Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - I need to steal my bike

I left my girlfriends apartment and went to unlock by bike. The key won't insert all the way and I can't get my lock off. It's a bulldog U-lock. Aren't they kinda made to be tough to get off. What am I going to to do? I need my bike.

Any suggestions?

Did you check inside the tube-thing of the key? Sometimes junk gets stuck in there and the key won't go all the way in.

squirt some lube in the lock and make sure all of the tumblers are lined up to allow you to get the key in if some of them aren't aligned try using something really thin to push them into place

A locksmith, persistence with the key+ flushing with wd40, or a grinder with a cutting wheel will do it. that thing will probably ****ing destroy a hacksaw unless you get some special super hard blades. Good luck!

Edit: Try persistence plus a **** ton of WD40 first. Most likely there is just some gunk in there.

find someone with an oxy-acetylene blow torch.

sawz-all, porta-band, cutting torch.

sounds like its time for a new bike to me

http://imageserver.isnweb.com/MLW6160-20.jpg

Thanks for the advice. The only thing I can figure is that some ice formed inside the lock itself. Pretty nasty weather here right now. I'll try some of the suggestions about actually opening up the lock, hopefully the weather will improve here in Maine tomorrow.

that sucks. Yeah, that thing will definitely **** up a hacksaw, I tried to saw through a ****ty Bell U-lock (I lost the key, I'm not a thief) and even that destroyed the blade without any progress on the lock. The guy at the bike shop I go to has cut U-locks off for people so if you know anybody who works at a bike shop well enough that they will believe it's your bike they might help you out. or an auto mechanic or something along those lines.

http://guerrillaconsulting.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/dynamite.jpg

DL, if ice is the prob just get a cup full of hot water and pour it on, baby. A forum member successfully used hot water to de-ice a u- lock a few months ago.

Try a hacksaw with a new and GOOD fine tooth blade. Not whatever came with with the saw. I had to cut through a u-lock recently and did it in under two minutes. A Bulldog lock is probably better than what I cut through, but it can be done. Remember, most bike theives use hacksaws and bolt cutters because that is all that is really needed.

But first try WD-40 or hot water.

Use a plasma cutter, and then you can weld the whole thing back together.

--Aaron

I use onguard locks, and sometimes you just have to turn the key around and try the other direction, for whatever reason.
Otherwise a reasonably long bolt-cutter and decent leverage should work - for reference, check out that British video about how simple it is to cut through motorcycle locks. I think it was posted in the video thread.

If its frozen, use a lighter on the key and try it again.

Use a jack out of a car. Most small cars have small scissor jack with are perfect for removing a u-lock. Just place the jack in the center of the shackle and open the jack up. It will take about 2 minutes but is much easier than the other methods. I have tried the other methods and this method is by far the easiest.

Use a plasma cutter, and then you can weld the whole thing back together.

--Aaron

If it's a thick lock a plasma cutter probably won't do the trick.

If it's a thick lock a plasma cutter probably won't do the trick.

There are plasma cutters with a pretty decent sized torch. I've cut 1/4 inch steel before, and I know there are bigger.

--Aaron

There are plasma cutters with a pretty decent sized torch. I've cut 1/4 inch steel before, and I know there are bigger.

--Aaron

Hmm 1/4 inch is about the limit for the ones we have at school, a bigger one would be sweet! But I still think an angle grinder with a cutting disc would be easier, no need for a 220 outlet, or an air supply.

call the fire department's NON EMERGENCY LINE. they've got stuff on hand that will cut through way worse.

trust me.

haha, yeah. I just think it's a funny idea to lug around a plasma cutter.

An angle grinder is your best bet, but you should try a lighter first. A cordless dremel probably wouldnt cut it, but if you have one laying around, coulding hurt to try. And the last, but not least list... The pipe cutter. You're hands might fall off, but it'll work.... eventually.

--Aaron

haha, yeah. I just think it's a funny idea to lug around a plasma cutter.

Agreed. Most of us don't have a plasma cutter, let alone know how to use one. Don't make things complicated and expensive.

Here are the suggestions I got at work for cutting mine:
Plasma cutter (!!!!)
Oxy/Acetylene torch
Right angle grinder (power?)
Recip. saw (power?, unless cordless)
Cutting disk on a cordless drill
Freon from an air conditioner
Liquid nitrogen
Squeeze on the gel from an ice pack to corrode the metal
Bolt cutters

I used a hacksaw and I got it done very quickly.

if the problem is ice in the lock, you just have to heat the key with a lighter, then put it in the lock


the ice will melt and your bike is gonna be free


works for my car at minus 40

angle grinders and plasma cutters are really fun to use, so even if they don't work they'll at least be fun to use. that's my 2 cents.

I really want to **** up a bike lock with a jaws of life. Sniiiiip!

before trying to hack through the lock, i would try free hot water, and if that didn't work, some $2 lock de-icer followed by some chain lube. that said, bulldogs sure aren't watertight and if they can rust, the fire department sounds like a good idea to me.

freon and a steel rod. freeze it. whack it.

freon and a steel rod. freeze it. whack it.

freon:
while you might be able to get r134a freon at an auto parts store for ~$20 a can without a license, you're going to need something that connects to the can and something to evaporate/spray it. if the steel is rated to withstand temps of < -20 you're **** out of luck.

plasma:
plasma cutters require somewhere in the range of a 4000-20000+ watt generator. the o.p.'s girlfriend's circuit breakers would probably give out before he got through the lock. there's always portable fuel based generators, or open public works sources.

angle grinder: definately viable, rentable, and loud, but get some protection for your hands and eyes and some extra blades

hacksaw/reciprocating saw - hacksaw will take forever, both will take a lot of blades.

bolt cutter: probably going to need a 30-42" number with good blades to get through 1/2" of high tensile steel

power drill - the plates on the sides of the barrell are made of plastic. a good drill and a good bit might be able to mangle the insides up enough to free the lock.

