Utility Bike Ring Lock Failure

[thdave]

Any advice on how to fix a ring lock? My Breezer has one but it stopped working. I wonder if there's crud in the ring. I just can't close the ring anymore, and when I do, it takes all my strength to open it back up.

This locks the rear wheel, ala Dutch style bikes. I cross posted this in Bicycle Maintenance, but I'm not sure if any there would have experience with this.

Thanks!

[wahoonc]

Any advice on how to fix a ring lock? My Breezer has one but it stopped working. I wonder if there's crud in the ring. I just can't close the ring anymore, and when I do, it takes all my strength to open it back up.

This locks the rear wheel, ala Dutch style bikes. I cross posted this in Bicycle Maintenance, but I'm not sure if any there would have experience with this.

Thanks!

I took one off of a junker bike I had and soaked it in oxaclic acid (wood bleach) rinsed it out and it started working again. I would try something like WD40? to see if you can clean the trash out of the mechanism. Make sure there isn't any plastic involved first. It isn't bent is it? That will make them stop working too.

Aaron:)

[donnamb]

Nah, the Breezer locks are all metal. How about a graphite-based lock lubricant? If all else fails, I'd contact Breezer.

[KnhoJ]

I've been oiling my bike locks. They say it's not good to use actual oil on locks, but my bike locks see a ton of rain. Oil's the only way to keep them from rusting, eventually galling on the rust and sticking. My Krypto u-locks need a couple drops applied to every moving part, and a drop or two directly in the locking mechanism itself, about two or three times per Northwest winter to keep them derustified and functioning nicely.

I can only imagine that a rear wheel lock would gum up with road spray crud sooner or later, maybe flushing it out with WD-40 might be a good idea. Chalk up another vote for flushing it out!

[dave.lloyd]

This might be a bit late, but I noticed that the lock on my L200 was getting harder and harder to work. I sprayed the bejezus out of lock cylinder and the slot where the tab to close and open the lock was with finish line dry lube (though I bet that the DuPont teflon multi purpose dry lube you can buy at Lowes would would work, too). No problems at all since then. and that's even with all the nasty crap they put on the roads this time of year.

[thomson]

Nah, the Breezer locks are all metal. How about a graphite-based lock lubricant? If all else fails, I'd contact Breezer.

+1

I have a Breezer and have contacted them about parts. They cheerfully send them to me. It is a great company to deal with.

I have used email to contact them, at info@breezerbikes.com

[Marylandnewbie]

I have one on my commuter and on the rear wheel it gets very grungy. When I washed my bike I would direct the hose into the lock and flush all the sand and dirt out of it. Sometimes it was amazing how much gunk could be flushed out. After drying it as best can be done with a rag, I would spray the internals with WD40 to drive out any water. A day or 2 later I would use some graphite lock lubricant on it. That would usually last for about a month depending upon how rainy it was. In the dead of winter if it was very wet I would sometimes hit it with graphite or WD40 just to keep accumulated water from freezing up and making it hard to operate. I love my ring lock and I'm sure it makes the bike a less appealing target for thieves.

[thdave]

Here's an update to my Ring lock failure on my Breezer.

The ring lock is fine.

I changed my tires recently (took off the studs and put on my Marathon's), and noticed that the ring lock again wouldn't work--even though I got it to work the last couple of months. It's not dirt or a lack of grease that's the problem.

When I reinstalled the tire, I pulled it back some to get the chain tighter. That's the problem--the location of the wheel has the ring lock hitting the wheel rim. I think the chain has worn and stretched. A shorter chain will get the lock to work. I've yet to replace it but will shortly.

[Raiyn]

Just another lube suggestion. Boeshield
http://www.boeshield.com/t912.jpg