Bicycle Mechanics - Trouble with my Bike Lock

Well, I just did something real stupid.

I noticed there was a small hole in one of the studs in the garage where I keep my bike that would just fit the u-potion of my Kryptonite U-Lock. So I slip it through, lock it up, go about my day. And I hate how they make those keys so tiny...(you can see where I'm going with this).

Anyway, my bike is now stuck to the wall. I suppose I could use a hacksaw to get it out of the stud, but then I have a lock banging around on my bike. I thought perhaps a hydraulic jack could get it off, but because of the u-bend, I wasn't sure if the end would catch properly.

A college friend suggested he could get some liquid nitrogen, immerse the lock in it, and hit it with a hammer a few times. I had heard that kryptonite locks were designed to be resistant against this type of attack for anti-theft purposes, and the thought of some of the LN dripping onto my frame gives me chills (...You'll get it ;)).

What would be the most efficient way of popping this thing off?

Thanks,

~Alex

depending on how it looks, the standard way to remove a U-LOCK is to use a car jack.. one of those things that lifts up your car to change the tires. stick it in between the u-lock and expand... since the jack can lift more than 2/3 tons, it will probably break the lock. hopefully u have the room.

sd

Dremel with a cut-off wheel? Can you find a key code and get a replacement from the lock manufacturer?

The liquid nitrogen thing keeps coming up, but has anybody actually seen it done?

He did it for a science project, he could indeed break the lock, but he had to immerse the lock mechanism in the LN for 2 or 3 minutes, and then hit it with a claw hammer several times.

I've heard of the liquid nitrogen trick for breaking ATM machines also. But not from anyone with first hand experience.

Just get an air compressor and an air grinder. less than 30 seconds.

I used to do charpy impact tests in the lab and some materials like low carbon <.2% steels dip dramatically below -40 or something like that in the amount of energy it can absorb before breaking. Some types of steel can absorb the same amount of impact energy from -200 to 200. But then some materials have that dip, where it could be absorbing 500 joules all the way down to -40 degrees then suddenly within a span of 20-30 degrees they dip down to absorbing only 50 (10x less) joules before fracturing. Had a lock been made of a such a material, instead of denting and deforming, it would simply shatter.

Though in your case, I'd either try power tools or go to a hardware store and rent a 6 ft pair of bolt cutters.

I used a Makita grinder to cut off a U-lock once. Took me less than one minute.

STOP STOP STOP!!!!! The stud is WOOD. Cut the STUD. When you get the bike loose, you can unlock the lock as usual. Then sister in a new stud.

When you've got a choice of cutting pine or hardened steel, CUT THE PINE!!!

STOP STOP STOP!!!!! The stud is WOOD. Cut the STUD. When you get the bike loose, you can unlock the lock as usual. Then sister in a new stud.

When you've got a choice of cutting pine or hardened steel, CUT THE PINE!!!

Now why didn't anyone think of that!

STOP STOP STOP!!!!! The stud is WOOD. Cut the STUD. When you get the bike loose, you can unlock the lock as usual. Then sister in a new stud.

When you've got a choice of cutting pine or hardened steel, CUT THE PINE!!!

How does one unlock a lock as usual without the key?

Al

How does one unlock a lock as usual without the key?

Al

And where exactly is the key? In the wall between the studs? Unknown? If in the wall, I'd pursue retrieving the key rather than destroying the lock. though if you don't own the garage this may not be feasible.

Who said anything about "without the key"? The description only implies that the lock is in a position that it can't be unlocked with the key, or that it's so tight that it won't open. This is a garage. The presumption is that there are studs, but no interior walls. Otherwise the original poster would never have been able to use the hole in the stud. Perhaps the original poster should clarify exactly what happened.

Who said anything about "without the key"? The description only implies that the lock is in a position that it can't be unlocked with the key, or that it's so tight that it won't open. This is a garage. The presumption is that there are studs, but no interior walls. Otherwise the original poster would never have been able to use the hole in the stud. Perhaps the original poster should clarify exactly what happened.

The original poster wrote: "I suppose I could use a hacksaw to get it out of the stud, but then I have a lock banging around on my bike."

Which implies to me that the key is not readily available even after the lock is removed from stud.

Al

I'm confused, this guy said he locked his bike to the stud, then went about his day. I assume he came back with the key to unlock it but it would not unlock due to the tight fit; the some rubbish about the lock banging around on the bike. Now anyone with half a brain would have know to use the key that he had to go back to unlock it with, knows the key would unlock the lock from the bike. I have a strange feeling about all of this. I think this guy was trying to STEAL a bike and was getting advice on how to do it with a particular situation he had.

Good going guys, you told him how!

I have a strange feeling about all of this. I think this guy was trying to STEAL a bike and was getting advice on how to do it with a particular situation he had.

Why must people always assume evil when someone asks a question? I frequent lots of computer forums as well and I'm shocked by how often forum users accuse the original post of trying to break into a computer or write a virus.

People lose keys. Assume innocents not guilt. The theives know very well how to break the locks.

I've forgotten my keys once, so i know for sure it can happen to me too.

Hey...

What do you mean? You lost the keys? IF you live in the US kryptonite gives you a free set of keys if you check out their site and the contact us page.

http://www.kryptonitelock.com/HTML/orderkeys.html

Well, the OP hasn't been back. And his only other post was about an "annoying sticker" that wouldn't come off the frame. Ahem (license decal) Ah-HEM! Okay, draw your own conclusions (or not).

The theives know very well how to break the locks.
Not when they are learning.

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

I took the hacksaw and got it out of the stud, and submersed it in liquid nitrogen, before hitting it with a sledgehammer, short work of it.

And it wasn't that the fit was too tight in the hole, I've just had a bike stolen from my garage before, so I lock it in the stud. The crappy little key fell out of my back pocket when I went for my wallet, my next trip in the store and I found it lying next to the bookshelf -.- .