Disc lock won't open....aaaargh!!

[racer1735]

Went to the garage after work tonight to take a short end-of-day ride (work hadn't allowed me to ride in several weeks) and I couldn't get my disc lock off! The key barely inserted into the barrel, let alone far enough to turn the cylinders. Frustration!!! I tried inserting the key and pressing while trying to rotate key back and forth (I'd read this would align the discs). Nothing doing!! I'm not fired up to pull the wheel and take to a lock shop. I want to ride!! What to do?????

 

[vapexpr]

A squirt of WD40 or spray oil. if you have a small hammer (or something that can be used as a hammer) start hitting the lock harder than a tap and less than beating the scrap out of it. you need to loosen the corrosion that may be causing the lock to stick.

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[racer1735]

I will give it a shot but I'm not sure that is the issue as the lock has never been used outside and is totally any inside lock in An arid climate

 

[caillou]

If you can't unlock it (usually, the more you try, the worse it is...), I would remore it with a grinder. If you stop before going thru the U shape block, you should be able to finish it with a srew driver, without damaging the disc. You can try a Dremel also but I would try with a grinder first.

 

[EricV]

Just going out on a limb, but are you sure, I mean really sure, that you have the right key? Got any other barrel style keys around?

You wouldn't be the first guy to stick his toolbox key in the disk lock. The way those round keys fit, the pattern around the barrel has to be correct or the key won't insert fully. If you had the slot lined up, (most likely, eh), then it should have at least fit in all the way.

On my Xena there was a red key as well as two normal black keys. The red key fit differently, though I've forgotten what it was for now.

 

[Ramseybella]

Just going out on a limb, but are you sure, I mean really sure, that you have the right key? Got any other barrel style keys around?

You wouldn't be the first guy to stick his toolbox key in the disk lock. The way those round keys fit, the pattern around the barrel has to be correct or the key won't insert fully. If you had the slot lined up, (most likely, eh), then it should have at least fit in all the way.

On my Xena there was a red key as well as two normal black keys. The red key fit differently, though I've forgotten what it was for now.

theoretically speaking he does have a good assumption!

 

[racer1735]

Just going out on a limb, but are you sure, I mean really sure, that you have the right key? Got any other barrel style keys around?

You wouldn't be the first guy to stick his toolbox key in the disk lock. The way those round keys fit, the pattern around the barrel has to be correct or the key won't insert fully. If you had the slot lined up, (most likely, eh), then it should have at least fit in all the way.

Unfortunately, yes. I have three disc locks (from previously having three bikes). Now I'm down to one bike.....the other two locks are hanging on the wall with their keys in the respective cylinders. I carry the key to the broken lock in an ear plug holder which is attached to the key ring of the keys for this bike.

I thought that I might have the wrong key....but upon seeing two locks with keys in them, I knew that wasn't the case.

Its as if the internal mechanism has gotten out of alignment. The lock has worked great for many years.....go to open it and it sprang open perfectly. Then, last night when I went to ride (oh how I needed a ride yesterday), this happened.

 

[EricV]

Pretty odd situation. Not like the bike got moved around while it sat there with the disk lock on it. Tough to get a good visual inspection inside the key slot/ring with it on the bike I imagine.

On my Xena disk lock, the outer ring that normally turns with the key will rotate on it's own. You can stick just the tip of the key in and rotate the ring w/o turning the rest of the tumblers and if it's 180 out, the key will go in a little, but not all the way. Not knowing your brand of disk lock or it's design, perhaps yours is similar and you can try and rotate the outer ring 180 to see if the key will then fit in correctly?

 

[racer1735]

The key will insert about 1/3 of the way into the barrel. I've attached pics of both lock and key. Key isn't damaged and the insertion tang isn't broken.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Sounds like it's time for the carbide cutting wheel.
Bummer

 

[Lutsie]

You could also drill out the cylinder.

Sorry to hear about your predicament, happened to me a few years ago. I understand your frustration.

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[Pterodactyl]

Just wondering, why use the disk lock if you are parked in a garage?

 

[racer1735]

Just wondering, why use the disk lock if you are parked in a garage?

Rental unit. Has a garage but not sure how many prying eyes are in the neighborhood. Keep the door down as much as possible but can't always have it down everytime I come into the house.

 

[Stridey]

Just wondering, why use the disk lock if you are parked in a garage?

If you've got it use it!

Maybe he's declared the use of the lock on his bike insurance?

I disc lock (with built in alarm) all my bikes so that if the thieving b****rds break into my garage they will have to break the disc locks and the alarms will wake up me and the neighbours (hopefully!)

I had that type of round key with indents ground in and if old they can get a bit worn so make it a problem to get them seated in the lock barrell. Do you have a spare newer key to try?

 

[Dogdaze]

Rental unit. Has a garage but not sure how many prying eyes are in the neighborhood. Keep the door down as much as possible but can't always have it down everytime I come into the house.

Huge contrast to where we are. Bicycles are the only thing really getting stolen. I leave my bike in the garage with the keys in the ignition, if anybody wants it that badly, they can have it, I'll get a new one. Anyway, back to normal programming, did you get the lock off?

 

[Spider]

You could try the old bic pen trick that used to work on Kryptonite locks. But breaking out the grinder not only will get the lock off, but can be very therapeutic.

 

[racer1735]

Got to love a locksmith at your work who also rides! I pulled the front wheel during lunch and took it to our lock shop. He picked the lock (cylinders were Mia-aligned) and removed the lock without damaging the brake rotor.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Congrats! ::012::

 

[EricV]

Glad to read you were able to save things w/o resorting to the grinder. Nice to have friends/co-workers that have skills!

Any idea how the cylinders got misaligned? Someone messing with it, or just bad luck?

 

[Pterodactyl]

Last time someone broke into a home anywhere near where I live the homeowner shot him dead. That was several years ago. I feel fortunate to live in an area where having a bike stolen out of my shop is very unlikely.