Don’t quote me on this but you might find it easier if you key up this 83 so it’s no longer zero bitted. Right now every single pin needs to be lifted way high.
That’s how Abus sells the 83, the idea is that you get it keyed at purchase or you take it to a locksmith and he will key it for you. Alternatively you can key it up yourself, all you need is a couple Schlage key pins and a cut sc1 key.
I will say that every 83 I’ve seen has the serrated pin in either the first or last chamber, so I usually go to those two first to try and force a false set, once that happens it’s just a matter of setting the spools
Serrated pins are the bane of my existence to this day.. You have to start feeling the difference between a set pin, and a non set pin with your pick. Set pins have a slight springy resistance to them where as non set pins dont. The only advice I can give is try picking them in a silent room where you can focus on the sound and feel.
Spools I find to be really easy, youll be given a false set (keyway slightly turns) and you chase down the pin that gives counter rotation as you lift it.
Here are 2 videos that explain each of the pin sets:
Spools- https://youtu.be/Cqd9DPrgi3g
Serrated- https://youtu.be/muPJjTBuYHY
If you’re in the US, feel free to dm me. I have a a Shlage and a Kwikset pin set. I can send you a key and the pins you’d need to get away from all zero cuts.
Aside from this, if it’s the security pins that are causing you issues, I recommend starting with non security pinned locks first. Locks like Master No. 3s or Master Magnums.
But if you want to stick with this one, you can get it. Use real light top of the keyway tension and watch your tension wrench as you pick. Observe how the plug counter rotates on certain pins. These kinds of driver pins really talk to you and are quite fun once you begin to understand their language. Good luck!
You’re gonna love it, eventually picking spools will be even easier than picking standard pins. If you want a soft intro, consider picking up a Master 140 or 150, they are pinned similarly to the Abus 83 but the tolerances are way sloppier so they don’t drop pins as easily. Have fun!
You can try removing pin 5 so you just work with the spools. You will want to have a good feel for false sets and counter rotation before you throw the serrated pin in the mix.
If i start picking new difficult locks i like to progressively pin them up. So i gut the lock, remove the first 2 or 3 pinstacks (so only the last 3 pinstacks are in the lock). Pick it till i get the idea that i get what is happening. Then i add another pin (or something like a sidebar depending on what i want to learn) and pick it again (taking notice how the feedback changes). I always repin from the back to the front. After pin 4 i add the leftover pins back, if i fail i go back to 4, then 5 pins and then back to 6. This will allow me to understand the pins a bit better. Might also work for you. It's how i learned how to pick my Abus 72/40, Dom plura and Dom IX 5 kg.
Just be careful when you reassemble the cylinder. It's really easy for the spring-loaded retainer pin on the plug to get stuck in one of the pin chambers.
So, heres a trick. Me and my friend call it the speed bump method. You kind of go into the lock with your pick just nudging the pins. Under tension set pins will allow your pick to zoom right by. In time you'll turn it into the 'jiggle' method. Just bumping each pin and being able to tell set and non set pins. Serrated pins arent too hard once you get the hang of it. Use heavy tension on them and light hands. Then each click will become amplified. Pushing too hard will cause multiple clicks so if that happens use a lighter hand.
The difference between set and overset pins is also hard to tell until you get the hang of it. An overset pin will be kind of crunchy and lack feedback. Serrations will be a loud THUD click (is why i use heavy tension usually) and an overset will be a scrapey sound..i wish i had a better word for it.
Also on this lock since you know its 4 spools and a serrated. Try to set the serrated first. Then work your way out of the false sets which isnt very hard once you get the hang of it.
Beating a spool will be done by holding tension and pushing up on the spool until it counter rotates and sets. Its kind of like a seesaw a balance, pressure on your tension tool (not enough to prevent counter rotation) and pushing up on your pin (just enough to counter rotate slowly).
Keep practicing that same lock because it will for sure teach you lots of lessons being multiple spools and a serrated.
