How to force a "D" lock open?

sliabh · 19-07-2004 12:54pm #1

I managed to break the key of my bike's d-lock over the weekend and the bike is now stuck in town. Does anyone have any (realistic) suggestions for how the lock can be forced?

Thanks for the help.

seamus · 19-07-2004 12:56pm

Hacksaw.

Nothing else.

rob1891 · 19-07-2004 12:56pm

car jack is what I've heard, I'd say an angle grinder would go through it pretty snappy, just don't hit the frame with it!

phone a locksmith?

edit: I've gone through chains with a hacksaw, took a while though, and it wasn't out in public. I guess a d lock isn't that much stronger than a chain.

sliabh · 19-07-2004 1:00pm

Because of how it is locked a jack won't work.

Hacksaw I can do but I would prefer not to spend the afternoon at it.

Any idea how much a locksmith will charge for the job?

rob1891 · 19-07-2004 1:03pm

I wouldn't pay him, just ask how he'd open a d-lock

(don't know what they charge)

rob1891 · 19-07-2004 1:06pm

hack saw won't take too long, don't use those ****ty little ones, get a proper one and make sure you have a brand new blade with you, as that will speed it up a good bit. 15 minutes would do it I guess.

Trojan · 19-07-2004 1:56pm

And bring the bike receipt with you in case the Gardai shock us all by giving a sh!t.

garthv · 19-07-2004 2:03pm

your best bet is to get a 12-volt electric drill,knock the torque stting all the way up and drill straight thru where you'd put the key in,its what a locksmith would do anyway

Victor · 20-07-2004 11:11pm

Bolt cutters might work. Theres another way, but I'm not telling you lot.

Samson · 20-07-2004 11:22pm

Originally posted by Victor
Theres another way, but I'm not telling you lot

How helpful.

fiacha · 20-07-2004 11:33pm

you will find the answer on the forums here but be warned, this site may leave you paranoid about just how secure your house / bike / car locks are!

sliabh · 21-07-2004 12:59pm

Ah the internet. Is there no information that is not available on it! :-)

(excepting of course info on how my girlfriend's mind works. Still a mystery to me)

rubadub · 30-07-2004 8:33am

Tubular lock pick. I had to get one for mine.

blorg · 06-08-2004 2:55pm

sliabh wrote:

Any idea how much a locksmith will charge for the job?

I was charged £45 a few years ago to get this done (although it wasn't a U-Lock, it was one of those Oxford bendy locks. He didn't require any proof that I owned the bike, I guess thieves wouldn't tend to call out locksmiths...

blorg · 17-08-2004 1:52pm

Well, more recently my key broke in my D-lock again; this was because the lock was not properly in at the key end, but was still firmly attached and unopenable. In this case (on the advice of my LBS) a hammer blow to the bar section that the D locks into (again on the not properly attached end) sufficed to free the bike very easily. YMMV.

How to force a "D" lock open?

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