Help needed:American combination padlock

[andrex66it]

Hello guys,I've recently been given this padlock:





I've opened it via the lock on the back,but I would like to try to break the combination.
I tried to use the Master padlock method but I couldn't make it work.
Since I'm a total noob with these things,could you help me?
When I say noob,I mean the noobiest being you can think of!
Thanks in advance,
Andrea

[jharveee]

Open the lock back up.
Swing the shackle to the open position.
Look down the hole.
On a Master lock you can see the Three wheels and their gates.
Rotate the wheels one at a time and watch for the notches, take note of the number on the dial for each notch and wheel.
Being that you are looking down the hole not at the arrow on the front, you will have to adjust your numbers for the offset.

I believe the offset between the numbers you get by looking down the hole to the numbers you dial at the arrow is around 11.

[andrex66it]

Iirc I've tried that but the wheels weren't visibile,could be my memory failing me,tho.
I'll give that another try,thanks for the infos,I'll post the results

[jharveee]

Could drill a small hole in the back of the lock, watch the wheels.
Repair the hole.

Brute force the combo.
Lots of dialing.

There is a book by Carl Black
OPENING COMBINATION PADLOCKS
No Tools, No Problem

I'll leave explaining "brute forcing" to the author.
Or other members of KP.

Good Luck

[mseifert]

there is away, try every combination possible until it opens..

[andrex66it]

It's a path I have considered (and discarded!! ), but as I stated I'm so noob I don't even know how to try them .
Does this lock work the same as Masters?

Cit:

"When you open your lock you would normally spin the dial right a few times to reset, then go to your first number. Then, you would turn left, passing your first number once, then stopping on your second number. Finally, you would turn right again to your third, and final number and pull on clasp. "


@ jharveee: I can confirm the wheels are not visible when the lock is open.

[jharveee]

Yes, I have some that aren't possible to view while looking down the hole.
Have thought about using a tension wrench to feel gates on the wheel.

[quabillion]

the locking pawl (the piece that goes into the notch in the shackle to lock it closed) might be in the way of you seeing the wheels. pick the lock and open it. then continue to hold pawl back out of the way with the tension wrench in the keyway. you might be able to see the wheels then. Also use a strong light to help you see inside. this can be a bit awkward to hold the lock, and push the tension wrench, while also turning the dial. Holding the lock in a vice will make things easier

[Mikeh727]

To start a manipulation on a lock like this, you first need to determine how many false gates there are. You'll typically find one, ten, or twelve false gates. Then you can use the method that Carl Black outlines in his book to find the combination in most cases. I've never played with one of these American locks but I would think it would work and you would typically find ten gates on an American (nine false and one true gate).

Spin several times in one direction and stop at zero, then spinning the other direction, pull up on the shackle a bit and see if you can find each false gate. Record the center of those gates.

Try that and see what happens, and if you find them, I can walk you through the rest. If all goes well, it shouldn't take more than about 30 minutes after you've completed this step.

-Mike