HINTS & TIPS
ERA Fortress - Union Strongbolt - Yale PM Pin & Cam
» WE WILL START WITH THE ERA Fortress , which has seven possible lever heights :
• Using the supplied plastercine reader key , take a reading of the rear of the lever pack .
• There is a curtain stop that prevents you reaching all of the levers so you can ’ t get a full code .
• But the reader key will reach a number six or seven lever .
• So if there are no marks on the plastercine you know there are no six or seven levers in the lock .
• Load the tool with all number five pins .
• If there are marks on the plastercine :
• note their position
• insert number seven pins in their locations
• load number five pins in the positions with no marks . The tool will raise each pin three positions . So , for example , if you have a number seven pin it will cover levers seven , six and five . And if you start with a number five pin it will cover levers five , four and three .
• Insert the tool and apply light tension .
• Test each pin by rotating the knob at the rear of the tool .
All pin and cams work using the same following method :
1 . If the pin moves freely leave it alone , that lever isn ’ t binding yet .
2 . If the pin feels solid that lever is binding , remove the tool and move the pin up one height .
3 . If the pin feels spongey , that lever is in an anti pick , remove the tool and move the pin up one height .
4 . If the lever is ‘ tapping ’, that lever is in its true gate . The lever gate is tapping against the top and bottom of the bolt stump .
If you follow these rules , you will get the lock open and shouldn ’ t miss any gates . The tool does allow the more experienced user to pick the lock with the tool by understanding the feedback you get through the tool . Once you understand the feedback you can skip pins to get a faster opening but for new users just stick to the method described above . Inexperienced users can easily get lost if they try and guess what ’ s going on .
28
MARCH 2024
locksmithjournal . co . uk Issue Takeover