Bicycle Mechanics - Breaking a Krypto U-Lock??

I lost the key to my Kryptonite U-lock and my bike is unridable until I can break it free. Does anyone know how I can break open one of these ? I'm thinking a mallet and some brute force or do I need a locksmith?

All you need is a pal who is a mechanic or go to tool rental and get a portable grinder with a cut off wheel, safety glasses suggested. If you walked up to my door with it I would cut it off in 30 seconds for you.

Utah??????

Unless, you could get them a number and buy a new key from the factory....

Bike theifs usually insert a scissor jack or a very long lever.

A hacksaw or a grinder with a cutoff wheel NOT a grinding wheel. If you can get a hold of a portaband use that,makes short work of cutting very thick metal,a cutting torch,a rebar cutter or,what the hell, high explosives!!!!! LOL Just kidding the portaband would be the best,no sparks like the grinder and no slag like the torch. I'm a Sheetmetal worker and have lots of experience with all types of metal,if you wanna do it on the cheap hacksaw.

I'm a Sheetmetal worker and have lots of experience with all types of metal,if you wanna do it on the cheap hacksaw.

I would hope it doesn't give up that easy. I would hope it would be like trying to hacksaw through hardened tool steel.

I would hope it doesn't give up that easy. I would hope it would be like trying to hacksaw through hardened tool steel.


Be interesting to find out if it gives up easily though wouldn't it?

-Roger

well the problem is it's locked to a bike rack. I thought about driving up to it and using a dremel with a cutting wheel. Its an older krypto lock, the metal is about 3/4 or so thick.

Make sure you pick the nicest bike.;)

A hacksaw or a grinder with a cutoff wheel NOT a grinding wheel. If you can get a hold of a portaband use that,makes short work of cutting very thick metal,a cutting torch,a rebar cutter or,what the hell, high explosives!!!!! LOL Just kidding the portaband would be the best,no sparks like the grinder and no slag like the torch. I'm a Sheetmetal worker and have lots of experience with all types of metal,if you wanna do it on the cheap hacksaw.

You'll need a tungsten carbide hacksaw blade if you go the hacksaw route...the hardened steel of a U-Lock requires it. Milwaukee sells a good one through amazon.com if you can't find one locally. You still have to eat your wheaties, though, as getting through the U-Lock still takes ~30 minutes of sawing.

Got an old abandoned Schwinn breeze this way. Overhauled it, built up a new wheelset for it, and now it's my girlfriend's commuter. :)

Kryptonite U-locks are all made of hardened steel. Fastest and easiest way is with a portable angle grinder with a cutoff wheel.

You said it's an older one? Does it have a round key? If so, there might be a quieter way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8XxcOj3Seo

Thanks for the link, TM -- I had heard about that issue but hadn't seen the demonstration! There was an interesting Slate article a few years ago where the author went at various bike locks with hand tools to see how they fared.

+1 on a hacksaw won't do it. Either a grinder or a Dremel with a cut-off wheel will. Drape some wet cloths over the bike to keep the sparks from damaging the paint.

The jack, etc, approach is likely to damage the bike, particularly if it slips.

well the problem is it's locked to a bike rack. I thought about driving up to it and using a dremel with a cutting wheel. Its an older krypto lock, the metal is about 3/4 or so thick.

A dremel is going to take an awful long time to get through 3/4" hardened steel. Harbor Freight sells angle grinders for $19.99, sometimes less depending on sale dates. I've used one, in combination with a power inverter and a 50' extension cord from our van to cut off locks for a friend who broke his keys in the lock being an idiot. Its still a longer process than cutting a cable lock, and will likely draw some attention (though I've never been questioned by anything more than a curious eye when doing this) so be prepared to explain what's going on.

If the U lock is one of the older variety with a cylindrical key, you're in luck.
Since about 2000, it's been well known that you can pick it with a ball point
pen barrel. (Biro)

After I found this out, I was able to open my motorcycle disc lock in about
15 seconds.

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/09/64987


If you have one of the new & improved U locks, dig around for the paperwork
from when you bought it. If you can come up with the lock's serial number or
a key number, Kryptonite will get you a replacement key, no problem (but not
no cost...)

For some methods demonstrated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNTq3nhuh0

http://onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/1000_action_2.jpg

fire wrench...

I have cut a u lock with a grinder. Buy a grinder and a metal cutting blade you will have the lock cut in 30 secs.

Make sure you pick the nicest bike.;)



:roflmao:

http://onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/1000_action_2.jpg

fire wrench...
That looks awesome! Can you mail me one?

Its still a longer process than cutting a cable lock, and will likely draw some attention (though I've never been questioned by anything more than a curious eye when doing this) so be prepared to explain what's going on.

