Some lock advice from a locksmith
03-17-09, 12:37 PM
#76
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I haven't had to take it off yet. Most of your bike components are "set it and forget it." I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
03-17-09, 12:49 PM
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Sure.
DO NOT USE POWDERED GRAPHITE IN YOUR BIKE LOCKS.
DO NOT USE WD-40 AS A LUBRICANT ON YOUR BIKE LOCK.
After some time, particulates (foreign material) will get into the keyway. The graphite will cling to this crud and clump up, essentially defeating its own purpose.
WD-40 is a water displacement product. It is used as a cleaner, not a lubricant. When it dries, it will also attract particulates, gunking up your lock. It SHOULD be used on OLD, gunky, rusty, cruddy locks to clean them out. Spray some into the keyway and all moving parts. Wait 5 minutes or so and wipe as much out as you can. Wait as long as you can to let it dry out, and apply a teflon lubricant.
Use any teflon based lubricant. I use 'tri-flow'.
Spray some into the keyway and work it in by running the key in and out rapidly and turning the key in the lock repeatedly. This should be done 2-10 times per year, depending on how frequently you use the lock.
DO NOT USE POWDERED GRAPHITE IN YOUR BIKE LOCKS.
DO NOT USE WD-40 AS A LUBRICANT ON YOUR BIKE LOCK.
After some time, particulates (foreign material) will get into the keyway. The graphite will cling to this crud and clump up, essentially defeating its own purpose.
WD-40 is a water displacement product. It is used as a cleaner, not a lubricant. When it dries, it will also attract particulates, gunking up your lock. It SHOULD be used on OLD, gunky, rusty, cruddy locks to clean them out. Spray some into the keyway and all moving parts. Wait 5 minutes or so and wipe as much out as you can. Wait as long as you can to let it dry out, and apply a teflon lubricant.
Use any teflon based lubricant. I use 'tri-flow'.
Spray some into the keyway and work it in by running the key in and out rapidly and turning the key in the lock repeatedly. This should be done 2-10 times per year, depending on how frequently you use the lock.
rduenes--This.
03-17-09, 12:54 PM
#79
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All you people talk about Krazy Glue & ball bearings being removed with acetone. Have anyone have personal experience with removing the ball bearing?
As a experimental project, I put 2 drips of super glue in and dropped a small ball bearing in. I let it sit overnight and the next day, I tried to remove it.
At first, I used a needlenose screwdriver and tried to bash the ball bearing to pieces. Didn't work.
Finally I gave up and used a Q-tip to soak the hex nut with acetone (nail polish remover). Nothing!
10 minutes later, I dropped the entire hex bolt into a cap full of acetone. Still won't come off.
Maybe I'm using the wrong type of acetone, but it's not a magic solution where you can just splash some acetone on and the ball bearing will come loose.
Bear in mind, I had the hex bolt in my hand. Have fun doing this on your bike where the hex bolts aren't vertical. You'll have to lay the bike on the side to soak the ball bearing of your seat post.
I finally got a different chemical that was able to get it off. I'm not going to reveal what the chemical is, but it is highly poisonous and if it touches any part of your bike, the paint & clear coat will strip right off.
To me, that's too much trouble to go through if I need to make small adjustments to the saddle position (fore/aft or height) or need to make handlebar adjustments. And it'll be a whole lot of fun when you want to upgrade your stem/handlebar/seat/seatpost.
So....you guys who automatically yell out "ACETONE". What brand did you try? And what was your method? Maybe I'm just a dumbfack.
As a experimental project, I put 2 drips of super glue in and dropped a small ball bearing in. I let it sit overnight and the next day, I tried to remove it.
At first, I used a needlenose screwdriver and tried to bash the ball bearing to pieces. Didn't work.
Finally I gave up and used a Q-tip to soak the hex nut with acetone (nail polish remover). Nothing!
10 minutes later, I dropped the entire hex bolt into a cap full of acetone. Still won't come off.
Maybe I'm using the wrong type of acetone, but it's not a magic solution where you can just splash some acetone on and the ball bearing will come loose.
Bear in mind, I had the hex bolt in my hand. Have fun doing this on your bike where the hex bolts aren't vertical. You'll have to lay the bike on the side to soak the ball bearing of your seat post.
I finally got a different chemical that was able to get it off. I'm not going to reveal what the chemical is, but it is highly poisonous and if it touches any part of your bike, the paint & clear coat will strip right off.
To me, that's too much trouble to go through if I need to make small adjustments to the saddle position (fore/aft or height) or need to make handlebar adjustments. And it'll be a whole lot of fun when you want to upgrade your stem/handlebar/seat/seatpost.
So....you guys who automatically yell out "ACETONE". What brand did you try? And what was your method? Maybe I'm just a dumbfack.
03-17-09, 02:18 PM
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03-17-09, 02:42 PM
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03-17-09, 03:14 PM
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03-17-09, 03:23 PM
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I've heard that wax works quite well also. As for acetone, I have plenty around where I work, and yes it strips paint, and clearcoat. But a bit on a q tip should be enough.
