Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:20 am by ToolyMcgee
The brinks 40 mm as far as I have experienced only has spool pins other than maybe 1 standard pin stack. I'm not sure if there are serrated key pins... So it should be forcing the cylinder backward with a little upward pick pressure once you get a spool pin to false set. It can be different to get used to especially since you say you are having trouble with SPP on the master #3. Tension is most likely the barrier you have to overcome. The reason a spring "loaded" tensioner is impractical is because there is no proper tension for picking. Variable tension is the right way. When starting out picking spools I used a medium tension to bring the pins to false set, then light tension to see if they would force the plug to rotate against the tensioner when I put upward pick pressure on them. If you reset pins in the process of setting a spool pin it is normal. Sometimes you have to pick 3 pins of a lock to set a spool and let them all drop back, then go through and do it again. Alot of this is where the mechanical slack is in the lock if you can find a binding order that will let you pick them without going through the motions. If you have a standard pin stack to the shearline and the spools to the false set pushing up on the standard stack at all might reset the whole thing. You can't have the spools at full false set with the standard pin stack not picked to the shearline.
If you still have troubles I have had success using the back of hook to lift all the pins to the top of the keyway then applying tension. Now turn your pick rightside up and slowly release tension. Let them fall and hit the pick. Take not of the order. Once they have all fallen repeat this and this time catch the pins in the order they drop with the tip of your pick and lower the key pins the the shearline under controlled light tension trying not to let the others fall. Most times it is inevitable. The main goal is to try and get a feel for where the pins catch and what order they bind in. Sometimes you can get a problem pin to stay above the shearline with this kind of "reverse" picking.
Side question: Again it is probably just an issue of proper tension. Too much tension on the masters can make a shearline undetectable in a problem lock, but with the proper medium tension they should ring like a bell when set. It could also be the key biting, or it could be damage to the lock. I'm sticking with the tension theory however as I have successfully picked many a busted and gummed up mudpie master with some patience. If it is one of those 3up's or removable core master's it could be an issue of cylinder machining. If the key doesn't open it smoothly there may be an issue with the lock. Is it a standard NO3 or a new sheet steel covered no3. Old laminated master's are standard pin, but newer "fake" laminated steel master's have a bump stop security pin in them.
Anyway hope something in there is helpful.
-ToolyMcgee
...and have been to embarrassed to ask! But I use em and get there in the end... such an amateur!
) I'll have to keep working on getting this master 03 opened spp but at least I know that I'm doing things right now that I got my first security pin padlock opened spp .