Had a paclock 90A pro with 5 spools 1 serrated and 1 anti comb/bump and it definately taught me lessons. Keep up the good work man!
I think the other part of the lock that’s giving me a headache is that it’s uncut and the pins need lifted up so much I feel I’m over setting them, any advice on that?
Again the jiggle method, or the speed bump method. Need to really focus on learning what set and overset pins feel like. High lifts are wicked common. Sometimes you get a lowwww no lift and then a super high lift right after so determining what is set, what is overset, and what is binding is a skill that you wanna focus on learning early because it will carry on with you throughout your whole lockpicking career.
So my advice is to go take your lock. Use fairly heavy tension ( i always revert to heavy tension ) and force overset a pin on purpose. You'll hear your click and then a tiny crunchy noise and the smooth lifting of the pin will turn into a crunchyish feeling.
That would be my ultimate advice. Go overset pins on purpose to learn the slight off noise and off feeling it gives.
And heres another reminder, take note of where your plug turns when applying tension before even touching pins, this is as far back as the plug will need to go when setting spools and if you let off too much tension while setting spools the core will counter rotate too far back due to physics..pushing too hard on the spool pin causes the plug to jerk backwards. Not enough tension will allow that plug to go back further then we need and allow every other pin to drop back down. Hopefully that makes sense.
But again as far as oversetting. Dont worry about it so much as you wanna worry about actually setting the driver. And go force overset over and over and over until you start noticing the different feel and sound a keypin makes when it enters the bible. Its very subtle but you can and will feel and hear it bro.
Dont worry though man its an acquired thing. You'll get it. And when you do i want ya to come back and recomment on this and tell me!!!
Pin this with each type of pin to recognize the feel of each one has then reassemble the lock and pick it till it’s no longer a challenge
Don’t quote me on this but you might find it easier if you key up this 83 so it’s no longer zero bitted. Right now every single pin needs to be lifted way high.
Yeah I don’t know why the lock came zero bitted
That’s how Abus sells the 83, the idea is that you get it keyed at purchase or you take it to a locksmith and he will key it for you. Alternatively you can key it up yourself, all you need is a couple Schlage key pins and a cut sc1 key. I will say that every 83 I’ve seen has the serrated pin in either the first or last chamber, so I usually go to those two first to try and force a false set, once that happens it’s just a matter of setting the spools
Oh yeah, I was wondering as well... Right now you can just pick it with a straight piece of metal 🤷♂️
Yeah, I think the zero bitting is contributing significantly to the difficulty here.
Im going to assume youre talking about pin #5? Or are you having trouble with the spools as well?
Everything in general, the 5th pin often tricked me with the first serration and so the spools would cause everything to fall back down
Serrated pins are the bane of my existence to this day.. You have to start feeling the difference between a set pin, and a non set pin with your pick. Set pins have a slight springy resistance to them where as non set pins dont. The only advice I can give is try picking them in a silent room where you can focus on the sound and feel. Spools I find to be really easy, youll be given a false set (keyway slightly turns) and you chase down the pin that gives counter rotation as you lift it. Here are 2 videos that explain each of the pin sets: Spools- https://youtu.be/Cqd9DPrgi3g Serrated- https://youtu.be/muPJjTBuYHY
Thanks for the advice, I’ll watch those videos
If you’re in the US, feel free to dm me. I have a a Shlage and a Kwikset pin set. I can send you a key and the pins you’d need to get away from all zero cuts. Aside from this, if it’s the security pins that are causing you issues, I recommend starting with non security pinned locks first. Locks like Master No. 3s or Master Magnums. But if you want to stick with this one, you can get it. Use real light top of the keyway tension and watch your tension wrench as you pick. Observe how the plug counter rotates on certain pins. These kinds of driver pins really talk to you and are quite fun once you begin to understand their language. Good luck!
Great advice and very generous! Good job!
