lock help!!!
 

My friend just tried to unlock his bike and some weird **** happened. It is one of those cable locks with the 4 number combo (rotating the barrels to change the numbers). He had the combo setup and started to pull the lock apart and then it just stuck. The male end of the lock is about 3/4 of the way out and now it won't go in or out. Tried moving the combo and putting it back and that didn't work. Now he is standing in the cold with the bike not sure what to do. HELP!!

make sure there is no tension on either end of the locking mechanism.

pour water on it, maybe it seized because of the cold?

Not sure what you mean by this.

if it comes down to it just run to hardware store, by some decent wire clippers for $20 and cut it. You may have to use a gnawing technique but it shouldn't take more then a few minutes.

sorry I was in the middle of typing and had to do something real quick (I'm at work).

if either side of the cable is pulling on the lock it can change the way the lock is sliding together and give it a n angle that makes it think it's not actually unlocked. I'm assuming there is a cylinder that goes inside of a round cutout, if that cylinder is being pulled to any direction it can make it not come apart, just make sure it's centered. Also water, lock de-icer (sp?) or anyting that kills ice could help if it's froozen. Some sort of lube could help too, WD-40 if it's handy, even chain lube if that's what you have. Also there may be a way to reset it if you are getting it apart a little bit.

+garbage. Any sort of combination lock is most likely garbage. You might as well use a rope with a clever knot.

An 18" bolt-cutter will eat through these like butter - Trust me.
Its's often easier to pull the plastic shell away from the combination part, which will expose a big section of just regular metal, and that can be easier to cut though than the braided wire part.

Edit: I just remembered you said the pin was partially out, you should be able to cut through that with anything bigger than a wire clipper.