Ideas for a non functioning lock?

[wheelswings]

My Abus had me scrambling at 11 pm, latched to a pole in Seven Corners. Took 30+ minutes to open so I could ride home. Into the recycling bin it went, just too risky. My current Abus works great, though I’ve only used it for two years thus far.

[drevil]

@Steve O 198331 wrote:

My Abus makes me nervous. Many times I will turn the key and the lock will not disengage. Sometimes it takes 3-6 retries to get it to unlock. I’ve noticed that it tends to be worse when the crossbar is below the U, so I’m careful when I lock it to put the U below the crossbar. I am actually afraid that one day I will not get it to open for me.

Doh!
@FFX_Hinterlands 198332 wrote:

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.

DOh!
@huskerdont 198335 wrote:

My Abus has never had a problem and is the cleanest working lock I’ve owned, but it stays on a bike in in the basement so doesn’t get jostled so who knows. I did have an OnGuard that was like Crickey’s that I stopped using since it was a PITA. I seem to remember part of their marketing was that if it was hard for you to use, it would be hard for a criminal to pick. Whatevs on that.

Ha!
@wheels&wings 198340 wrote:

My Abus had me scrambling at 11 pm, latched to a pole in Seven Corners. Took 30+ minutes to open so I could ride home. Into the recycling bin it went, just too risky. My current Abus works great, though I’ve only used it for two years thus far.

DOH!!!

OK, so this goes to show that we all have had unique experiences with our locks. It was extra scary when 3 of my Krypto New York/Fahgedaboutits (1 U-lock and 2 chains) would not release the cylinder body from the U, even though they were fully unlocked. I had to get a rubber mallet to bang them off because they were so tight. My theory is that with those locks is that tolerances are tight and they bind more easily, but also the locking mechanism gets bound up inside so the little nubs that grab the U in don’t want to move. Like others, I’ll drench it in Tri-Flow.

I lost the cylinder for the big U-lock (stupidly drove off with it sitting on my hitch rack and it fell somewhere on a bumpy gravel road). I use the chain ones semi-permanently on my car’s rear hitch rack, so I don’t need to open them much.

[lordofthemark]

@lordofthemark 198312 wrote:

Thanks so much, I will see you there then. I will let you know if Emm’s idea works (but my lock is OnGuard).

Thanks also to W&W for your offer.

Thanks again to Casey for bringing me the graphite at PY, when he had yet ANOTHER civic meeting to attend and so could not even stay for the presentation.

Sadly, the graphite lube did not help, nor did WD-40. I may try spending more time trying, but I don’t think that will work.

At this point I need to saw through it? (A locksmith would be wimping out? And what would they do?)

What kind of saw do I need?

[Steve O]

@lordofthemark 198362 wrote:

Thanks again to Casey for bringing me the graphite at PY, when he had yet ANOTHER civic meeting to attend and so could not even stay for the presentation.

Sadly, the graphite lube did not help, nor did WD-40. I may try spending more time trying, but I don’t think that will work.

At this point I need to saw through it? (A locksmith would be wimping out? And what would they do?)

What kind of saw do I need?

Did you try your other key? I’ve had a problem with a key being bent. Seems your problem is getting the key into the keyhole. Perhaps something got inside the keyhole?

[huskerdont]

@lordofthemark 198362 wrote:

Thanks again to Casey for bringing me the graphite at PY, when he had yet ANOTHER civic meeting to attend and so could not even stay for the presentation.

Sadly, the graphite lube did not help, nor did WD-40. I may try spending more time trying, but I don’t think that will work.

At this point I need to saw through it? (A locksmith would be wimping out? And what would they do?)

What kind of saw do I need?

You need a hacksaw with carbide grit blade. I mean, I’ve never done it, but when I thought I was going to need to, that’s what my research came up with. There are videos online of people doing it. If I remember, choosng the right place to hack helps as well.

ETA that those big bolt cutters apparently work too, but there are more uses for a hacksaw, and many people already have them and only need the right blade.

[DrP]

@lordofthemark 198362 wrote:

Thanks again to Casey for bringing me the graphite at PY, when he had yet ANOTHER civic meeting to attend and so could not even stay for the presentation.

Sadly, the graphite lube did not help, nor did WD-40. I may try spending more time trying, but I don’t think that will work.

At this point I need to saw through it? (A locksmith would be wimping out? And what would they do?)

What kind of saw do I need?

I had my OnGuard lock stop working. It took me about 5 min to get it to unlock my bike from the rack with coaxing. When I got it home, I could not open it again. I tried multiple keys for it. No luck. I tried 3-in-1 lube and after sitting in the lock for several days, it would open. I can now open and close it, but I am using my kryptonite lock at the moment (with an arbus flexible lock to get the other wheel), because I am not trusting it. The OnGuard lock would regularly get wet as it would sit outside my bag in the rain as I rode, so I think it was rust and it took a while to get it all moving again.
So, I think oil or lube will work, but it needs to be in the lock a little time. Since it is on the bike, you probably do want the saw option. A locksmith would likely do the same. You might call one and see if they have a suggested product or approach to loosen the lock if the oil is taking long.

Good luck. I think all the locks can run into this situation. It all depends on where and how we keep it.

[n18]

Check your PM for a universal unlocking method that costs you between $25 and $50.

[Crickey7]

All of this could be the Universe whispering “N+1” to you.

[rcannon100]

Angel Grinder. Cut through it like butter.

When keys begin to not work on U locks, chuck the U lock in the trash and get a new one.

[KWL]

@rcannon100 198378 wrote:

Angel Grinder. Cut through it like butter.

…

I’m trying to visualize an angel grinding and it is a little disconcerting. Do the wings oscillate?

[lordofthemark]

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Thanks to my handy tool owning friend, who is now being rewarded with coffee and bagels!

[Author]

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