Cheap best way to cut a cheap lock?
11-01-13, 03:35 PM
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Cheap best way to cut a cheap lock?
Friend of mine has been bike commuting around campus. I told her to get a good U lock instead of a cheap cable lock. She decided to use both. She called to ask for help because the cable lock is siezed up. What should I bring to get it off?
11-01-13, 05:57 PM
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Another post about how to cut bike locks . . . hmmm . . . cyclist in need or bike thief in training? 
Try some WD40 on the seized lock. Spray it in the lock and on the key then wiggle the key a bit in the lock to see if it will un-seize. If you have to cut a cheap lock or cable any decent bolt cutter will do. Make sure you notify the campus cops and carry some ID or you could end up in the back of a cop car answering a lot of questions.
There is a bike co-op in the same town where my daughter used to go to college. I was bringing three used bikes for donation but swung through campus to drop my daughter off on the way. As I left campus I got pulled over by the campus PD (real cops as the campus PD is a division of the municipal PD, not rent-a-cops). I sat there a long time explaining why I had three bikes that weren't mine in my possession and waiting for them to run my license.
Try some WD40 on the seized lock. Spray it in the lock and on the key then wiggle the key a bit in the lock to see if it will un-seize. If you have to cut a cheap lock or cable any decent bolt cutter will do. Make sure you notify the campus cops and carry some ID or you could end up in the back of a cop car answering a lot of questions. There is a bike co-op in the same town where my daughter used to go to college. I was bringing three used bikes for donation but swung through campus to drop my daughter off on the way. As I left campus I got pulled over by the campus PD (real cops as the campus PD is a division of the municipal PD, not rent-a-cops). I sat there a long time explaining why I had three bikes that weren't mine in my possession and waiting for them to run my license.
Last edited by Myosmith; 11-01-13 at 06:02 PM.
11-03-13, 03:17 PM
#3
Uber Goober
Call the campus cops or maintenance people, explain the situation, and there's a good chance they can cut it off for you- I think it's pretty common for cheap bikes to be abandoned at semester's end, so they have the grinders or whatever it takes to whack through them. I know a regular hacksaw blade doesn't do anything but scratch the paint on the lock!
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11-05-13, 02:04 PM
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I cut one of my own off in our bike room once, at night. It sure looked suspicious, lol.
Angle grinder + extension cord. Take extra care if there are fire alarm devices around.
Angle grinder + extension cord. Take extra care if there are fire alarm devices around.