This is a common problem with On Guard locks. I've had it happen to three different On Guard locks. Try these suggestions before you go with some of the extreme suggestions above.

Try some automotive lock de-icer if you think the lock is frozen.

If you still can't get your key in after that then the cylinders probably are misaligned. You'll need to slowly jiggle the key the get all the little parts inside the lock aligned again.

If you can get the key in the lock, but the key won't turn, try hitting the lock (the body, not the shackle) with a hammer. This should help get everything back in it's place and hopefully the lock will now open.

On Guard in the States has very good customer service. Call and ask about a new lock, they should send you one.

http://www.todson.com/support/index.php?pid=knowledgebase&cmd=viewent&id=44

angle grinder: definately viable, rentable, and loud, but get some protection for your hands and eyes and some extra blades

okay come on now. yes, plasma cutters cut through metal. you don't use it to cut off your lock, though. sawzall with a metal cutting blade will work. angle grinder will be better, and you wont need more than one cutting wheel. Trophy in philly charges $40 to cut off a lock IF YOU BRING IT TO THEM. If they need to go somewhere to do it, because you locked it to something outside, they charge $80, and bring an angle grinder and about 200' of extension cord. For $80 you can buy your own angle grinder and your own extension cord, and put the rest toward a new lock. hell, for a few more dollars you can get a cordless grinder, and start your own Bicycle Recovery Unit.....or become a theif.

http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/033287125746_4.jpg
$30 at home depot.

You're also forgetting the compressor needed to go along with the plasma cutter... however you could certainly get away with single phase 220 for running the cutter even for a super nice one and a 110 outlet for a smaller compressor...


If it is not in fact frozen (likely) I would just use a sawzall with a rescue blade.

okay come on now. yes, plasma cutters cut through metal. you don't use it to cut off your lock, though.

that was my point. afaik home depot rents tools, as well as some smaller places.

as far as the compressor goes, it's usually integrated into the generator. for getting through the bulldog's 1/2" steel shackle, miller would recommend an 176-264V input 8000w 60lb unit.

How come a crackhead can steal our bikes in three minutes and it takes us all ****in day?

my very serious suggestion is: hurry. there's always a chance the lock's ****ed up because someone was trying to steal your bike. if that's true, they very well might come back and swipe it before you get your timebomb or blowtorch ready. if nothing else, i'd suggest putting an additional lock on it in the meantime.



I left my girlfriends apartment and went to unlock by bike. The key won't insert all the way and I can't get my lock off. It's a bulldog U-lock. Aren't they kinda made to be tough to get off. What am I going to to do? I need my bike.

Any suggestions?

I had this problem - locked my bike downtown, lost the key. I tried a hacksaw, with a brand new blade - barely made a mark. I knew my angle grinder would do it, but where was I going to get power, right on the main shopping street? I ponied up £50, and bought a cheap cordless angle grinder on eBay. It went through it in about 2 mins, was £5 cheaper than a locksmith, and now I have a cordless grinder. Weeee!

Power tools are always fun but may be unnecessary in this case.

I had a similar problem with an abus lock and sorted it by using a piece of wire in my bag to jiggle the tumblers back into line until the key could work properly. I have read that onguard locks are more susceptible to the tumbers becoming misaligned so some jiggle action with the key or something else might sort the problem out.

If it's frozen and you need to unlock in a hurry then taking a leak on the lock can unfreeze it.

pissing on the lock is defintiely the fixed gear way to do it!

Ha, you guys took the words out of my mouth.

Pee on it.

carbide blade on a hacksaw and thirty minutes later your bike will be free.

drop some lube where you stick your key in. jiggle the lock around
it should work

why hasn't Onguard changed their design?

there must be thousands of these stories every year...

Get this guys bike and make it angry

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c284/taken67/000_0021.jpg
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c284/taken67/000_0021.jpg)

Hot Water did the trick. I figured that was probably the problem, we where in the middle a nasty snowstorm yesterday.

But all your sugestions made for some great reading.

squirt some lube in the lock and make sure all of the tumblers are lined up to allow you to get the key in if some of them aren't aligned try using something really thin to push them into place

+1

Squirt some lube in there and just keep fiddling with it. Don't try to force the key to turn. You need the key fully seated or you'll just snap the key off.

These locks are kind of famous for this sort of seize-up. It comes from the tumblers or plates from getting misaligned.

Hot Water did the trick.

You should still pee on it.

I know a guy who can break it open for you...

http://www.certifiedrandom.com/images/2006win/kiefer.jpg

I know a guy who can break it open for you...

http://www.certifiedrandom.com/images/2006win/kiefer.jpg
If not able to break it, he'll interrogate the **** out of it.

You should still pee on it.
Haaaaaaaaaaa.....................

I live in Finland, where we have icy locks all the time.. :) A good old trick is to take plastic bag, fill it with really hot water and place the bag over the lock. Do not let the water on the lock - just use the heat of the bag to melt the lock. Works EVERY time... (if it is ice in there... )