livingfortoday

Hi all, I have a question about Kryptonite U-Locks. I used a New York Fahgettaboudit lock for about 6 months last year until it started getting rust on the inside and started getting stuck and only smacking it on pavement would open it up. I assumed I had gotten a dud, and mailed it to Kryptonite with a note explaining the situation (I never heard back), and got myself a Kryptonite Evolution Mini since it was on sale. I've had no problems with it, and am happy as a clam.

Thing is, I assumed my New York lock was just a lemon, so I got my girlfriend the New York STD lock from Kryptonite around the same time I got my Mini (6-8 months ago). Now SHE'S having the same damn rust issue! It's not like she leaves the bike outdoors, either - it's either in our apartment, or in a covered parking garage at work.

So I have no idea what to do - do I buy another Kryptonite lock and hope it'll last more than 6 months Do I get another brand? Has anyone else been having problems like this with the New York locks?

livingfortoday

Oh, and here's a photo of my old Kryptonite lock to show you what I mean:

wahoonc

Shoot some PB Blaster in it. I have several locks that look like that and it cures them every time.

Aaron

dmac49

All that is is surface stuff. Nothing that a little lube on it won't cure. Your chain will do the same thing if you don't lube it so why not your lock. Nothing to get worried about.

Pscyclepath

A little squirt of Rock 'n Roll Gold, ProLink, or even WD-40 will cure most of that. Lubrication is good for moving parts.

livingfortoday

Cool, thanks everyone. I'll try the lube route this evening, and if that doesn't work, I'll get some rust remover as suggested earlier!

Thanks!

spinninwheels

I have the exact same lock, and experienced the exact same thing.

All the above posters recommending lubrication are correct.

At first I thought I should only use graphite, because I didn't want anything to gum up the mechanism. Considering how much it rains here, that would only last for about a week. I then used tri-flow. Now I only have to lube it maybe twice a year.

kylejack

I'm starting to get this issue as well. What if I just spray some WD-40 on it? Somebody told me WD-40 is a solvent, not a lube.

AdamD

WD40 is a lot of things that it was never really intended to be. Seems to be a jack of all trades type product (yet master of none).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wd40
https://www.wd40.com/uses-tips

It's both a floor polish and a dessert topping.

kylejack

Not really sure why I didn't check Wikipedia. There's an interesting warning there.

Juggler2

PB Blaster is your friend.

mlts22 

I wouldn't use WD-40 for anything. Its sold as such a general use lubricant, it gets "everything is a nail" syndrome. The last place to use WD-40 is in a lock, unless you want to be calling a locksmith down the road for help when the mechanism gums up for good.

I personally use on all U-locks Super Lube from Radio Shack. It comes in small squeeze bottles, and is basically teflon held in suspension by a solvent. I've found that this can work for a whole season with one application. Its not a rust inhibiter, but you are looking at surface rust on the Kryptonite locks which isn't going to cause issues. An application of this stuff in the keyway (assuming a new flat key Kryptonite), a couple drops on the bolts and the areas where it touches the shackle, then opening and locking it a few times should result in trouble free operation.

Disclaimer. I live in Texas. The weather here is pretty gentle on stuff, so stuff that works for me may not work for someone who lives in a climate where salt corrosion from sea air and road de-icer would be an issue.