frozen locks - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-26-2007, 04:01 PM

Has anybody had to unfreeze your lock after coming out of where ever you
were.
I had a bike locker once by the Skytrain and it was always frozen in
freezing temp. Bought the same stuff cars use for their doors. I think the
ingredients are just something you can probably put together yourself in a
spray bottle
Heating the key with a flame helped too I think. Both took too long though
as I was still late for work.

Anyone want to elucidate on their trials and tribulations?

01-26-2007, 05:38 PM

On Jan 26, 8:01 pm, "nash" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Has anybody had to unfreeze your lock after coming out of where ever you
> were.
> I had a bike locker once by the Skytrain and it was always frozen in
> freezing temp. Bought the same stuff cars use for their doors. I think the
> ingredients are just something you can probably put together yourself in a
> spray bottle
> Heating the key with a flame helped too I think. Both took too long though
> as I was still late for work.
>
> Anyone want to elucidate on their trials and tribulations?

I happen to have had to do this today, but on a a lock that hadn't been
opened for some weeks.

This time of year, I carry a small bottle of methyl and a lighter in
my pack. If the met doesn't open the lock by water displacement, I
spark it up. I usually blow it out a few seconds later, so as not to
burn the rubber coating on the lock. This will mess up or destroy your
lock's lube, so reoil it when practical (I use 5w-30.)

If the lock has a cover for the keyhole, I use it. Even if it doesn't,
I try to turn the lock so the keyhole is facing down.

01-26-2007, 07:23 PM

"nash" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:uvxuh.811346$5R2.375730@pd7urf3no...
> Has anybody had to unfreeze your lock after coming out of where ever you
> were.
> I had a bike locker once by the Skytrain and it was always frozen in
> freezing temp. Bought the same stuff cars use for their doors. I think
> the ingredients are just something you can probably put together yourself
> in a spray bottle
> Heating the key with a flame helped too I think. Both took too long
> though as I was still late for work.
>

Shift - to a better climate.

01-26-2007, 09:23 PM

nash wrote:
> Has anybody had to unfreeze your lock after coming out of where ever
> you were.
> I had a bike locker once by the Skytrain and it was always frozen in
> freezing temp. Bought the same stuff cars use for their doors. I
> think the ingredients are just something you can probably put
> together yourself in a spray bottle
> Heating the key with a flame helped too I think. Both took too long
> though as I was still late for work.
>
> Anyone want to elucidate on their trials and tribulations?

Sometimes all you can do is hold the lock in one hand until it warms up
enough to open. Alternate hands.

When you get home, take the lock inside and let it dry out fully, then lube
it.

01-27-2007, 11:44 AM

nash wrote:
> Has anybody had to unfreeze your lock after coming out of where ever you
> were.
> I had a bike locker once by the Skytrain and it was always frozen in
> freezing temp. Bought the same stuff cars use for their doors. I think the
> ingredients are just something you can probably put together yourself in a
> spray bottle
> Heating the key with a flame helped too I think. Both took too long though
> as I was still late for work.
>
> Anyone want to elucidate on their trials and tribulations?
>
>

The "lock thawing" stuff will often un-freeze the lock, but it is
usually just /alcohol/ (like windshield washer fluid used in cars during
cold weather), which also rinses the lubrication out of the lock at the
same time.

Remington-brand gun lube is what I use for locks. Thick oils tend to
absorb water and get gummy; it has teflon powder in an evaporative carrier.

Moly sulfide tends to absorb water, and also--moly sulfide is jet black
and will stain skin and clothes permanently,,,, I have found that it's
not something you really want to get on a key. Teflon powder is
basically "white/clear" and doesn't stain your clothes or skin.
-----
By the by,,,, if I have a lighter available I usually heat the /lock/,
not the key.
~

01-27-2007, 12:32 PM

By the by,,,, if I have a lighter available I usually heat the /lock/,
not the key.
<<<<<<<<<<
That only works on a portable lock. I was talking about a bike locker with
a door lock which is vertical like a car's. so it depends on the situation.
If I had a blow torch I would have used that.

Remington sounds good thanks

01-27-2007, 01:11 PM

On Jan 27, 2:01 am, "nash" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Has anybody had to unfreeze your lock after coming out of where ever you
> were.
> I had a bike locker once by the Skytrain and it was always frozen in
> freezing temp. Bought the same stuff cars use for their doors. I think the
> ingredients are just something you can probably put together yourself in a
> spray bottle
> Heating the key with a flame helped too I think. Both took too long though
> as I was still late for work.
>
> Anyone want to elucidate on their trials and tribulations?

Urine. Perhaps best as an emergency measure, not a regular fix.

Joseph

01-27-2007, 05:26 PM

nash wrote:
> By the by,,,, if I have a lighter available I usually heat the /lock/,
> not the key.
> <<<<<<<<<<
> That only works on a portable lock. I was talking about a bike locker with
> a door lock which is vertical like a car's. so it depends on the situation.
> If I had a blow torch I would have used that.
>

A cigarette lighter will often still thaw those kinds of locks (like car
door locks). As long as you can turn the lighter sideways and get a
decent size flame out of it for ~20 seconds.
~

01-27-2007, 05:35 PM

"DougC" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:XQTuh.336$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> nash wrote:
>> By the by,,,, if I have a lighter available I usually heat the /lock/,
>> not the key.
>> <<<<<<<<<<
>> That only works on a portable lock. I was talking about a bike locker
>> with a door lock which is vertical like a car's. so it depends on the
>> situation. If I had a blow torch I would have used that.
>>
>
> A cigarette lighter will often still thaw those kinds of locks (like car
> door locks). As long as you can turn the lighter sideways and get a decent
> size flame out of it for ~20 seconds.
>

That's true. Some of those lighters are almost blow torches. : )

01-29-2007, 04:34 AM

On 26 Jan 2007 18:38:25 -0800, "Brian Huntley"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>This will mess up or destroy your
>lock's lube, so reoil it when practical (I use 5w-30.)

They have a graphite key lubricant that will not freeze in the
temperature range that most humans would ride. It is easier and
cleaner to apply and you can take it home and put it in your front
door lock as well.

Won't do much to free a frozen lock, but applied each year it got me
through several Michigan winters with no frozen locks - even after
thaw and refreezing several times. Hardly necessary down here in
Maryland. Especially this year...

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...