Lost keys to cycle chain

[OrlandaFuriosa]

Cycle attached at back of house. What should I do? v v thick chain, tougher than I can hacksaw through,,

Angle grinder. You can hire them. I've used them to cut through a padlock and a heavy chain. The chain was surprisingly easy to cut through. Bolt cutters would do it too, but I don't know how much strength you need to use them. Angle grinder requires none.

photos please. Including chain and padlock, with something in to show scale.

Here we go.. sorry not to respond before. I’ve got ME and haven’t moved for two days.

I found some keys that in theory fit , that is they go in, move the lock 90 degrees. But no more, despite WD 40 being applied.

have you got a spare key? if a cylinder turns 45 degrees, I'd expect the lock to open. You could try jiggling the loop of the padlock while you jiggle the key.

Is it a tubular key, or a yale-shaped one?

Can you lay your hands on some large spanners?

If you do end up cutting it, it looks to me like the chain is square, and not as thick as the padlock loop, so it will be easier to cut the chain. I'd go for the end link that the padlock is through. A hacksaw will do it, it won't he hard, but will be tedious. With padlocks and chains, it's useful to wedge the part you are attacking so it stays still and rigid and is unable to flop away.

A friend asked nicely and persuaded a bunch of fire men to come and cut a lock off for him.

That may be a little extreme

Thank you, 45 yes not 90, ME brain mush. But no happy click of anything moving.

More Yale shaped.

Excellent, love the YouTubes. Got spanners. Will apply more WD40 to overnight. Have strong son returning shortly and will get him to activate...will report..

Next up to deal with the water/damp..sigh.

Don’t know any firemen, alas. Wish I did.

has it been left a long time? I see the cycle chain looks rusty.

If the lock cylinder is turning 45 degrees, the key is working so it might be that the spring and steel balls that grip the loop of the padlock have rusted together and are not springing away. In which case, trying to dribble WD40 down the "legs" of the padlock loop, and jiggling it up and down, might free it off. Gravity will help the lube run inside, as long as you turn it so you are applying it at the top.

Yes it has. I want to take it in to be serviced. Child wants to use it after period of disuse.

Yup, applied more WD40 in those areas, like that, coincidentally, last night. Will see what happens and report back. Thank you.

also, try applying pressure to lift the loop, while the key is already turned in the cylinder. Turning the key will remove the locking pressure that holds the parts together.

I'm coming to the view that the key and cylinder work, but the steel balls that wedge into the legs of the shackle, or their springs, are rusted. When (if) you get it open, you will see the rounded notches cut into the legs of the shackle, that the retaining balls press into.

in this case, you could tap on the top of the shackle with, say, a screwdriver handle, and tap or pull it upwards. This may give enough movement to loosen the parts so they start to move. When working properly, the locking balls move inwards when you turn the cylinder with the key (I can't find a sectional diagram)

Resist the temptation to use enough violence to damage the bike or the lock.

There are some padlocks that will withstand weather, dirt and rust, they don't work the same way.

Thanks so much.

With more application of WD40, pressure from two strong men as you suggested, fiddling around with the key, we have finally got it off. The loop has come completely off.

Hey ho.

But I’m going to remember the spanner trick.

hooray hooray!

I can suggest a weatherproof padlock for use in the garden, but they are rather big. An ordinary one will be adequate if you lube it occasionally and it's mostly kept under cover.

I will ask for the other links to be removed, as helpful to burglars.

Yes please, and thank you! Done deal at local bike shop, hooray. El cheapo bike suitable for student use chose, weatherproof padlock essential. Picking up bike Monday.

And yes please, excellent idea to get rid of links.

*chosen. But it will be out in all weathers.

These ERA 5-lever padlocks are very strong and weather resistant. The moving levers are brass, and the shackle is thick galvanised steel.

It is available at Wickes packaged as an own-brand at a lower price.

On Amazon it is described as stainless steel, but it is galvanised steel.

It is rather big and heavy.

You might consider leaving it at home locked to a big ring in a wall or concrete floor if the weight is too much.

The also make a "big six" which is even better and heavier.

Because the mechanism is quite different to the more usual cylinder-type locks, the usual attacks don't work.

It's also suitable for outbuildings.

www.amazon.co.uk/Era-Lever-Padlock-64-Stainless/dp/B004UEP6RY?tag=mumsnetforum-21

www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-High-Security-Padlock-5-Lever---Steel-63mm/p/520826

I've used lever padlocks outdoors for quite a few years, without a failure like I've had with so-called weatherproof cylinder types.

Brilliant. I can see a visit to Wickes coming on..or Bunnings ( which I find so much better than Homebase, unlike most of the population). I shall change our external padlocks over.

Thanks so much for all your help.