03-17-09, 03:28 PM
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03-17-09, 09:51 PM
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03-17-09, 10:36 PM
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have you ever heard or seen an example of this happening to a Ulock resulting in a stolen bike? also it seems like your job would have been easier with an angle grinder.
Yes, several times.
Believe me, I know. I didn't have one when I was working for that company.
wouldnt you need to have my key to make a duplicate? and in that case why would you bother making another? in fact if you wanted you could just call kryptonite with the number on the key and get a duplicate.
No, I wouldn't need your key. There are ways, that is all I will say on a public forum.
and yunno how many thieves have the proper machine? none. and yunno how many of those that do would rather just cut your lock in two? all of them.
Absolutely.
my guess is that in the history of krypto keys (since they switched from the bic pen solvable kind) that not one bike has been stolen by a dude who made a new key. the guy who wants your bike would just cut the damn thing.
Yes, several times.
Believe me, I know. I didn't have one when I was working for that company.
wouldnt you need to have my key to make a duplicate? and in that case why would you bother making another? in fact if you wanted you could just call kryptonite with the number on the key and get a duplicate.
No, I wouldn't need your key. There are ways, that is all I will say on a public forum.
and yunno how many thieves have the proper machine? none. and yunno how many of those that do would rather just cut your lock in two? all of them.
Absolutely.
my guess is that in the history of krypto keys (since they switched from the bic pen solvable kind) that not one bike has been stolen by a dude who made a new key. the guy who wants your bike would just cut the damn thing.
I don't want to argue with you. I just see SO many lock questions come up on these forums, that I thought some insight might be be appreciated. I understand that many won't agree with my ideas, and that is totally fine with me. We are talking about a serious investment that a lot of people won't see the value in. To each his own. I am not trying to sell ANYONE ANYTHING in this thread.
Use common sense when locking your bike. Use whichever lock works best for you and your situation.
There are many factors involved with reasons why someone might want a completely restricted key on their bike locks. I sell them fairly frequently. One reason is the one key convenience. They can be set to your house key if you buy some multi lock deadbolts for your house/condo/apt. They are extremely secure and ABSOLUTELY restricted in a sense that kryptonite is trying to achieve with their locks. (I have spoken with their product rep. and they are planning to come out with a better, more restricted key system. The one they are currently using, while VERY good in america, has been used for years in europe.)
You seem intelligent, and I have no doubt that you lock your bike well. I posted this stuff for the folks out there that are looking for advice.
Last edited by crawdaddio; 03-17-09 at 10:39 PM.
03-17-09, 10:48 PM
#93
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Originally Posted by j3ffr3y :
"what are your opinions on the krypto combo u-locks?"
They are OK.
Read back through the thread to see my answers on combo locks.
Sorry, I just realized that I posted that info in a different subforum. Here you go:
Originally Posted by dynaryder :
crawdaddio: thanks for the tips. Two questions,if I may. First,I have a pair of these that I use as additional locks in my apt's garage:
https://www.bike-locks.com/product/02...da1636864.aspx
As long as you are using them ALONG with a good U lock, I think it's great. Any added security can't hurt.
I use proper U-locks with motorcycle-level cables and a Krypto NY chain to secure my bikes to water pipes,but use these to tie the frames together as an added defense. A couple times I've considered taking one with me for a quick lockup somewhere. Just how easy is it to defeat the combo?
For someone who knows how, it can take as little as 30 seconds, and as long as ten minutes to find the right combo. As and added deficit to this style of lock, it simply looks like the thief is the owner of the bike fumbling with the combo as he determines the right combination. I won't tell you how it's done, but it is not that hard to find out. Combination locks should only be used as your only lock if you are in an area that poses a very LOW RISK of theft.
Second,what's your opinion of these?
https://www.bike-locks.com/product/6b...e27c776e2.aspx
They have a Gold rating. I use one of these when out riding with friends because I don't always know what we'll be able to lock to,and just in case someone forgets their lock we can lock together.
I haven't seen that one before. It 'LOOKS' pretty robust. Notice that they advertise its 'pick resistance'. Thieves don't (usually) pick locks, and they know that. Seems like a fairly predatory advertising tactic. I still wouldn't use that as my only lock if I am locking in any kind of risky area.
"what are your opinions on the krypto combo u-locks?"
They are OK.
Read back through the thread to see my answers on combo locks.
Sorry, I just realized that I posted that info in a different subforum. Here you go:
Originally Posted by dynaryder :
crawdaddio: thanks for the tips. Two questions,if I may. First,I have a pair of these that I use as additional locks in my apt's garage:
https://www.bike-locks.com/product/02...da1636864.aspx
As long as you are using them ALONG with a good U lock, I think it's great. Any added security can't hurt.
I use proper U-locks with motorcycle-level cables and a Krypto NY chain to secure my bikes to water pipes,but use these to tie the frames together as an added defense. A couple times I've considered taking one with me for a quick lockup somewhere. Just how easy is it to defeat the combo?
