Set pins, but lock won't open (no security pins either)

[s007]

I'm new to lockpicking and was hoping someone could explain what's going on here. I bought a cutaway lock so that I could see exactly what was going on as I was starting out. It's proved invaluable for feeling out binding pins, setting pins, etc. This lock originally had 6 pins (of which I've removed 4 for now) and was originally master keyed (hence the extra pin in the 6th position). I have a strange problem where I've set both of the pins, but the lock won't open. This happens about half the time when I'm applying tension to the bottom of the keyhole. Another odd thing is that sometimes, when applying bottom tension, the 5th pin refuses to bind, no matter how much tension I apply. I have to take the tension wrench out and reset the lock and try again. If I apply tension at the top of the keyhole, the lock opens easily with very little tension every time. Any ideas what's going on here? I've read this post on TOK tension:

viewtopic.php?t=47422

But are there any locks for which bottom of keyhole tension just doesn't work (or works very poorly)? If so, how can one tell if the problem is tension applied in the wrong spot? Or is it just a matter of technique?

The picture below will hopefully illustrate the problem. My hand (out of frame) is applying tension to keep the pins in place. Both pins appear to be set, yet the lock won't open.

[Squelchtone]

Thats a nice cutaway you have, and those grub screws are very useful in pinning or unpinning the stacks. You're learning the right way, so keep up the good work.

Your top pins looks a little under-set still. Can you manipulate them a little higher via the milled cutaway openings and see if the plug will then be free to turn? As for torque being applied from the bottom and changing the characteristics of which pins bind and how well they bind, I think you're on to something because it does seem to change the way the plug rotates in the shell, depending on top of keyway or bottom of keyway tensioning. Some locks are touchy to this, some are not. Have you tried making a short tip tension wrench to use as a top of keyway wrench?

Good luck, and keep practicing

Squelchtone

[SnowyBoy]

Nope........ the problem here is the workmanship of the cutaway. Very poor IMO :/

Your pins appear to be getting wedged slightly in the gap of the slot that's been cutaway not allowing them to travel up as smoothly.

That size cut is far too wide for pins of that size.

[s007]

I like the bad cutaway excuse

So, if that's correct, then I should never encounter this sort of situation when picking a real lock so I shouldn't spend too much time obsessing over what it is I'm doing that's causing the lock to get stuck in this state.

[SnowyBoy]

I like the bad cutaway excuse

So, if that's correct, then I should never encounter this sort of situation when picking a real lock so I shouldn't spend too much time obsessing over what it is I'm doing that's causing the lock to get stuck in this state.

True.

You will encounter binding pins, but loosening the tension should remedy this.