How to break my own bike lock

[GatleyJim]

Hi,

I cycled into work yesterday and locked my bike up. When trying to unlock it last night, the lock was jammed and I could not unlock it. I went to a shop and tried some WD40 but still it wouldn't work. I gave up and got the train home in my lycra. Fortunately it was still there when I arrived this morning. I want to break into it at lunch and take it home with me. I would rather not pay for a locksmith to do it. Can anybody recommend a decent tool to use for breaking the lock? It is a D-lock but not a very good quality one (it was around £15). I want to buy a new expensive lock anyway so don't mind destroying it.

Thanks,

James.

 

[fossyant]

Cheap d lock, then some time with a hack saw.

 

[Pale Rider]

Thieves use a small jack to burst D locks, but it would probably mean buying one.

Another method is to spray the lock with instant icing spray as used by plumbers to seal leaks in an emergency.

When the lock is very cold, you smack it with a hammer/chisel and it shatters.

 

[Hill Wimp]

This is commonly known as a @swee'pea99 moment.

If I knew how to link back to a thread I would.

We were on tender hooks.

 

[swee'pea99]

Even a £15 D-lock is going to be a pain to hacksaw off. I'd highly recommend an angle grinder if you can borrow one. Your LBS?

 

[LimeBurn]

An angle grinder would be the simplest method but noisy and maybe difficult to access etc, just borrow someones jack from their car and pop it that way.

 

[musa]

Can you twist the D side to side in the lock? If so try that it worked for me a few years back

 

[StuUngar]

Seems like a bit of a guide to nicking a bike but oh well. 1st thing I'd do is contact your local fire brigade - 95% of the time they are doing nothing - and they may sort it for a donation - providing you can prove the bike is yours!

There are 3 tools that will get any bike. A bottle jack - only useable if there is enough space to insert it - risk damaging the frame. Bolt cutters will get through most cable locks & some D locks. Thirdly a portable angle grinder. Disadvantage is noisy.

Unfortunately as a victim of bike thieves I have become aware of their techniques. And if I was that way inclined I am certain I could steal 90% of locked up bikes I see in under 2 minutes.

However, "professional" bike thieves will generally work in teams - they usually need a lookout and a van driver. It isn't helped by some of the "bike stands" that are installed.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

http://www.wikihow.com/Break-a-U-Lock

Get the jack on it !

 

[slowmotion]

There are loads of handy hints on YouTube, including a kid using Mr Haematocrit's method.

 

[alicat]

So what happened, GatleyJim?

 

[ColinJ]

1st thing I'd do is contact your local fire brigade - 95% of the time they are doing nothing - and they may sort it for a donation - providing you can prove the bike is yours!

Ha ha - I was just speaking to a friend who did just that! She had locked her bike's back wheel to the frame, but not actually locked the bike to anything. (She had taken it into the college where she was doing an evening class.)

When she went to unlock the bike, she discovered that she had lost the key. In the end she lifted the back of the bike, and wheeled it to the fire station down the road. Apparently, the firemen teased her, asking if she was a bike thief, but then got a big pair of cutters out and removed the lock in one nip.