Thanks for the help. I just wanted to give a last update and I want to
write down the way I solve the problem for future reference!
Yes, I finally solved this problem. Fortunately I had the right
impression (sorry Leo, but I was glad that your guess was wrong..
otherwise I would have been forced to cut that lock or do more work).
While trying to figure out the problem I discovered a dozen of
lockpicking and combi-lock cracking manuals in the net. I didn´t have to
use it, but it was remarkable to me 🙂 ... Apparently from the
discussions I read in alt.locksmith, they know a lot about bike
combination locks. I didn't try posting to them though.
Well the problem developed the following way... as I was trying to lock
the bike on a post, halfway thru (this incident probably happens once in
a million) my thumb or something hit the red arcs on the cross-section
of the lock (those red arcs are indeed used to change the combination
code of the locks whenever necessary.. first time for me, I am sure most
people knew this though). While turning the dials the arc was also
turned, thus allowing to initiate a reset for the combination. At the
moment that the arcs were fully turned the combination was recorded to
the one that my dial was set. I naturally didn't know that and was still
turning the dial to the "right" combination so I can fit in and then
lock the cable.
To make the story short, the code was changed while I was locking the
cable halfway thru. Thus only half of the stick went in the hole where
the dials turn. Now that is the part that produced my good luck!
Yesterday, I was pondering on that and tried to first change one or two
digits of the code from the original. Turns out, that if the cable is
locked halfway thru, one needs to only know last two digits of the code
and the rest is not important. So I found the last two digits after less
than 50 tries. Now there was this minor problem of knowing the rest of
the digits once I get the lock opened.. but when the lock is opened,
even not knowing any digit one can figure out the code (just slip the
stick in the hole and keep turning the last dial to the right dial until
the stick goes more in for each dial.)
Thanks again for your comments.
Sincerely,
Jose Capco
Leo Lichtman said:"Jose Capco" wrote: (clip)I would be much grateful if someone could explain
to me the mechanism involved in these kind of locks,(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My guess is that your lock is defective--not that the combination has
somehow been changed. All combination locks I have ever dealt with will
close and lock if the combination is not set. If fact, if the combination
is set, the lock pops open--I would expect that if the combination is set
when you close the lock, it should close easily, but not stay closed.
Possibly, if you shoot some WD-40 or graphite into the lock you can get it
working. I would also try tapping on it sharply with a small hammer.
PS: Leo... could it be that we were talking of different locks? I was
talking about a cable combination lock.. where you talking of something
else (Sorry.. I got this impression, because you say that the lock "pops
open", but my lock never pops open.. one must pull it to open, even when
the combination is right)
