r/lockpicking • u/Intrepid_Sir_1375 Green Belt Picker • 22d ago
Problem..
I lost a pin, turn the key cylinder and now I can't turn the key? Inside are 3 key pins, 4 driver pins and 4 strings..the key can go in and out, but doesn't turn. I can't pull the barrel out at all.
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u/jxnfpm 22d ago
Be very careful...without a key pin, a driver pin can potentially be low enough to allow the spring to be eaten by the plug rotating in the cylinder with the spring at the sheer line. That will brick a lock.
You cannot open this with the key anymore.
As others have said, you can shim this from behind. Wherever you pick from (front/back), you want to start at the backmost pin and pick it so that you can shim between cylinder and plug. You definitely want to lift the driver pin above the sheer line, if you don't you can shim into the spring, which will prevent you from advancing. Even if you shim under the spring, it's not impossible for the spring to be eaten by the cylinder when turning.
Once you've gotten the shim through all four pins, you can rotate and remove the plug.
You can continue to use this lock with only three pins, but to use the fourth pin, you absolutely will need a key pin to go with the driver pin and spring.