(picking 759) Why this combination lock is so hard to decode (manufacturer tricks revealed)

[@Potti314]

I received this lock from a viewer to decode it. It was a 30min job as the lock manufacturer has has built in properties to make decoding very difficult: pulling not straight by design, tight tolerances, two types of false gates to prevent continues decoding and pretend a wrong number to be correct. This video is not an actual decoding session but explains the lock secrets and gives general decoding advices. See my full decoding playlist for all tricks and tip on combination locks kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3_LfIWJptOWj9U

[@evilarchconservative2952]

Thanks for showing the inside. Those undercuts were particularly interesting.

[@Potti314]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@RRack]

Thanks for the video! I have the same lock and none of the other tutorials worked. This lock definitely has advanced measures to prevent cracking it. Actually seeing how the inside works will help tremendously! I'm determined to open and be able to use it again!

[@Schlachter_TTV]

Ich übe erst seit ein paar Tagen. Bin irgendwie fasziniert wie schwer manche Schlösser zu öffnen sind. Deine Arbeit ist der Wahnsinn !

[@Potti314]

Vielen Dank - noch viel Spaß und Erfolg.

[@louren1951]

This was the best video that accurately describes what was going on with The lock I found. It does make your fingers hurt. I solved it also in 30 min. With the luck method. Lol

[@brianhignett8954]

Hi Potti314, Interesting combination lock mechanism, 5 numbers, variable system for false gates. Certainly the manufacturer has gone the extra mile to deter a pull pick attack. Thoroughly and well explained by yourself, as usual. I found it very interesting. Regards, Brian.

[@Potti314]

Thanks a lot for tuning in. Yes, this is a great lock and I wished all bike combination locks would be made like this.

[@obijanjebrave]

Very innovating, but then again, people find hard to remember 3 digits combination, not to mention five. Great job my friend!

[@Potti314]

Thank you - cheers. Guess with the date of birth and so on, people can remember some longer numbers.

[@jimmycrupier7883]

Thanks heaps Potti ! Mine had 4 wheels but 2 types of false gates... Using the Indirect method I wrote down 3 possibilities from the tightest wheel on the left and proceeded from there , eliminating some of the "good" numbers as I went. I Noticed that the "good" numbers caused the next wheel to not make clicking noises when turned. Prost!

[@timbober1]

Thank you for the lesson, stay well

[@Potti314]

Thanks, you too!

[@RWBHere]

A combination lock which puts up a fight is rare. Thanks for the video. 🙂👍

[@Potti314]

Cheers and thanks for watching.

[@raikju2494]

What is that tiny light at 3:41 and where to get it?

[@andytuesday500]

I got one like it. I don’t recommend anyone buying one of these locks for valuables. Fun to practice decoding with.

[@noahway13]

Why? it is so hard to decode? I bet most lock pickers could not get it. You must have a cheap version.

[@Potti314]

Do you think that the cable is it too easy to cut?

[@noahway13]

@@Potti314 It's something to say to sound like a big shot.

[@andytuesday500]

@@Potti314 I’m a construction worker. I think most stuff is easy to cut. This type of lock I was able to decode in the 6 th grade. They just seem like easy prey for a thief. At least a master lock you need a pick.

[@EdocDab]

Always nice if effort is put in by manufacturers to keep locksport interesting 👍It would have been a practical lock if the physical strength was at a decent level. Clear video 👍

[@Potti314]

Thanks for watching and I agree with you.

[@arrrg3846]

Interior lighting views are fantastic! I hope this visualization can be used with many more locks. Thank you! I also wonder if "hanging" the lock under weight tension with some sort of distance micrometer for the different settings might be useful. For example, you mention that with some combinations the separation is greater/lesser than others. I would be interesting to see if the micrometer separation might useful for minimizing the number of trials necessary.

[@Potti314]

Thanks for the nice comment. It's hard to do precise operations on such a hard to handle object (clamping, etc. could be tricky).

[@parkermiller9101]

I have one with 4 numbers and it’s not working with any methods I’ve looked up. It’s so annoying because I don’t want to buy a new one and it was my dads old one. I looked up the name of the lock and can’t find specific decodes.

