That's interesting, 'cause I used a bit of WD-40 in my door lock at home, and it's been amazingly smooth to use ever since :-o
Originally Posted by
FBinNY
This is bad advice more suited to the brass cylinder of a door lock than a U-lock out in the weather.
First of all the internal mechanism is steel and vulnerable to rust, and secondly water will weep into a dry lock. If you use it in freezing conditions water will freeze and jam the lock.
The goal is to provide a light lubrication of the mechanism and keep water out.
You can achieve these objectives using a very light oil/paraffin/solvent product like LPS-1, Boeshield, Frame saver, WD-40, or a homebrew mix of about 1:6 light oil:mineral spirits.
Hmm, I was told at the do-it-yourself bike shop to never use WD-40 on a bike lock, but what you've mentioned here makes some really good sense :-/
BTW what about wet chain oil, would that work well? Those are the 2 things I already have (that and the WD-40), trying to see if I can avoid going out to get something to lube it with :-)