How to open Gerda Lock in 4 steps

About Gerda

Gerda Tytan ZX is a series of locks which are one of the best options for front doors of apartments, houses, offices and shops. Here you will learn how to how to open Gerda lock within 4 simple steps.

In Gerda we have 4 rows of pins – A, B, C and D. Every row has 4 pins, which makes them 16 in total. The pins on the other hand have a variation of 4 depths – code 1, code 2, code 3 and code 4. This is the reason why Gerda is promoted as a lock with several millions of combinations. This guarantees uniqueness of each lock. Gerda has cylinder of Tytan locking mechanism, controlled by a tubular key. The front plane of the cylinder is extremely strong and cannot be drilled. If you do it though, the correct place to drill will be in the main hole. But then again, there you will find a main “dead”pin (plug). This will once again leave your tool broken and the system blocked. Additionally, there are couple of other steel “dead” pins, including pin of type “code 1” inside that cylinder.

Moreover, the cylinder cannot be ripped off, as it is very strongly connected to the base of the lock. The two solid steel bars, compatible with durable housing and anti-break in system, are extremely resistant to being forced from the door.

Thanks to the tubular shape of the key, and if that key is photographed on a flat surface, one cannot extract the code because at least 1 of the 4 rows will remain hidden (on the Botton side of the surface). This serves as additional protection agains unauthorised attempts to make a duplicate key.

The construction provides outstanding resistance to any attempts to open the lock by means of skeleton keys.

- standart picking procedures of Gerda?

On the other hand- if you try to pick the lock with conventional pick tools and kits, it will be difficult. And if by any chance you make a progress with the first row, this will leave your opening turn on 45 degrees. Then again the system will remain blocked. To make things even more complicated, some of the pins are with anti-pick cuts, with non-standard form. Such pin is “code 4” – thanks to this pin type it is impossible to use the self-impressioning methods with wax, foil and so on. The shape of “code 4” does not allow marks to be left. Last but not least, let us not forget that Gerda has the highest security class – 7. And having said all this, there is a good reason for this.

After careful analysis of this lock, we have discovered probably the only weak spot of it – the lock can be visually decoded (partially). But just enough so that we can start the decoding procedure. This will finally give us a set up key which we can use to unlock and lock the Gerda as many times as we want to. Below we will explain more about the pins (codes), the locking system and we will go through the stages of the opening procedure. In 4 simple steps we will show you how to open Gerda lock

Gerda Pins

We have 4 types of pins – code 1, code 2, code 3 and code 4.

Code 1 is white in colour with standard shape
Code 2 will be called Code X. Standard shape
Code 3 will be called Code X also. Standard shape
Code 4 has different shape from the others

There are 4 rings with 4 rows (lines). There are 16 pins positioned in every lock. 4 pins per ring, 4 pins per row (line)

Stage 1 to open Gerda Lock- locating Code 1 (white colour)

Insert the Gerda Pin Finder all the way in. The Pin Finder consists of two parts – Leading part (that helps only during the insertion). Additionally, we have a Finder (it has the shape of a tube and through its hole we will later observe the inside of the lock to try and locate the white pins – code 1).

After the tool is inserted all the way into the lock you must eject the Leader. That will leave only the Finder inside (the tube). By being inside, the Finder keeps all pins put away. Through the tube and with the help of the Flashlight with magnifying glass provided in the kit, we will be able to see the ring.
By Pulling out gently the Finder, we will release the pins from ring 1 (deepest ring). The point here is to release the pins only from ring 1 – so do not pull out too much as this will lead to ring 2 being also released. Now with the help of the flashlight you can observe the inside of the lock through the Finder (tube). Make sure only 4 pins are visible

- Observe the Gerda lock with the flashlight

Now carefully observe all 4 pins – they have the location A, B, C and D. There might be 1, 2 or 3 white pins – rarely all 4 to be white as it will make the combination quite easy. Or there might be no white pins as it is in picture 1. This is extremely important to understand – it is not obligatory to have “code 1” in every ring. If you do not see it, this doesn’t mean that you are making a mistake. Maybe there are no white pins.

When you are done, fill in the position of white pins into the diagram provided for just the 1st ring. Fill in JUST “code 1”. The remaining keep blank! Now you will proceed with Ring 2 inside the lock by pulling once again the Finder until all 4 pins are released.
Then you repeat the procedure with the flashlight and filling the diagram. You repeat that with all 4 rings in Gerda. On ring 4 you just pull out the entire Finder (tube) and observe the entrance of the lock with the flashlight!!!. After you have filled the diagram for all 4 rings, you are ready to proceed with Stage 2 to open Gerda lock.

Stage 2 to open Gerda Lock - Setting Up the Anti Pick Key

In stage 1 we have found “code 1” and we accept that the “blank fields” will be code X. Code X is a combination of pins with “code 2” and “code 3”, as the difference between them is very small in terms of size (0.6 mm). Thanks to the small boxes with pins provided in the kit, we will set up the anti pick key according to the diagram with “code 1”. Where is blank- we consider it as code X. We can set them up line by line (row by row) or ring by ring. Do not forget to unscrew the bolt and to remove the stoppers out of every line (row). After we set them up, we put once again the stoppers and we screw the bolt. Our Anti Pick key is now ready and you are ready to proceed to Stage 3.

Stage 3 to open Gerda Lock - Anti Pick Stage and Ring Keys

In stage 3 we are going to work on code X – the goal here is to determine which positions of code X will remain code X (combination of code 2 and code 3). And which ones should be changed to “code 4”. This is one of the most important steps in order to open Gerda lock. Here we use the tension tool and the 4 ring keys provided in the kit. The first step is to put the lock in anti-pick stage. So, with the help of our tension tool, we insert it into the hole in the upper side of the entrance.

We leave it there and we insert the anti pick key (slightly diagonally to position A if there is a need). With both tools in a position, now we lift the tension tool a little bit. And we start giving tension to the right. Keeping the tension, we start turning the Anti Pick Tool to the right until it reaches position just between position A and position B. Then we return it in neutral position. And we eject the anti pick key out of the lock. Do not forget that the essence here it to keep holding the tension tool- if released we will exit the anti-pick stage!

- Usage of Ring Keys

Holding the tension tool to the right we insert Ring 1 key and we start turning it to positions A, B, C and D successively. We have two options here- the key turns freely through the position or it doesn’t go through at all! Ring 1 key passes freely through the position it means that it is “code 1” or “code 4”. You look at the diagram you have already filled in Stage 1 – if the position (A, B C or D) in the respective Ring (1, 2, 3 or 4) it is not “code 1”, then the only option left is to be “code 4”. You fill the diagram accordingly.

If Ring 1 key cannot pass through freely (it gets stuck) it is definitely “code X”

You eject the Ring 1 key, keep holding the tension tool and insert Ring 2 key. You repeat the procedure with all 4 Rings, filling the diagram until all codes are now clear. For visual clarifications please watch the video HERE

When all codes are filled in the diagram, we are ready with the decoding. And it is time to assemble the Set up key for the opening.

Stage 4 to open Gerda Lock - Assembly of Set up Key and Unlocking Gerda

In the final step we just need to Assemble the set up key – take the respective pins out of the small boxes full of pins with code 1, code X and code 4. Set them up on the Set up key according to the diagram. You can set them line by line (row by row) or ring by ring. Do not forget to unscrew the bolt and to remove the stoppers out of every line (row). After we set them up, we screw the bolt and we are ready to unlock the “impossible” Gerda!