Padlock with a "soft key". I'm confused!

[Marduk28]

Hi guys!

I found this "HYT" padlock today with a core that utilizes a "soft key".

Take a look at these photos:






I don't see any pins in there and a pick dosen't even fit inside!
Anyone ever seen one if these before? Any idea how to pick it?

You kind of "inject" the key (which is like a linked chain) and it get supported enough the interact with the lock in some way. The chain key in pushed out by pushing down on the key handle.

I think this thing is super cool, but have no idea how it works @_@.

[LockManipulator]

O.O that's crazy! Never seen anything like it. I can't really picture what's happening when inserting a key. Do you think you'd be able to upload a video of what you're explaining? Cool find!

[jharveee]

Wow.

[Riyame]

There have been a few other posts with locks that have keys like this.

http://www.keypicking.com/viewtopic.php?f=111&t=8056

http://www.keypicking.com/viewtopic.php?f=124&t=7915

[Oldfast]

Search the forum a bit. There was a post on that (or something very similar) I remember seeing.
Hopefully someone will provide a link. I always seem to search forever and turn up with nothing. lol

Very interesting.

[Oldfast]

lol... well there ya go.

[GWiens2001]

Same key as in the Astral Transmission Lock I got from GLS.

Here is the post

Key like a watch band. And there are pins, just further in. The key is flexible so it can fit into a curved keyway, making picking difficult. They did shim easily, though mine cam with updated sleeves to fit over the shackle to prevent shimming.

Gordon

[Marduk28]

Hey guys!

Thanks for the link! That's cool that you have one too Gordon!

You are right, the keyway is curved!! When I try to stick a pick in there it just gets stuck. I had to stop myself before I broke another pick!! I have no idea how I could pick this bastard with that keyway~and this thing does have a ball bearing holding the shackle so I don't think it can be shimmed. It seems that the only practical way to get this open (without the key) would be to do it destructively.

I will be glad to make a video of the lock in action when I get home!

I will try to find more of these, but out of dozens of locksmiths I have visited so far, I have only seen this one.

[Marduk28]

Hey guys,

I was able to track down some "soft/chain key" blanks.

Here are some photos:





I wonder if these could be used to make a bump key to open these kind of locks?

If anyone is interested in these let me know~ I can try to track down more.

(I'll make a post in the kool keys section too~)

[rai]

I have seen a linked key somewhere on the internet a few years back, but not that one.
very interesting item

thanks for posting it.

[GWiens2001]

Hey guys,

I was able to track down some "soft/chain key" blanks.

Here are some photos:





I wonder if these could be used to make a bump key to open these kind of locks?

If anyone is interested in these let me know~ I can try to track down more.

(I'll make a post in the kool keys section too~)

Would not recommend making a bump key with one of those keys. The links are fragile, an if they break off in the lock, you are screwed.

If you want to open one of these, I made a diamond pick out of thick plastic from an engine oil bottle. It was flexible enough to bend at the curved keyway, but if you were careful, they were still strong enough to manipulate the pins. The shank of the plastic pick will need to be wide enough to give some strength to the pick.

Also made a back-up key from a milk jug that lasted for one opening, and another from the oil bottle that lasted for four openings. The picks an plastic keys wear out quickly.

Gordon

[rai]

Good one Gordon

I was thinking about how to do that, and you had it already
ive also experimented with using cable ties on dimple locks, nothing to report as success but I abandoned that experiment before trying it out much. You can razor some up and down into the cable tie to adapt it to the situation. perhaps for the link type key you could thin out one edge and slit it halfway between pin spaces so each section could deform a bit independent from the next one.

I really like the ad hoc picks like pen barrels in tubular locks and such. its a kind of mcgyverism.

[Marduk28]

Wow Gordon~ Great ideas! I got to try those ideas out one day!

Thanks for the insight. =)

[elbowmacaroni]

Marduk28, you sir seem to have a knack for finding some majorly cool locks! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[Marduk28]

My Pleasure!

Glad you guys enjoy!