How Do You Open a Master Lock When Do Not Know Combination

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Combination locks are used for a variety of purposes, from school and gym lockers to securing items inside the home. If you lose the combination it can exist very frustrating not to accept admission to your belongings. If y'all don't want to cut open up the lock, there are other methods to try. These steps can help you open a combination lock without a code, but should only be used on your own lock. Do not open locks that practice not belong to you.

1. 1

   Familiarize yourself with the lock. A lock has 3 primary components. The shackle is the U-shaped piece which attaches it to an object. The dial is the portion with numbers that turns. The body is the balance of the lock. If you concord the lock with the shackle on meridian and the punch facing yous, typically the locking mechanism is on the left side of the shackle.

2. 2

   Exercise pressure. To find a lock combination you will need to pull up gently on the shackle. Too much force per unit area will make it impossible to plow the dial. Likewise little and the dial will spin freely. Y'all should exert gentle pressure. This may accept some practise.

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3. iii

   Find the beginning number. Pull up gently on the shackle and hold it in place. Plough the punch clockwise listening carefully until you lot hear the lock click.

   • Showtime with a good deal of pressure and gently let upwardly as you spin information technology effectually, until you come across resistance in only ane place.
   • If the dial catches every few numbers, you lot are pulling also hard. If it never catches at all, you are not pulling plenty. Information technology should take hold of in merely one place, making a click.
   • If the click happens when the dial is betwixt two numbers, round up to the college number.
   • Add five to that number and write it downwardly. This is the first number in the combination.^[1]

4. iv

   Set the first number of the combination as your starting signal. It may exist helpful to spin the punch a few times before doing this to reset the lock.

5. five

   Turn the punch counterclockwise to detect the second number. Maintaining gentle force per unit area on the shackle, plow the dial slowly. Yous should go all the way around the machinery once before reaching the second number.

   • The lock volition bump and take hold of as you turn.
   • Somewhen the lock hitting a bespeak where information technology will exist very difficult to turn. This stopping betoken is the 2nd number. Note it on the same piece of paper.^[ii]

6. 6

   Effort combinations. 1 method of finding the third number is to simply test every possible combination. Set your commencement ii numbers every bit if y'all were ready to unlock. And so turn the dial clockwise very slowly, testing each possible combination.

   • At this point there should be merely twoscore possible combinations.
   • Y'all do not have to reset the first two numbers for each combination. Only plow ane number then tug. Repeat the process until the lock opens.

7. 7

   Test for the third number. A different method for finding the third number is to examination the catch. Spin the punch clockwise a few times to reset the lock and set up information technology at 0. Apply upwards pressure on the shackle and turn the punch clockwise.

   • The lock will catch several times, allowing for slight movement back and forth between two numbers.
   • Write down the number in the middle. For example, if the lock catches betwixt 33 and 35, write down 34 on a split up piece of newspaper. This is non necessarily the concluding number.
   • The lock will also grab partway between numbers. For example, the range might be between 27.5 and 29.v. If the middle number is not a whole number, such as 28.five, do not write it down. Lock combinations are always whole numbers.
   • Proceed all the style around the punch, writing down all the whole numbers where it catches. You should accept four or five numbers written down.
   • Virtually of the numbers volition fit a pattern, for example all ending in 5. The one number that does non fit the blueprint is the final number in your combination.^{[iii] [4]}

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1. 1

   Consider your lock. Recently fabricated locks are designed to be shim-proof by the manufacturers, although in some cases information technology is still possible to pick them. This method volition work better on older locks.

2. 2

   Identify where the locking machinery is. In order to apply a shim properly yous need to be working with the place where the shackle locks, as working on the swivel will not achieve anything.

   • Usually the locking mechanism is on the left side if you lot are looking at the lock with the shackle on top and the dial facing you.

3. 3

   Cut an aluminum tin. You can create a shim for yourself by cut up a soda can.^[5] Use scissors to cut off the top of the tin can, down the length and then to cut off the bottom.

   • You lot should be left with a single piece of aluminum that was in one case the body of the can and is now a wide strip of metal.

4. 4

   Cut a strip of metallic. Turn the aluminum horizontally, so you lot are cut the shorter side of the material. This piece will be used to make the shim.

   • Cutting a strip a little over one inch wide.
   • If any of the edges are ragged, trim them.^{[half dozen]}

5. 5

   Brand two curved incisions. Agree the small strip of aluminum horizontally and cut two curves from the lesser, somewhat resembling the letter U.

   • Centre the U in the middle of your strip.
   • Do not cut all the fashion to the elevation.

6. 6

   Brand two diagonal incisions. Cutting from the bottom of the metal around a quarter of an inch from the base of the U, cutting diagonally upwards to intersect with the top of the U and remove the triangles of cloth.

   • The consequence should be a strip of metal that looks something like the letter M, with the centre of the M curved instead of pointed. This will exist the shim.

7. vii

   Fold the sides to make a handle. Plow the top of the metal downward an eighth of an inch or so. Then fold the sides upward around the top of the strip of metal.

