How to remove NCPS Clamp?

ac123 · 27-01-2015 8:55am #1

Hello,

Yesterday my car was clamped by NCPS in the Ranelagh area.
I intend to remove the clamp myself but do not have any tools, so
need to know what tools I need to remove it please.

Will a bolt cutters do it?
Should I cut the lock or the chain?

Anyone with knowledge/experience in this area
I will be very very grateful if you could PM me;)

Thanks in advance

PS This is NOT a thread about the legality/illegality of private clamping or what I intend to do, so please no debate on that thanks:)

Kenny Logins · 27-01-2015 8:58am

I think you need a sob story. :pac:

alias no.9 · 27-01-2015 9:06am

There's a phone number you can call to get a guy to come out and take it off, saves getting your hands dirty or failing that, maybe try a junior hack saw and make sure to cut through the lock, that way the most you can be liable for is a replacement lock

goz83 · 27-01-2015 9:14am

If one were to remove a clamp from their vehicle without the key to the lock, he would be best advised not to damage the property of another.

A bolt cutters usually will not work on the hardened steel chain.

A rented angle grinder can be very effective, but will damage the clamp.

A decent socket set and pry bar would allow you to move the suspension arm out of the way and let the chain slide off. Jacking up vehicle and removing wheel makes this easier.

Leave clamp for collection by owner.

GTDolanator · 27-01-2015 9:17am

Cut clamp off,I find grinder to work very well!

Dispose of clamp

The end.

worded · 27-01-2015 9:21am

The easiest way to remove it is with a piece of bendy plastic that has a magnetic strip on the back

corktina · 27-01-2015 9:40am

goz83 wrote: »

If one were to remove a clamp from their vehicle without the key to the lock, he would be best advised not to damage the property of another.

A decent socket set and pry bar would allow you to move the suspension arm out of the way and let the chain slide off. Jacking up vehicle and removing wheel makes this easier.

Leave clamp for collection by owner.

THIS is the only way I would advocate doing the deed. Depends on your skill level and make of car whether it is feasible.

ac123 · 27-01-2015 9:54am

I don't mind damaging the clamp.

Kev_2012 · 27-01-2015 9:57am

I jacked the car up years ago and undid the wishbone bolt and it came off, undamaged and handed it back to him. I was clamped illegally as they were patrolling an area whose ownership was in dispute and they didn't have the right to clamp me so I took it off. I hate clampers!!!

Henry Ford III · 27-01-2015 10:13am

Nobody likes clampers - even their spouses don't like them.

Doesn't give us a carte blanche to damage their property if the vehicle is legally clamped however.

goz83 · 27-01-2015 10:19am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Nobody likes clampers - even their spouses don't like them.

Doesn't give us a carte blanche to damage their property if the vehicle is legally clamped however.

and there lies the grey area. Private clamping is not legal. Its not illegal either (yet). The only legal clamping is done by the LA.

Kevin! · 27-01-2015 10:39am

Probably not the best idea making this thread and naming the company, but a con saw or angle grinder is what you need hypothetically

yuloni · 27-01-2015 10:41am

This post has been deleted.

Kenny Logins · 27-01-2015 10:42am

worded wrote: »

The easiest way to remove it is with a piece of bendy plastic that has a magnetic strip on the back

Bolt cutters is faster and cheaper.

whomitconcerns · 27-01-2015 10:43am

even their website is unprofessional...

"If you appeal and are unsuccessful you have the write to go to an independent appeals service and full information on this process will be provided at the appeals stage."

from http://www.ncps.ie/Rosslare.html

ac123 · 27-01-2015 10:47am

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Bolt cutters is faster and cheaper.

Have you actually seen it done with a bolt cutters?...i'd be surprised if a bolt cutters will actually do it.
Did the bolt cutters actually cut through the lock or the chain?

corktina · 27-01-2015 10:52am

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I jacked the car up years ago and undid the wishbone bolt and it came off, undamaged and handed it back to him. I was clamped illegally as they were patrolling an area whose ownership was in dispute and they didn't have the right to clamp me so I took it off. I hate clampers!!!

I doubt the legality of them inferring with your property under any circumstance. Never been tested in the Courts afaik and probably never will be

Kenny Logins · 27-01-2015 10:57am

ac123 wrote: »

Have you actually seen it done with a bolt cutters?...i'd be surprised if a bolt cutters will actually do it.
Did the bolt cutters actually cut through the lock or the chain?

