Ideas for a non functioning lock?

Next time you buy a U-Lock, fill the keyhole with grease(not oil). The idea is that grease stays there so water has no place to enter. If you use oil, water will displace it over time. Do that every few months. After adding grease, insert your key, then take it out and remove excess grease. Repeat as needed so when using your keys, no grease gets on your hands. My current U-Lock lasted several years that way. My first U-Lock(OnGuard) lasted only 4 months without this method.

Is it a kryptonite by chance? If so, keep playing around with it. I have seen 3-4 do this, and eventually, they all open. I stopped using kryptonite’s after seeing it occur so many times, and had it occur to me. It took me 20 minutes of playing with the lock, fidgeting the key around to get it to open. Just don’t play so hard the key snaps in the lock…

@CaseyKane50 198278 wrote:

You might try squirting some graphite lubricant into the lock and on the key. I’ll bring some to WTFC tomorrow

Yes, I plan to be there. I will bring the graphite in case the other suggestions don’t work.

Happened to me with a Kryptonite, but luckily with the lock only on the rack at work where I leave it, not on the bike. I looked into it and Kryptonite suggests what others are saying, but it’s still there on the rack years later because I would never trust it again since who wants to not be able to readily unlock their bike? So I’d say, if the lubrication solutions don’t work, just cut the lock and get another one.

ETA that if you need to do this, a carbide grit hacksaw blade would be needed; a regular blade would likely not be up to the task.

@huskerdont 198325 wrote:

Happened to me with a Kryptonite, but luckily with the lock only on the rack at work where I leave it, not on the bike. I looked into it and Kryptonite suggests what others are saying, but it’s still there on the rack years later because I would never trust it again since who wants to not be able to readily unlock their bike? So I’d say, if the lubrication solutions don’t work, just cut the lock and get another one.

I have a bunch of different U-locks (Abus, Krypto, On Guard). Even though they’re more expensive, I’ve never had an issue with Abus. I’ve have had the stuck lock issues with my Kryptos and On Guard. I did the lube drenching methods to unstick them, but it’s always a PITA.

My Abus is can be sticky — the channel cut into the ends of the U has right angles. It makes the cylinder easier to bind up. Other locks the channel has rounded edges and is more forgiving (and easier to defeat with prying, maybe?). I’m a fan of using T-9 in both the U-lock holes and the lock cylinder. I do this proactively a few times over winter or after it’s been in the rain a couple of times.