   • Folding the sides allows yous to accept a handle on the shim that volition not cut your hand with a sharp border.

8. 8

   Gently fold the shim around the shackle of the lock. The U of the shim should face downward.

   • You will desire to wrap the shim carefully around the outside outset and so it molds to the shape of the shaft.
   • When y'all have got the shape you lot desire, turn the shim so the U is on the inner role of the shackle and your handle is on the exterior of it.
   • Recall to practise this on the side of the shackle that has the locking mechanism.

9. 9

   Press the shackle upwards as far every bit information technology will go and hold it in position with your finger. Using your other hand, slowly piece of work the shim into the crack betwixt the shackle and the lock itself.

   • It will take a few minutes and you should non rush or force it.
   • When you have worked it in equally far as it will become, terminate.

10. 10

    Popular the lock. Compression the shim with one hand. With the other hand, printing the shackle downwardly then pull it upwardly. The lock should open.^[7]

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1. 1

   Locate the series number. If your lock has a number stamped on it, write it downwards. Some locks will not have a series number.

2. 2

   Bring the lock to a distributor or retailer of the brand. Ask the distributor to contact the manufacturer on your behalf to validate your ownership of the lock and provide you with the combination.

   • If the lock is attached to an object, for case a box, retailers will probable not help you.
   • Be aware that the retailer may charge a fee for this service.^[8]

3. 3

   Submit a lost combination form directly to the manufacturers. Visit the manufacturer's website to find out if they offer this service.

   • Due to security concerns, manufacturers will likely not provide the combination over the phone or via email.
   • You may be required to furnish proof that yous own the lock, such equally a notarized document certifying your ownership.^[9]

4. 4

   Consult the owner. If the lock belongs to a school or business, the administrators may have a list of combinations based on serial numbers. Write down the series number to bring to the chief office.

   • If the lock is attached to something, for instance a locker, be prepared to furnish proof that yous have a correct to access the holding within the locker.^[10]

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Add New Question

• Question

  How practice I open a combination chain lock without the code?

  

  Creating a "shim", as explained above, will permit y'all to open up the lock without working the lawmaking.

• Question

  Is there a way to open a combination lock that isn't the spin style? Mine has four divide tiny dials (like a briefcase lock, just on a padlock). I ordered it on eBay and it came with no combination.

  

  Utilise the pulling process in a higher place, just like picking locks you demand tension to set pins, so merely enough tension (which varies with each brand) and it's one-half the job done. The wheels aren't yet, small-scale imperfections are what yous exploit. Information technology might take a niggling fourth dimension and practice.

• Question

  What if information technology locks on a number that when you lot add 5 it goes over 40?

  

  Liam Jenner

  Community Reply

  Just take the number minus 40. If it locks on 39, then y'all add five, it would get to 44, which would exist 4.

• Question

  Practise all schools go along rail of the serial numbers and the combinations on combination locks?

  

  Most of the time, aye. My schoolhouse provided us with a piece of paper with a combination on it. Some teachers should likewise have a primal to open the lock. If you lose or forget your combination, you lot tin inquire for the combination from someone with authorization.

• Question

  Will the shim piece of work on an alpha numeric lockbox?

  

  Dan Powers

  Community Answer

  It could, depending on the quality of the lock. Ball bearing locks cannot exist shimmed, spring loaded ones can.

• Question

  Can I open up a master lock speed punch, and set up my own combination with whatever of these methods?

  

  Y'all need a master lock speed dial central to fix a combination, so the respond is no.

• Question

  I can't discover the third number using your methods. Is at that place any other style?

  

  Usually, that means you accept one of the other numbers wrong. You lot can employ the long method of dialing the first two numbers in each time you tray a new tertiary number. Quite oftentimes, when you are lifting the shackle, the punch will shift slightly, this causes the whole process to reset.

• Question

  Can the shim be used on cardinal locks as well?

  

  No. Shims can only exist used on locks with dials, such as school or gym locks.

• Question

  How can briefcase combination locks be opened?

  

  Briefcase combination locks tin be opened with bolt cutters or a hacksaw. Use caution though, to avoid harming either yourself or the briefcase. Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs.

• Question

  What do I do if I lost my combination for my alphabetical chief lock?

  

  They usually come up with a central. If not, then consult the owner of the lock and endeavour the shackle method.

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Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

• Destroying or stealing the property of other people is a crime. Practice non utilise whatsoever of these methods to tamper with a lock that is not yours, even for a prank.

• Some of these methods may non work on all locks.

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About This Article

Article Summary X

To open combination locks without a code, outset by pulling up on the dial and turning it clockwise until y'all hear the lock click. Then, check what number you're at, add 5 to that number, and write information technology downward. Next, prepare the dial to that number and plow information technology counterclockwise until you hear it click again. Then, write down whatever number you're at. Finally, set the get-go ii numbers of the combination and then slowly turn the dial clockwise, testing each number as y'all go, until you find the third number and unlock the lock. To acquire how to open up a combination lock using a shim, scroll down!

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