Frozen lock
 

I usually lock my bike at school with a Kryptonite NY Lock

This one:

(http://www.kryptonitelock.com/inetis...s_item&pgrp=20)

Anyways, I biked to class today after some freezing rain last night. It snowed while I was in class, and when I came out, my lock was frozen shut. I can fit the key in, and turn it 90 degrees, I can't get it to turn the last bit (unlocking part). I torqued it pretty good but I don't want to end up with half a key in my lock.

Any suggestions? I live in Texas so this is a pretty rare thing :P

I've had a lock freeze before and was able to get it opened by rubbing and holding it with my hands to warm it up.

I don't know if this will work for you. If it's warmer now than it was, go back and try again.

breathe on it/dip it in coffee?

My Kryptonite lock did the same 90-degree thing due to dirt, not freezing. Torque will not help. Basically a bit of mechanism that ought to be sliding somewhere, isn't, because it has something stuck to it. I fixed this problem by flushing the keyhole out with about half a can of WD-40 and trying it 500 times. It was a serious pain in the ass. In your case it's probably ice---try heating the key with a lighter, using lock de-icer or submerging the whole thing in a bucket of hot water. Persistence will probably pay off.

Also I noticed that my lock is more cooperative when the key hole is facing downward, and a "bump" seemed to help---knock the lock a bunch against the bike rack.

sweet, I think I'll try the lighter thing

Spray some WD-40 into to it, insert the key and try opening the lock. Sometimes, if you tap it gently around the cylinder, while turning the key, it may open.

I find it so utterly disturbing and scary that you had freezing rain last night in Dallas, and we had 14 degree celsius weather last night in Toronto. So messed up....

^^ Just a tip, if you do wind up using WD40, make sure you get it out afterwards with some degreaser or even dish soap and water; then lube the lock properly with graphite (available in the lock section of a good hardware store, or a locksmith's). Otherwise dirt will stick in the lock and **** it up again down the road.

Good to know. I covered the ends that go inside the lock with Phil grease because they were rusting so badly I couldn't open my lock without beating it. That shouldn't affect the internal locking mechanism though, right?

this happened pretty frequently back at school. the bike and lock lived indoors, so when they went out and got locked up, everything would thaw, then freeze around it. i flushed my lock out really well, and made sure it was cold and dry. it helps if there's a place outside to keep the lock (a long ride with a cold peice of chain really chills your body though). when locking, put the opening facing down. stretch a little bit of old tubing around it for slushy times, or find some litter (mcdonald's cup) and wrap it up. duct tape too.

Probably not, if you mean the ends of the U.

pee on it

if theres nothing warmer close by

works when youre in a hurry and just want to get home

Yeah, it was 60 degrees Fahrenheit today in upstate NY. I will not get the whole global warming debate fired up, but I sure as heck know that when I was growing up late November meant the beginning of a long, painfully cold winter. I wonder what the temp was today up in Toronto Shiznaz? I broke a sweat today riding around.

It was 15C when I rode into work in the morning and 3C when I rode home in the evening. Whats up wid dat?

Maybe it is rare around Texas way, but you can buy a tube of lock de-icer for cheap around here.

There's also the possibility that the snow melted and rusted your lock.

I know if I ride around in the rain all day my lock does that. "Liquid Wrench" helps; chain lube is okay if its all you've got.

They make lock de-icer. It comes in a little can like a small butane refill. It's made for cars and stuff, but I imagine it would work fine. Of course it does mean carrying around an extra thing.

I was going to say that..

Sometime's I'm really glad I have a penis.

Luckily it was really close to the school. I poured a cup of warm water on it and it opened instantly. I'm letting it dry out now, but I'm afraid to lock it again :S

Never heard of it

Genius.

Matthavener, people in cold climates have to de-ice their car locks every morning and afternoon in winter. The warm water trick will almost always work. DO NOT use piss, unless you like touching your own piss.

My friend peed on my car once.. not because it was cold though

Peeing would work in (and with) a pinch

Ha ha, this guy just totally made up his own temperature scale unit. Celsius...what a card.