Tutorial on opening a Chubb/Union 3G110

In depth tutorial on how to open these notoriously difficult licks using the GJ Locks detainer pick

[@1964bjam]

For anyone wanting to know how to pick one of these detainer locks this video should be your primary reference. I could not do a better explanation. This is a decent locksmith at work. Pay attention - it’s all here. Great job Seth.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Cheers Brian, one of my earlier videos where I somehow managed to sound less like a rough northerner

[@mcswainy]

Got a 110 on a heritage door to open, I really don't want to drill it.. We've had this pick for a few months now, but with no instructions.. This video has helped a lot, I've opened one on bench with window now. Bit more practice and I'll give it a shot. Thanks mate!

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Well they do have a fearsome rep and rightly so, do you have access to both sides of the door? And I’m glad the video helped cause it is a tricky pick to master

[@brighton_locksmith]

Another great video mate. Really enjoy watching them bud. I've just managed to get a couple of second hand 3g110 and a 3k70. I've had a few goes with my GJ Chubb decoder but havn't had an open yet!! Just ordered a training cover too so hopefully that'll help 🤞🏼 I guess it's all about the practice.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

They do take practice pal and lots and lots of concentration, but trust me when you get your first open it’s awesome! Should take between 15-30 mins depending on the key bitting 🔑

[@brighton_locksmith]

@@FortressLocksmiths I'll get there!! Just can't seem to get it at the moment! I spend most of my time looking for and picking up the pins that have pinged out of my tweezers 😂😂

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@brighton_locksmith I feel your pain in that respect! The GJ Asec/Legge decoder comes with a cool little pin picker tool so that’s my next investment.....as for the 3G110 don’t beat yourself up it’s still the hardest mortice lock out there to pick 🔑🔑

[@brighton_locksmith]

@@FortressLocksmiths I've seen the pin picker tool Seth! I wondered if they sell it on it own 🤔 That would make life slightly easier 😁

[@brighton_locksmith]

@@FortressLocksmiths Did it today!! Realised that my pick wire wasn't exactly under the detainers properly which was giving me false feedback!! What a feeling when it went though 😁

[@philipinchina]

Thank you. Very informative on 3G110 and 3K70. I always found 3G114 more difficult. Anyway for a skilled man with the correct equipment to take as long as this means the 3G110 is a very good lock. My only complaint is the size of the thing! You have to quarry out so much of the door to fit one that it caused it's own weakness.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Thanks for watching Philip, and yes these are incredibly well built locks in fact all Chubb/Unions are in my opinion 🔑 I love to use the Staddon/Turner pick on the 114s it makes very light work of them!

[@philipinchina]

@@FortressLocksmiths What was the Chubb latch? It worked on 5 detainers and you could close the door and it caught. Another turn of the key and it deadlocked.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@philipinchina I think it’s the 3R35 you’re on about? You have to buy them handed if memory serves as from the inside they work like a panic latch....is that the one you’re on about?

[@philipinchina]

@@FortressLocksmiths Yes, that sounds correct.

[@stewgordon9291]

Yer another good one mate fair play

[@dyfrigjames2229]

Awesome job buddy, such an amazing tool fair play. Thank you for the video, very educational 👍

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Dyfrig james thanks for the feedback pal, these are very tricky locks to open and the tool makes it a hell of a lot easier, still takes 15-30 minutes but any lock opened non-destructively is a win in my eyes

[@dyfrigjames2229]

Fortress Locksmiths I’ve just started the process now of starting to get the decoders, are there ones you would recommend getting first? Like ones you find ur self using more often than others?

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Dyfrig james yeah without doubt there are ones I use more than others. Top of the list get the ERA Fortress decoder, I must use that a couple of times a week, then I’d say you should get the Union/Yale/Chubb decoder for the 2134(E) as you come across them all the time, and lastly get the ERA viscount one, I don’t know whereabouts in England you’re from but in the North these locks are everywhere 😂

[@dyfrigjames2229]

That’s awesome thank you, definitely gives me a good guide as to what I will need. Surprisingly not that cheap 😂 I’ll be ordering one at the end of the week and do it bit by bit then, I don’t spose you know any discount codes for Aldridge security? 😂

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Dyfrig james I’ve been using them for years and I’ve not had a discount off them yet 😂 I use them cause the stock prices are good and your orders always arrive within 24 hours. I’m putting up a video I took yesterday, once again a Fortress lock decoded on site in less than 3 minutes

[@sirwalterkissmecrack]

Interesting, thanks.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

No problem, thanks for the positive feedback

[@seeitpickitbinit2510]

the second you said nasty bastards, I subscribed, hahahahhaaaa🤣🤣🤣♥️♥️♥️

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Well it’s true!! They are nasty bastards 😂😂🔑

[@seeitpickitbinit2510]

Just realised how much a 3g110 lever, looks like the profile side view of ALIEN, hahahaa🤣🤣🤣♥️♥️♥️

[@thelockpickinglebowski633]

Nice cutaway bruva!