There is the explanation for bike theft in a nutshell, right? Unless a law enforcement type who cares happens on the scene, most people won't bat an eye if someone who looks like they are doing something they are supposed to be doing is cutting locks off of a bike rack. If it's in broad daylight and you don't look nervous, you can steal almost anything on a public way. For full effect, have a buddy stand around watching while drinking a cup of coffee, just like the pros do it ;-)

There is the explanation for bike theft in a nutshell, right? Unless a law enforcement type who cares happens on the scene, most people won't bat an eye if someone who looks like they are doing something they are supposed to be doing is cutting locks off of a bike rack. If it's in broad daylight and you don't look nervous, you can steal almost anything on a public way. For full effect, have a buddy stand around watching while drinking a cup of coffee, just like the pros do it ;-)
To avoid any problems you might want to notify the local cops in advance. Easier than explaining later if they get curious as to whose bike it really is.

To avoid any problems you might want to notify the local cops in advance. Easier than explaining later if they get curious as to whose bike it really is.
Hello? NYPD? I'm just calling in advance to notify you that I will be sitting at 136th and 73rd with a hacksaw sawing at a bike lock from 2:00 to 3:00.There's nothing to be worried about and you can just drive right on past me. Have a good day!

36" or bigger bolt cutters.

Hello? NYPD? I'm just calling in advance to notify you that I will be sitting at 136th and 73rd with a hacksaw sawing at a bike lock from 2:00 to 3:00.There's nothing to be worried about and you can just drive right on past me. Have a good day!
That's pretty much it. But you might want to let them know the make, model and serial no. too.

However, give it's NYC, the cops will probably drive right by even if you don't notify them in advance.
:(

Oh please. Do this in an urban/downtown ish environment and you can be getting raped on the corner of front and university and nobody would bat an eye.

Seriously.

Nobody cares or want to care.

...I think the bike theives pour liquid nitrogin into the works and then give the lockworks a bash with a sledge, shattering it. Something like that.
I never made the lineup:innocent:, but I did this once, a loooooong time ago (1979, with approval of the local University police) ... I shared a locked bike shed for 5 years with about 30 others, and it had been broken into perhaps 3 times a few years earlier, leaving a smaller frame Raleigh International with nothing but the bottom bracket and frame left...and there it sat, locked to the rack. The U police put notices on this and other abandoned bikes saying that they would be removed, so I asked if I could have this one.
I put a cut up styro box with the lock end at the bottom, and poured a styro cupful of liquid nitrogen, enough so it would pool round where the U goes through the lock end... after a minute or two of chilling, I just gave it a few really sharp blows with a carpenters hammer - no sledge needed. Broke right off...:eek:

No it's not the cylinder keyhole type. it's takes a regular flat key. Wondering of I can lockpick it?...

and where do you get liquid nitrogen?!?

That looks awesome! Can you mail me one?

If you got the money, Honey.... well, I got the time.

PM me and we can arrange payment. I can use USPS, or UPS.

Oh, by the way, you didn't mention if you require the "power unit" (so to speak) - if you do, that'll be extra. BUT it is still deliverable for a fee. :-)

Cheers.

No rush for a reply, but if you need them fast I'll drop my project(s) and will send upon payment - preferrably in Euros as the USD is falling in value and I'll need a replacement eventually... ;-)

Whatever you do, don't use a cable lock to replace it. I bought a bike once with cable lock on it. IIRC, it was a Kryptonite. I went through the cable in less than 30 seconds with a cordless dremel. Like a hot knife through butter.,,,,BD

Oh please. Do this in an urban/downtown ish environment and you can be getting raped on the corner of front and university and nobody would bat an eye.

Seriously.

Nobody cares or want to care.

:cry:

http://onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/1000_action_2.jpg

fire wrench...

Never heard of a "fire wrench" But sure looks like a plasma cutter,if you wanna use one of those your gonna have to scrape off the plastic you need to have a good ground.

Oh please. Do this in an urban/downtown ish environment and you can be getting raped on the corner of front and university and nobody would bat an eye.

Seriously.

Nobody cares or want to care.
You mean... I thought they were filming a movie! They did part of The Incredible Hulk up at College & St George (a block or 2 west of University).

Whatever you do, don't use a cable lock to replace it. I bought a bike once with cable lock on it. IIRC, it was a Kryptonite. I went through the cable in less than 30 seconds with a cordless dremel. Like a hot knife through butter.,,,,BD
I just bought a cable lock over a U-lock... :(
Cable Lock: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RYBG3E
Cheaper U-Lock: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RYBG20
More expensive U-Lock: http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bicycle-U-Lock-Standard/dp/B000RYBG34

IS - since it's Amazon, you should be able to return the cable lock. Unfortunately, the promo blurbs for the item were mistaken(!), as cable locks are suitable only for low-risk areas. Besides the methods mentioned above, standard cables are easily cut with cable cutters that can be hidden inside a jacket.
If you're looking for a more-robust flexible lock, check out the armored cable locks such as this: http://www.amazon.com/OnGuard-Rottweiler-5026-Bicycle-Armored/dp/B000FL04SC/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3
They're still not as good as U-locks, but at least aren't trivial to defeat.

locks will just keep an honest man; honest..............a thief is a thief and he'll take your bike if he wants it; locks or not.

