StevePGN10

I had to take the Ride of Shame tonight for one of the damndest reasons. I use an old Citadel U-lock with a cylindrical key. Somehow when I locked up this morning, the key must have come out before the slot on the outside part of the lock was lined up with the slot on the inside. Now I can't get the key to enter into the lock. No amount of pushing and twisting will do anything. I tried an old white Bic pen but it is too small. It got too dark before I could locate a wider pen, so I took the aforementioned ride. I want to be prepared for tomorrow. Has anyone encountered this problem and have a solution?

jsharr

Freeze it off, comprssed air trick, google.

fietsbob

Icy dirt in the Lock cylinder? bike left where it was locked Up?

Bradleykd

sand the little nipple off of the key. The barrell should have other little grooves in it, and those are what matters. the nipple is just there so you get it fully locked.

FBinNY 

+1---- it's an easy fix

File off the outer tab which orients the key for removal only at certain places. This will allow you to insert the key into the mis-aligned lock and either open or close it. The key is still usable this way, but you have to be conscious of the location of the completely open or closed positions, when removing the key.

sk0tt

I'm not sure if its possible for you to have done that while locking it, someone might have been trying to unlock it with something.
I would take another lock with me next time, if you have one.

Bradleykd

Unlikely ... people know the solution to this problem because it happens sometimes. Not sure how, but I've seen it a bunch on tool boxes.

FBinNY 

+1, this is very common with tubular keys when the keys have some wear. What happens is that the key is removed while the lock is not fully rotated out, so the pins aren't engaged in the locked position and the lock clicks over one position and locks there. This was very common back in the days when both Kryptonite and Citadel used tubular key systems.

StevePGN10

Success! A big thanks to Bradleykd and FBinNY. I was too timid when filing off the tab this morning and had to buy a file at lunchtime to get it down flat. I'm still mystified as to how this happened.

Chris Chicago

what do you mean "by ride of shame"?

ultraman6970

Arent those the ones you can open using a bic pen?

JanMM

Those were Kryponite U-Locks. Recalled and exchanged in massive numbers years ago.

StevePGN10

Anytime I leave the house on a bike but have to be driven home, I consider it a ride of shame. I suppose the thought is that someone should be more self sufficient than to call another for a ride. I had to walk the bike home tonight because the chain broke in half. My son finds that hilarious.

Chris Chicago

yesterday ride of shame, today walk of shame. you're due for some better luck

StevePGN10

Thanks, I may have just had it. Yesterday at 5PM I had 3 bikes and none of them were roadworthy. After a few hours of wrenching this morning, all 3 are good-to-go. Went with a KMC quick link for the chain that broke yesterday, and all looks well. I'm guessing I messed up when reassembling the chain after lubricating it last weekend. This is the second time in my life that I have driven home the pin on a chain while working in a dark corner, and it has led to problems. I took my bikes outside into the sunshine today to do all the chain work.

tcs

AFAIK there are at three common sizes of tubular lock cylinders. The old Citadel used the largest size. The Kryptonites used the intermediate size which was functionally the same size as some Bic pen bodies.

Even this largest diameter of tubular lock cylinder can be picked open by a skilled person, using a purpose made tool. Of course, pin tumbler and disc detainer locks can be picked open by a skilled person with the right tool, too.

That said, except for the old Kryptonite/Bic pen fiasco, actual malicious lock picking is very, very, very rare, especially among bike thieves, as are other techniques to defeat the lock mechanism like shimming, bumping and drilling. By-and-large, bike thieves favor unskilled, vigorous assaults like smashing, snipping, sawing, jacking and prying.

tcs

And a good locksmith can cut the OP a fresh key with protruding nipples.