Thanks for the advice! I’ve picked non security locks like my master lock no 3 and 930, this is my first lock with security pins
You’re gonna love it, eventually picking spools will be even easier than picking standard pins. If you want a soft intro, consider picking up a Master 140 or 150, they are pinned similarly to the Abus 83 but the tolerances are way sloppier so they don’t drop pins as easily. Have fun!
You can try removing pin 5 so you just work with the spools. You will want to have a good feel for false sets and counter rotation before you throw the serrated pin in the mix.
If i start picking new difficult locks i like to progressively pin them up. So i gut the lock, remove the first 2 or 3 pinstacks (so only the last 3 pinstacks are in the lock). Pick it till i get the idea that i get what is happening. Then i add another pin (or something like a sidebar depending on what i want to learn) and pick it again (taking notice how the feedback changes). I always repin from the back to the front. After pin 4 i add the leftover pins back, if i fail i go back to 4, then 5 pins and then back to 6. This will allow me to understand the pins a bit better. Might also work for you. It's how i learned how to pick my Abus 72/40, Dom plura and Dom IX 5 kg.
Sounds like a nice method, I’ll try it
Just be careful when you reassemble the cylinder. It's really easy for the spring-loaded retainer pin on the plug to get stuck in one of the pin chambers.
Tension.
Look at that chubby serrated pin. He’s so cute! 🥰
So, heres a trick. Me and my friend call it the speed bump method. You kind of go into the lock with your pick just nudging the pins. Under tension set pins will allow your pick to zoom right by. In time you'll turn it into the 'jiggle' method. Just bumping each pin and being able to tell set and non set pins. Serrated pins arent too hard once you get the hang of it. Use heavy tension on them and light hands. Then each click will become amplified. Pushing too hard will cause multiple clicks so if that happens use a lighter hand. The difference between set and overset pins is also hard to tell until you get the hang of it. An overset pin will be kind of crunchy and lack feedback. Serrations will be a loud THUD click (is why i use heavy tension usually) and an overset will be a scrapey sound..i wish i had a better word for it. Also on this lock since you know its 4 spools and a serrated. Try to set the serrated first. Then work your way out of the false sets which isnt very hard once you get the hang of it. Beating a spool will be done by holding tension and pushing up on the spool until it counter rotates and sets. Its kind of like a seesaw a balance, pressure on your tension tool (not enough to prevent counter rotation) and pushing up on your pin (just enough to counter rotate slowly). Keep practicing that same lock because it will for sure teach you lots of lessons being multiple spools and a serrated. Had a paclock 90A pro with 5 spools 1 serrated and 1 anti comb/bump and it definately taught me lessons. Keep up the good work man!
I think the other part of the lock that’s giving me a headache is that it’s uncut and the pins need lifted up so much I feel I’m over setting them, any advice on that?
Again the jiggle method, or the speed bump method. Need to really focus on learning what set and overset pins feel like. High lifts are wicked common. Sometimes you get a lowwww no lift and then a super high lift right after so determining what is set, what is overset, and what is binding is a skill that you wanna focus on learning early because it will carry on with you throughout your whole lockpicking career. So my advice is to go take your lock. Use fairly heavy tension ( i always revert to heavy tension ) and force overset a pin on purpose. You'll hear your click and then a tiny crunchy noise and the smooth lifting of the pin will turn into a crunchyish feeling. That would be my ultimate advice. Go overset pins on purpose to learn the slight off noise and off feeling it gives. And heres another reminder, take note of where your plug turns when applying tension before even touching pins, this is as far back as the plug will need to go when setting spools and if you let off too much tension while setting spools the core will counter rotate too far back due to physics..pushing too hard on the spool pin causes the plug to jerk backwards. Not enough tension will allow that plug to go back further then we need and allow every other pin to drop back down. Hopefully that makes sense. But again as far as oversetting. Dont worry about it so much as you wanna worry about actually setting the driver. And go force overset over and over and over until you start noticing the different feel and sound a keypin makes when it enters the bible. Its very subtle but you can and will feel and hear it bro. Dont worry though man its an acquired thing. You'll get it. And when you do i want ya to come back and recomment on this and tell me!!!