except for when it is High low high low. I have to get used to feeling the binding pin behind a much longer pin you know? Also, which would be harder to pick do you think, a defiant door knob lock like mine with 5 normal pins or a master padlock with basic security? I'm not having much luck with raking for some reason, I was told it was easier than pin by pin any tips? Thank you.

[Chrispy]

Rake the lock to start with. You might bind 2 or 3 pins and only have to pick the other 2 or 3.

[E-Mind]

Yeah thanks guys it turns out I was lifting them way to high and no the lock has no security pins or anything like that. I can easily pick it with 3 pins every time now and I can pick 4 pins easily except for when it is High low high low. I have to get used to feeling the binding pin behind a much longer pin you know? Also, which would be harder to pick do you think, a defiant door knob lock like mine with 5 normal pins or a master padlock with basic security? I'm not having much luck with raking for some reason, I was told it was easier than pin by pin any tips? Thank you.

when you rack the lock,
start: just touch the bottom pins _ligithly_ and put just a _light_ amount of turning force (weight of finger is enough) - you should feel one of the pins is stiffer than the others and you need to cause that one to click by pushing only that one upwards. If the pin resists too much - release: You turned the plug too much with the torque wrench - turn it _a little_ in the opposite direction and try again lifting only that pin very slowly... Goto release until no resistense and you hear a click.
Goto start