Jammed lock and broken key

__Carl

Hey guys

Looks like it was a rather cold night tonight, I had the misfortune of having what I believe is a somewhat frozen padlock for the chain on my bike. Not having anything to heat it with or any liquid to pour into the lock I decided to use something rather foolish: Brute force.

Can't say I was in a good mood sitting on the bus and the train to get to work after I'd broken the key inside the lock. I have a spare key thankfully, but will need to figure out a way to get the broken key out of the lock without calling a locksmith (I figure a trip to Halfords might provide me with some tool that'll help).

Not much use to this thread other than suggesting that people learn from my mistake, one I'm more than likely to repeat several times...

goodlad

__Carl wrote: »

Hey guys

Looks like it was a rather cold night tonight, I had the misfortune of having what I believe is a somewhat frozen padlock for the chain on my bike. Not having anything to heat it with or any liquid to pour into the lock I decided to use something rather foolish: Brute force.

Can't say I was in a good mood sitting on the bus and the train to get to work after I'd broken the key inside the lock. I have a spare key thankfully, but will need to figure out a way to get the broken key out of the lock without calling a locksmith (I figure a trip to Halfords might provide me with some tool that'll help).

Not much use to this thread other than suggesting that people learn from my mistake, one I'm more than likely to repeat several times...

Sure ya could of taken a wizz on the lock :P

CJhaughey

Use a lighter to heat the key, insert, wait, twist.

RosieJoe

__Carl wrote: »

Hey guys

Looks like it was a rather cold night tonight, I had the misfortune of having what I believe is a somewhat frozen padlock for the chain on my bike. Not having anything to heat it with or any liquid to pour into the lock I decided to use something rather foolish: Brute force.

Can't say I was in a good mood sitting on the bus and the train to get to work after I'd broken the key inside the lock. I have a spare key thankfully, but will need to figure out a way to get the broken key out of the lock without calling a locksmith (I figure a trip to Halfords might provide me with some tool that'll help).

Not much use to this thread other than suggesting that people learn from my mistake, one I'm more than likely to repeat several times...

A matchstick with a dab of glue on the top of it can be used to get the broken bit out of the lock.

Here's a vid for other ways of getting it out! Love the 2nd option, brute force to bang out the broken bit

__Carl

RosieJoe wrote: »

A matchstick with a dab of glue on the top of it can be used to get the broken bit out of the lock.

Yea? I'll give it a shot, I think. Didn't really have a proper look this morning, but I know that the key basically snapped right off at the top, leaving everything in the lock. Also think I might be able to use a safety pin to "pull" or wriggle it out.

Wossack

be very careful with glue and the lock mechanism - if super glue, use the gel stuff, not the fluid.. it flows like heck, and will probably make your issue worse

__Carl

The video was awesome, have a few ideas to try now.

bradknowell

I'd say you where like a bull on the bus and train lol.

__Carl

bradknowell wrote: »

I'd say you where like a bull on the bus and train lol.

Remembering my hatred for crowds... Old women with radios extremely loud, girls who thinks it smells nice when they wear enough perfume to knock someone out, cramped, slow... Much nicer on the road!

Hotblack Desiato

Surprised no-one's mentioned WD40, I always give locks a squirt of it at the start of winter.

RosieJoe

Any luck getting that key out?

__Carl

I ended up having to call the locksmith in the end, all my ideas failed on me. At least it looked like the locksmith struggled a bit with it as well (I saw a few of his tools bending when trying to fix it), so my pride isn't too scarred.