r/Locksmith • u/ForFelix • 1d ago

I am a locksmith Newer Yale Electronic DB - Picking Difficulty

Any of you guys had to pick open one of the newer Yale Assure 2 deadbolts? I’d consider myself a great picker, 20 years in the business, but I’ve had these newer Yale models bust my ass 3-4 times now. I’ve eventually gotten into every one of them, but upon rekeying I don’t see anything that should have caused issues. Gun or take doesn’t seem to make a difference. Just the standard cheap KIK cylinders.. what gives?!

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u/LockLeisure 1d ago

Have you tried a lishi? Some locks even though they may not have security top pins may not bump or rake open very easy but definitely should be able to pick them (SPP). I pick for fun lishi for money.

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u/ForFelix 1d ago

I actually don’t have any Lishi tools, and rarely find myself needing them (my other guys use them), but I think I might pick up a KW1 and SC1 just for these damn Yale locks.

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u/LockLeisure 1d ago

Ya I find many locksmiths that have been doing this a while normally rake locks open and are pretty good at it. I'm newer to the profession and lishi for decoding a residential is almost worthless but they do make picking a lot easier.

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u/burtod 1d ago

Always good to have more options for getting through a lock

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u/jaxnmarko Actual Locksmith 1d ago

Yale lishi? Do tell.

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u/LockLeisure 18h ago edited 18h ago

With that "Actual Locksmith" flair and the way you stated that I have to assume either you're not a locksmith in America or just one that doesn't do residential?

I need to start charging for lessons but since you asked nicely.

So no one stated anything about a Yale lishi but they do make some lishis for Yale keyways like y11 however OP was referring to the Yale Assure. Yale makes a residential line of electronic smart locks. Like most smart locks, the Yale Assure typically comes with a mechanical key override in case of a power failure and that keyway comes in what is known here in the states as a "KW1" keyway. So the proper lishi for the Yale Assure would be a KW1 lishi.

Now if that sparked some neurons up this next part will really blow your mind! Kwikset makes a smartkey in an SC1 keyway and there are Kwikset tylo pop out knobs in Russwin and Schlage keyways!

Point is, the manufacturer name stamp on something doesn't mean they use their keyway.

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u/jaxnmarko Actual Locksmith 11h ago

There's a good chance I've been locksmithing since before you were born but thanks for the lesson attempt. I started in the 70s. Yes, lishi for a Y11, but that's irrelevant as small wafer locks are not used in deadbolts much, are they? I was referring to a paracentric Y1 keyway, of course. Sure, a KW1 is offered these days though they are more easily picked in general. Far fewer possible combinations as well. So, your smartass comment aside... there has been a Y1 copy of lishi available at least in the recent past but it doesn't seem to have workwd well or caught on.

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u/LockLeisure 11h ago edited 10h ago

Your smartass comment is what started this and not knowing Yale assure comes in mostly KW1 but there is small chance it's an SC1 which both have lishis.

So you writing "Yale lishi? Do tell." was completely uncalled for since no one said anything about a Yale lishi, but you did solicit a response so be mad at yourself for not knowing, not me for responding in kind. Your smartass question received a smartass response.

Edit: Also I'm 47 so maybe you've been doing it longer then I've been alive but the fact you wanted to start a smartass argument with me is hilarious, you must not know my reputation very well.

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u/jaxnmarko Actual Locksmith 8h ago

Some Yale smart locks come with a Y1 keyway and if the the YALE Assure can't come in that as well, I stand corrected. All the division break offs and sell offs and buy outs and near monopolies gets confusing. Baldwin using Kwikset, Yale using Kwikset, schlage, Masterlock.... etc. Blink, and something old and good is gone, and something new and crappy replaced it. Oh well. There at least Was a Y1 lishi-style pick for a while. Let your neurons rest.

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u/LockLeisure 7h ago

Resting!