[@FortressLocksmiths]

My man is now in a Fortress wormhole 👀 see you on the other side

[@thelockpickinglebowski633]

@@FortressLocksmiths Best videos I've ever seen for learning locks across the pond. I gonna Tweet out your channel link to the #locksport #locksmith crew.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@thelockpickinglebowski633 depends if they like cuss words, cause that’s all I do 😂🤝

[@thelockpickinglebowski633]

🤣@@FortressLocksmiths

[@Stealth_1972]

Brilliant tutorial. I've just been ask to replace the sash version for a friend and old lock key stops one way at 10 o'clock and the other way at 2 o'clock . The new lock does the same 🤔what causes this. 👏🏻👍🏻..

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@Stealth_1972 the old one could be number of things, worn key , detainers sticking together…..the new one you’ve put in, have you tried locking and unlocking while the door is open

[@Stealth_1972]

The new one doesn't turn even with the lock in me hand 🤔. Does what the old one did. Stupid turning at 10 and 2.Thanks for the reply fella.. 💪🏻

[@arieark3006]

I found this really interesting m8. Random question, are you ex forces?

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Arieark 300 again thanks for watching! And no I’m not ex-forces what makes you ask that? 😂

[@arieark3006]

Its just some of the terms you use, like "crack on" or "out in the field" all common in the the forces. But great vids m8, for someone looking to get into the trade they are a wealth of info.😎

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Arieark 300 hahaha yeah I take your point, it’s just the way we talk up north! And glad they are helpful to you mate, there’s only so much they can teach you in Locksmiths training the rest of it you just have to learn on the job

[@susanlaird5154]

Cannot get my key to turn completely. Do I need a new lock? Susie

[@matthewrichards552]

Hi Seth, I have got the decoder from GJ and a EBAY special and detainers 135 are all 1s and 4 is a 2 and 2 is a 3 so all pretty high lifts, I have been having a play today and I have had two things happen the pick struggles to get under pin 1 and I know this is the highest position so mo need to lift but you still need to test it to listen for the click and also I have managed to bend some of the longer pins just trying to lift the detainers is that normal?

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Hi Mathew , unfortunately some bending of the pins is quite common as they are only delicate things and rather than a normal decoder where you have the actual code, you are testing them over and over again. When you say pin 1 do you mean position 1 ? Because as they are detainers they are all sat at the same height, if you mean the position 1 yes it can sometimes feel like you’re not quite sat under it right , so you have to reset the pick body and try the pick again

[@matthewrichards552]

Yes sorry position 1, you can get under it but you have to corkscrew under just to test. I will play more tomorrow and see if I can get the hang of the clicks a bit more. Thanks for the reply and thanks for all your vids 👍

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@matthewrichards552 no problem pal, just a quick one are you using a training cover , or practicing ‘blind’ as it were ?

[@matthewrichards552]

@@FortressLocksmithstraining cover from GJ until I get the hang of things. I have set all the pins in the pick to the correct height to try and get a feel for the right noise and I think because the lifts are so high and the spring tension is a lot I don't really get the ticking you mentioned and as you would as per other types of locks but as I say this may be due to the amount of tension. As per all the other hints in the vid they are spot on, I found that I started to get detainer 1 binding first and then all the other starting binding/grinding straight away so it was hard to work out what one was grinding the most. I will get there and as you say its just another one to keep in the arsenal incase I get one on a job in the future.

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@matthewrichards552 the training cover will explain it then mate. The detainers are probably spreading out a fraction of a mm meaning the pins sometimes aren’t lining exactly up, try it with the original cover on and see what I mean. The training covers are awesome but sometimes they won’t compress the levers/detainers quite enough

[@ronpalmer1371]

Hi, are you aware there is an alternative point to drill apart from the gate pin ?

[@FortressLocksmiths]

Hi Ron , yes I am if it’s right hand mounted , but if it’s left hand mounted no I haven’t heard or seen of one so feel free to share it there is 😁🔑

[@ronpalmer1371]

@@FortressLocksmiths 😂😂 I was hoping you could tell me, I heard of “the alternative “ point of drilling Long after I was out of the game, and still curious what it was if not the gate pin as that was the usual go to when drilling was necessary, 110’s were very common at the time (early 1970’s) as we do done the lock fitting and opening for Chubb (St James St) all I remember was being told drilling for the gate pin was old hat but never learned what the new method was. So if you hear anything feel free to share it with me 😂😂👍

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@ronpalmer1371 ahhh right well yes there is another drill point 😉😉 if you check out my video where I pick a Chubb 3K70 I show you were the other drill point is in that mate 👍🏻🔑

[@ronpalmer1371]

@@FortressLocksmiths Ok got it, I’d forgotten about the 3K70 and 3R35 big old lumps they were 👍

[@FortressLocksmiths]

@@ronpalmer1371 yep lovely locks they are, basically all the same internals