this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2025
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lockpicking

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A lemmy community dedicated to the sport of lockpicking. Information about our belt system can be found at https://lpubelts.com/.

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Rule 1 - Possibly Illegal or Inappropriate

We do not facilitate illegal or inappropriate activities, which includes picking locks that are not owned by you. Also, be sure that you are familiar with any legal issues for your state or country.

Rule 2 - Lock Not Owned or In Use

Though asking for assistance in regards to how to open a lock is permitted and encouraged, the lock must not be in use. Any submission looking for assistance in opening a lock that is implied to be, or is visibly in use (eg. a deadbolt still attached to a door, or a padlock with anything secured by a closed shackle) will be locked or deleted. Posting about picking locks or having picked locks in use is also not allowed even if they are your own.

Rule of thumb, lock is "in use" if installed.

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We do not provide emergency assistance for opening locks. These violations also generally violate our no "in use" locks rule.

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Rule 6 - Off Topic

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Off topic includes posts asking for lock recommendations, evidence of a lock being picked, and anything not having to do directly with locksport.

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UPDATE:

TLDR; The answer to my question is -- you don't 😜.

Thanks to everyone that entertained my question. It seems that without drilling, it would require a seemingly impossible balancing and compression act to slide everything back in.

See more pictures and commentary below at https://lemmy.world/post/39906128/20917330.

----- ORIGINAL POST -----

How do I reassemble a Master Lock 140?

Black Friday was my excuse to finally get some lock picking tools. After trying an acrylic lock and a practice lock, I decided to go after one of the Master Lock 140s that I had laying around.

I was able to get it open with a single pick and then a rake.

Then I tried a comb. I went from "yay it's turning", to "oh, it's really turning", to "uh, oh, it's still turning". 🤣

Not really realizing what was happening until it was too late, I ended up removing the whole cylinder (is that what it's called?) as pins fell out, without paying attention to which pin goes where.

The shackle wasn't actually unlocked at that point, so I fiddle around inside the lock some more and fully unlocked everything.

I assume I inadvertently started the process to rekey the lock, but now what? How do I put everything back together again?

I know the pins are out of order, but I assume short key pins go with the taller parts of the key, so I'm thinking it's something like 1+B, 2+A, 3+C, 4+D. I seems like 5 only fits into #6.

My main questions are: (1) Can I just shove everything, or do I have to worry about whatever it was inside the lock that actually unlocked the shackle? I don't know if it has to be in a certain position or not.

(2) From using the CI practice lock, I assume the process is to put in the key pin, pointy end down, then driver pin, then spring. Is that right?

(3) Do I start from the back (i.e., #6), putting the pins in, pushing the spring down and using the lock body to keep the spring compressed?

(4) Related to (1), does the cylinder need to go in at a certain orientation (or avoid a certain orientation?

(5) Finally, what is the correct pin order if I want to keep using that same key? Was my guess correct, 1B, 2 A or C, 3 A or C, 4D?

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[–] lfisk@infosec.exchange 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

@thenetnetofthenet Usually there is a larger cap for shackle latches on one side near top. I don't have a 140... but image of an old G. C. W & Co. padlock that shows caps. Pretty much all brass padlocks with just a core fit into the body like that are built this way🤷‍♂️

This is a four pin core, the fifth pin is for retaining the core and maybe limiting rotation.

It also looks like Master used a 5 pin core on your lock but didn't populate the 5th hole🙄

Old brass padlock turned on its side showing brass caps covering top of pin holes and boring for shackle dogs.

[–] thenetnetofthenet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

oh, I see. I was expecting them to be a lot harder to see. I can't easily see these caps on the side of the body.

[–] lfisk@infosec.exchange 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

@thenetnetofthenet The rough sanding done when they're made hides the caps quite well.

Haven't tried this... I'd try sanding the side down to a smoother, shiny surface and see that helps to reveal them🤷‍♂️

[–] thenetnetofthenet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

FYI I did sand the side a little bit, but either I still need to keep going, or there's something I'm missing. It's not that easy to see in the pictures, but I am sanding some of the coating away for sure, and I feel like it's starting to sand off some of the actual body material. I'm still not seeing anything close to your picture.

Oh well, thanks for the tips! I'll keep the lock as a souvenir and at some point continue sanding and tinkering with it.