For someone who knows how, it can take as little as 30 seconds, and as long as ten minutes to find the right combo. As and added deficit to this style of lock, it simply looks like the thief is the owner of the bike fumbling with the combo as he determines the right combination. I won't tell you how it's done, but it is not that hard to find out. Combination locks should only be used as your only lock if you are in an area that poses a very LOW RISK of theft.
Second,what's your opinion of these?
https://www.bike-locks.com/product/6b...e27c776e2.aspx
They have a Gold rating. I use one of these when out riding with friends because I don't always know what we'll be able to lock to,and just in case someone forgets their lock we can lock together.
I haven't seen that one before. It 'LOOKS' pretty robust. Notice that they advertise its 'pick resistance'. Thieves don't (usually) pick locks, and they know that. Seems like a fairly predatory advertising tactic. I still wouldn't use that as my only lock if I am locking in any kind of risky area.
Last edited by crawdaddio; 03-17-09 at 10:53 PM.
03-18-09, 03:21 AM
#94
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i can in fact assume that nobody will create a dupe kryptonite key and steal my bike, because they wont. that would be the most convoluted way when they could simply break the lock. you are a locksmith and you cant even make my kryptonite key because you do not have the proper machinery.
also i dont believe that you could duplicate my kryptonite key like you claim, unless you already have the key or access to the inside of the lock, and in both those cases you dont really need to duplicate the key anyways. perhaps you could make some crazy ass wax mold or have a dentist come pour that impression-making juice in there, but cmon, lets be realistc.
one way you could do it is ask to look at somebody's key and write down the number on it and have kryptonite send you a replacement of that number key. but you are not gonna fabricate that key yourself out of nowhere. plus none of this ever happens, thieves just break things.
i do agree that it would be kinda cool to have your house and bike and all kindsa doors use the same key, which you could do with your fancy locksmith key, using a padlock. but i would use that padlock with a chain, not a cable, because the cable of course is a secondary thing only.
of course my point all along has been that your fancy lock is overkill when used with any cable because the weak point is the cable, not the padlock.
Just how easy is it to defeat the combo?
Last edited by old scratch; 03-18-09 at 03:25 AM.
03-18-09, 03:33 AM
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incidentally, yunno what i would like? a smaller mini that would be just big enough to lock the rear wheel to the frame via the seat stays. that way you could use a short but robust chain (perhaps a "noose" type)to lock front wheel and frame to the parking meter, and then manage the other wheel with the tiny U.
get to work on that kryptonite. you could sell it as the total package, all keyed alike.
get to work on that kryptonite. you could sell it as the total package, all keyed alike.
03-18-09, 03:36 AM
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donna tocci?, she posts here. i am looking forward to whatever they come up with. locks are fascinating.
03-18-09, 09:34 AM
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03-18-09, 10:23 AM
#99
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.... you are a locksmith and you cant even make my kryptonite key because you do not have the proper machinery.
also i dont believe that you could duplicate my kryptonite key like you claim, unless you already have the key or access to the inside of the lock, and in both those cases you dont really need to duplicate the key anyways. perhaps you could make some crazy ass wax mold or have a dentist come pour that impression-making juice in there, but cmon, lets be realistc.
...
also i dont believe that you could duplicate my kryptonite key like you claim, unless you already have the key or access to the inside of the lock, and in both those cases you dont really need to duplicate the key anyways. perhaps you could make some crazy ass wax mold or have a dentist come pour that impression-making juice in there, but cmon, lets be realistc.
...
One time (at band camp) I lost my key. I called a locksmith, he drilled (snipped) and the cylinder popped right out and the lock opened. I kept the cylinder, put it back in and secured it with a little screw (with the head cut off after insertion) through the newly drilled hole and took it in to get keys. $10 later and voila! a perfectly good lock, ready to go again!
This did, of course, require that the locksmith have access to the lock in his shop. And it was a fairly old lock, so who knows if it's possible with newer ones.
Last edited by lotek; 03-18-09 at 03:39 PM. Reason: directions for breaking kryptonite lock
03-18-09, 12:14 PM
#100
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You have to know where to drill, but if you do, this can be done very quickly with the lock on the bike just as easily.
And to oldscratch--- You seem to think that I don't know what I am talking about. I do. If you don't see the value in using the padlock I have suggested that is totally fine with me. Don't buy it. I want everyone to use whatever lock that they are comfortable with. Some people prefer MULTI LOCK/MEDECO.
I am simply supplying information that I feel is safe to give out on the intertubes. Advice that I feel some people might find useful. I will not explain every technique because I do not want to be responsible for supplying lock defeat info to anyone.
You are right. Thieves don't pick locks or make keys for them, they DO 'defeat' (or 'break', if you prefer) them. I stated this, plain as day, in my original post. Savvy thieves DO know how to defeat them in several different ways that you have no idea about.
Your need to be 'correct' and 'win' this argument seems to be greater than mine, so enjoy.
Last edited by crawdaddio; 06-23-10 at 12:00 PM. Reason: directions for defeating kryptonite locks