![]() The locking pawl might not be fully disengaged, or it is disengaged but the shackle is binding on something else. The shackle is going to be jammed as the result of a blockage in the shackle hole, or broken component, which is causing the locking pawl not to retract. If the cylinder can spin continuously without meeting resistance, there is likely something else wrong with the lock (this could be the sign of a broken actuator). This will not always be a full turn, but the cylinder in the padlock should rotate at least partially. If a padlock won’t open due to a jammed shackle, the key should still turn in the lock. Your tool must be strong enough not to break and cause more debris to clog the keyway. You will need an object slim enough to slip alongside the blockage and leverage it as you pull out. These wheels can get blocked from moving or bind up, but we will discuss stuck combination wheels later on.Įven if you are not removing a broken key from your lock, you will still be going through the same type of remedies. In fact, many bike locks and locker locks use combination wheels. ![]() In the most severe cases, whatever was put inside the keyway can move up from the plug to the upper pin chambers and will not be cleanable. If you are in an emergency situation, you may not have the time to pick the fragments out of the lock and will need to cut the lock. There is also the additional time it will take to remove all the pieces as the substance breaks apart. If the keyway is filled with material that breaks up such as wood, dirt, foam, etc., the lock will need to be cleaned for it to be fully restored. This may not be visually apparent if objects have been forced into the recesses of the keyway, but you will notice that the key will not fully insert. Besides the key, people will sometimes stick foreign objects into the keyhole. The most common reason for a padlock keyway being blocked is because a key broke off in the lock. So let’s get into what might be the reason for your padlock not opening and how to fix the problem. When a padlock won’t open, it is because something is wrong with the way these parts are interacting. Now that you understand the basic parts of a padlock, you will be able to better understand the internal processes that are being interrupted by the broken padlock. The key is inserted into the plug, which will be rotated to move the actuator and retract the locking pawls. Plug – When you look at the keyway of a padlock, you are looking at the plug. Pin chambers – In standard pin tumbler locks, the driver pins must be moved out of the plug into their respective pin chambers so the plug can rotate. There are often three entry points including the plug’s keyway, shackle hole, and drain hole (to allow water to flow out).Īctuator – Located on the back of the plug, this component will retract the locking pawl when the plug is turned. Lock body – The housing for all of the internal components where the shackle secures to the locking pawl. Once caught, the locking pawl will need to be retracted in order for the shackle to pull free from the lock body. Locking Pawl – When the shackle is fully inserted, the cut on the end will catch on the locking pawl. ![]() Cuts at the base of the catch the locking pawls so the shackle does not slide freely out of the lock body. Shackle – The U-shaped length of metal that loops into the hasp on a door, gate, etc. This is not a complete overview of the history of padlocks, just a snapshot of their current form. But when you understand how the most basic lock works, it will give you better insight into when a non-standard padlock won’t open. And not even every keyed padlock uses a pin tumbler system. There are many padlock variations, such as combination locks and U-locks. The most common reasons a padlock won’t open include: ![]() In some cases, you will need a locksmith, but this information should allow you to do some of the work yourself. There are many reasons for a padlock not opening, and they have solutions that do not always call for the brute force burglary tactics of cutting, prying, or drilling. But just because a padlock won’t open does not necessarily mean that the padlock is broken.
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