[@gantry289]

Thanks for show this and some nice hint's on helping to open it. Do you know who makes the lock?

[@Potti314]

No idea who made this lock - no information could be found on the lock.

[@StefanAxelsson]

Just curious. The undercuts feels like they would be wider than the gate/false gate. Would this perhaps enable you to feel what numbers are undercuts, and then know that these numbers cannot have gates. That would cut down the amount of numbers to try to half. That might also enable you to put all the wheels to "known undercuts", giving you a few extra micrometers to feel for gates.

[@Potti314]

Yes, of course wiggling at a number under tension is the usual way to distinguish true from false gates. However given the difficult holding / tensioning of the lock makes it hard to do this precision testing. Also the visible outer wheels have play against the inner wheels which removes feedback too.

[@StefanAxelsson]

​@@Potti314 Oh, I've opened my share of combination locks. But my thought was that if you can figure out that the undercuts are at, say, 1,3,5,7,9 you will know that the false and the real gate is on an even number (for that wheel). And if you then set all the wheels to where there is an undercut you should gain extra friction on the wheel you test, and you also just have to test 0,2,4,6,8 on it. Ah well, it's just an idea, I guess I'll have to wait until I find a similar lock to try it out. Still, nice decode, was interesting to watch. :)

[@TimHollingworth]

Thanks for the video, most informative. I have a brand new 5 digit combination lock that I messed up when setting the new code. I've tried for weeks to crack it using your method but so far all I have are aching wrists and sore fingers. I tried WD40 to help in twisting the wheels, is that something that is useful in your experience? I know it has false gates as I could see them when trying to replace the central bolt.... Also is it harder to pick a new bike lock or an old well used one?

[@chloe98145]

Can you pick a combination lock that is already open? I forgot the number combo to my bike lock, but the lock is already open so I cannot put tension on both sides of the lock

[@Fate8888]

It's gonna be easy when its already opened. Just look at the hole and align the notches. Around the 4:00 minute in this video he shows how it looks when they're aligned and when they aren't.

[@benstanski3101]

are u in new york

[@samsmet3121]

nice job. Keep up.

[@Swynndla]

Interesting lock - thank you for showing this! :D ... for the indirect method, the 1 and the 6 were binding, as one of them was a false gate ... is it always half way around for each wheel? ... and only 2 of numbers do that for the indirect method? I'm thinking that would reduce the possibilities to just 32 combinations. Cheers!

[@Potti314]

It's actually a false gate for every second number due to the undercuts. This makes it a 5^5 = 3125 combination lock. But trying out all these is boring ;-) But you could find the traditional false gates as one-number deviation from the 2-number spaced undercuts - given you know this construction detail before you start decoding ;-) Then it would be a 2^5=32 combination lock. However to find true/false gate on one wheel requires the wheels to be in a proper gate.

[@Swynndla]

@@Potti314 Ah ok thank you! :D :D

[@ChinCo1]

Does kryptonite has false gates?

[@gkeyman565]

Great video, Sometimes you have to "BE the Lock", ;)

[@Potti314]

Yes, very true. Thanks for tuning in.

[@peterpiper0815]

:) 'Be water, my friend' kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXuwqHWte89opLM

[@noahway13]

What is the brand? Seems like a hard to de-code lock. And ANY lock can be forced/cut , given time.

[@Potti314]

No name was on the lock, hence we have no idea what the brand is.

[@Loverrrr.r6]

Hey @potti314 I have a serenelife 4 digit combination box, that i cant decode, nor break into. What should I do.?

[@Potti314]

Angle grinder ;-)

[@zeeshansaifi6255]

How its made

[@Potti314]

No idea.

[@XMickyMouseX]

Langes Kabelschloß 150 cm lang Fahrrad Schloß Zahlenschloß Z 69 according to google lens, maybe?

[@laincathy]

just use a Peterson tool job done

[@Potti314]

Which tool of Peterson? Please share a link.

[@AlexeyGopachenko]

It's not possible to fit anything (including Peterson mini-knife) between the wheels due to their complex profile. e.g left has a step that goes inside of the right and completely closes the gap.