A tool set for picking open a side bar lock mechanism when the key therefor is not available, and decoding the bittings of a key therefor, said lock mechanism including an outer cylindrical casing and a locking cylinder mounted for rotation therein, said lock cylinder having a cavity formed therein that defines a keyway and a plurality of tumbler guideways, each of which guideways has an inwardly spring biased flat tumbler slideably mounted therein so as to normally impinge on and be positioned by a key inserted in said keyway, the inserted key causing V-notches formed in the tumblers to align;
- the lock cylinder cavity further including a side bar guideway oriented transversely in respect to said tumbler guideways so that an inwardly spring biased side bar slideably mounted in the side bar guideway will slide into the tumbler V-notches when the V-notches are properly positioned by insertion of the key, comprising:
- a first spring compressing tool for insertion into the keyway of the lock cylinder to cause radially outward movement of the tumblers slideably mounted therein, the outward movement of the tumblers compressing springs that normally force said tumblers inwardly,
- a second tool for insertion into said keyway in an aligned position adjacent said first tool, said second tool engaging the springs compressed by said first tool and maintaining the springs in a compressed condition when said first tool is removed from the keyway, thereby removing spring bias from said tumblers and releasing the tumblers for movement,
- a third tool for insertion into the keyway in an aligned position with respect to said second tool after removal of said first tool for grasping a radially inward end of the released tumblers, whereby the tumblers can be moved in their respective guideways by motion of said third tool to cause the V-notches in the tumblers to align the side bar and allow radially inward movement of the side bar and rotation of the lock cylinder in the outer casing to an open position,
- a fourth tool to be installed in said keyway in an aligned position adjacent said second tool after the lock is in an open position and said third tool has been removed from the keyway, said fourth tool being adapted to measure the radial distance of each tumbler from the longitudinal axis of the lock cylinder when the lock mechanism is in an open position to provide guide numbers to set a key cutting machine for making a new key that will operate the lock,
- a fifth tool for holding a dust cover open during picking and decoding operations on lock mechanisms that are provided with spring actuated dust covers that normally close the entrance to a lock mechanism keyway,
- the said first tool comprising a thin flexible steel blade that has a key blank section of suitable length for the lock to be opened formed on one end thereof, said key blank section forcing the tumblers outwardly when the key blank section is inserted in the keyway, said blade having a handle section formed on the other end thereof that includes an alignment notch cut in one edge thereof for use in aligning said second tool with respect to said first tool,
- the said second tool comprising a rectangular handle section for holding and manipulating said second tool in opening a lock mechanism, said handle having an alignment pin mounted thereon and a guide surface formed along one long side thereof, an elongated spring retaining section having one end mounted in a fixed position relative to said handle section, the other end of said spring retaining section formed with a plurality of spaced comb-like projections that are spaced to straddle the tumblers and engage the springs biasing said tumblers when the alignment pin on said second tool handle is placed in the alignment notch of a fully inserted first tool, an extendable positioning slide slideably mounted in said handle for sliding movement along said guide surface to a position in the keyway where said slide engages said spring compressing section and supports said comb-like projections in a spring engaging position, and securing means for slideably retaining said positioning slide in said handle.