I've always head the U police around here use a long 2x4 as a lever and just pop the u off. Don't know if it actually works or not, but if you've got an old 2x4 lying around, it might be worth a try...

.
I've used styro containers to keep dry ice for popping dents and
dings out of my C&V car hood after a tree branch fell on it.
How's that work?


I've always head the U police around here use a long 2x4 as a lever and just pop the u off. Don't know if it actually works or not, but if you've got an old 2x4 lying around, it might be worth a try...
2X4 is supposed to work admirably for popping post-and-rings, but ULocks are supposed to be better than that...
http://images.google.ca/images?q=post+ring+toronto

I've always head the U police around here use a long 2x4 as a lever and just pop the u off. Don't know if it actually works or not, but if you've got an old 2x4 lying around, it might be worth a try...


That's why they say to fill up the area inside the U with as much stuff as possible (frame, seatstay, rim, parking rack) ... so they can't get the pry bar or jack in there.

Still, I've seen some U-locks break with remarkably little effort. I know a guy who had one on his motorcycle - just through the wheel; he forgot it was on there, put it in gear and the lock just snapped - no damage to the wheel.

well my lock is between the front wheel and the frame, locked to a bike rack. i dont want to damage the wheel or frame. Hacksaw or a angle grinder look like my best bets.

just put a car jack in between it and crank it up. it will rip the lock apart :D

Here's the Slate article: http://www.slate.com/id/2140083

U-Locks come in many different levels of quality. some of them are quite weak.


i want to know where one would get liquid nitrogen. as far as i know, you need a license to get it. i can't think of another way, unless you are at an industrial place / university and can manage to not only steal a bit of it, but get it to your lock before it evaporates.

C - you don't carry your coffee in a Dewar? You're right - it's the transportation that will be the big problem. LN2 is quite common in labs, at least.

I use a Master Lock cable type bike lock only for "Grab and Run" theives. I never leave my locked bike out of sight for more than a minute while in our small post office or country store. Around here bike theives are bottom rung dirt bags without any tools or brains enough to be tricky. On top of that I only ride my grungy cheap looking bikes when I know I'm going to have to lock it up even for a short while.

You can order a new key for around $6. If you can't get a lock number or reference for the key, you might take a look at the key for another lock of the type that you have and then buy a key blank and file some ramps on it and make a bump key. The bump key will only work if the lock is a pin and cylinder type of lock. Take a look at lock bumping and you will see what I am talking about. By the way I think lock bumping is a nasty trick.

.
Hi,
.
I've never tried to get liquid nitrogen but I think, as you
say, universities would have access to it. I live in a
university town and that's where I got my dry ice for popping
dents out of my car. You just hold the dry ice against the
dent, rubbing it in a circle until the dent and the
surrounding area frosts over, Then let the sun do the rest.
Or you can put a hair drier on it to speed the process.
.
.

there's an easier way. just buy a can of compressed air (for computers) and turn it upside-down and start spraying the propellant at the dent, and it'll frost over just as fast. plus, you don't have to steal compressed air.

i dunno. i work in a research lab with a huge box of dry ice at the door, and i still think it'd be difficult to just steal a piece and transport it across town to a bike rack. i can't even imagine doing that with liquid nitrogen, and trying to transport a sloshing liquid o' death about a mile and a half across campus.

Our grocery stores have dry ice. Try the yellow pages yours do not. What every you have left you can store briefly in a sealed plastic 2 liter bottle.:D (I jest, do not do this)
A lot like a a 120 psi tire slipping off of a rim.
Eric

there's an easier way. just buy a can of compressed air (for computers) and turn it upside-down and start spraying the propellant at the dent, and it'll frost over just as fast. plus, you don't have to steal compressed air.

i dunno. i work in a research lab with a huge box of dry ice at the door, and i still think it'd be difficult to just steal a piece and transport it across town to a bike rack. i can't even imagine doing that with liquid nitrogen, and trying to transport a sloshing liquid o' death about a mile and a half across campus.

Nitrogen boils at -192°C, that's probably cold enough to make steel pretty brittle.
Dry ice is CO2 and boils at -72°C... might have a little effect on the properties of steel.
Compressed air in a can will have no where near that effect (I realize you're talking about car dents and not U-locks); and there is no propellant other than the air itself.

Sometimes you hear stories about thieves using the nitrogen freeze... I'll wager it's never happened.

Sometimes you hear stories about thieves using the nitrogen freeze... I'll wager it's never happened.

Krypronite has it in their FAQ. They say it would work IF you can get a hold of it.

LOX is -300 degrees; plenty cold to freeze and break metal...........been there, done that..........never tried a bike lock though.