If you have one big enough, shouldn't be a problem. They'll bite anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXQOO3RMXNM

Dr Turk Turkelton · 27-01-2015 11:00am

Consaw op, will only take a few seconds. Then dispose of clamp and if ever questioned just deny all knowledge of it.
Also you seem to have a good handle on this but don't be tempted to listen to any do-gooders on here.

ac123 · 27-01-2015 11:02am

Have you actually done it, or seen it being done?
Can you tell me the bolt cutters that was used and worked? thanks:)

corktina · 27-01-2015 11:13am

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote: »

Consaw op, will only take a few seconds. Then dispose of clamp and if ever questioned just deny all knowledge of it.
Also you seem to have a good handle on this but don't be tempted to listen to any do-gooders on here.

did you ever do it?

martinsvi · 27-01-2015 11:14am

once saw a guy trying to remove the clamp from his car in Dublin 8 area, it was right in front of my apartment windows so I got to enjoy the show. He had an angle grinder himself but he wore it out pretty quickly, then he tried with some other tools and whatnot to no avail.. A van arrived with 3 lads and an autogen.. they lift the car to get underneath it and started welding. At this point I felt so sorry for them I was seriously considering offering them a cup of tea - I mean - it was one of those cold dark rain/sleet pissing nights.. anyway some two hours later they finally got it off and I was sort of cheering for them, but I couldn't get one thought of my head - surely 4 guys with a van and a bunch of tools can make more than lousy 80 euro? I mean sure it's a matter of principle and all that but whatever you do, be concious of how much your time costs versus what you will save and all .

pcardin · 27-01-2015 11:53am

goz83 wrote: »

A decent socket set and pry bar would allow you to move the suspension arm out of the way and let the chain slide off. Jacking up vehicle and removing wheel makes this easier.

Leave clamp for collection by owner.

That's if you are handy with tools and if clamper was an amateur. I am handy with tools but when my car was clamped the chain was put through any possible holes in suspension parts, it was even looped through shock absorber spring. I had no other option than to cut the chain.

ac123 · 27-01-2015 11:55am

pcardin wrote: »

That's if you are handy with tools and if clamper was an amateur. I am handy with tools but when my car was clamped the chain was put through any possible holes in suspension parts, it was even looped through shock absorber spring. I had no other option than to cut the chain.

What did you use to cut the chain? How long did it take?

endacl · 27-01-2015 12:01pm

pcardin wrote: »

That's if you are handy with tools and if clamper was an amateur. I am handy with tools but when my car was clamped the chain was put through any possible holes in suspension parts, it was even looped through shock absorber spring. I had no other option than to cut the chain.

Even if it wasn't looped, cutting is still the way to go. If I can get through the chain with a grinder in a couple of seconds, fcuked if I'm going to the trouble and time to jack up the car and dismantle all those parts. If the cnuts didn't want to lose their clamp, lock and chain, why did they take it out of the van in the first place?

StereoSound · 27-01-2015 12:08pm

I would just cut the chain. They can come after me if they want I wouldn't care.

ac123 · 27-01-2015 1:14pm

Thanks.
So I know an angle grinder will cut it, but unfortunately I don't have one.
Has anybody actually cut one of these off using a bolt cutters or a hack saw?
Is it actually possible?

Wossack · 27-01-2015 1:23pm

knock into a tool rental place, and dont forget to mention what you want it for (as Ive heard of people getting freebies when they hear what its for :pac:)

my3cents · 27-01-2015 1:28pm

martinsvi wrote: »

once saw a guy trying to remove the clamp from his car in Dublin 8 area, it was right in front of my apartment windows so I got to enjoy the show. He had an angle grinder himself but he wore it out pretty quickly, then he tried with some other tools and whatnot to no avail.. A van arrived with 3 lads and an autogen.. they lift the car to get underneath it and started welding. At this point I felt so sorry for them I was seriously considering offering them a cup of tea - I mean - it was one of those cold dark rain/sleet pissing nights.. anyway some two hours later they finally got it off and I was sort of cheering for them, but I couldn't get one thought of my head - surely 4 guys with a van and a bunch of tools can make more than lousy 80 euro? I mean sure it's a matter of principle and all that but whatever you do, be concious of how much your time costs versus what you will save and all .

Sounds like they had a stone cutting disc and were using it on steel.

Mycroft H · 27-01-2015 1:29pm

ac123 wrote: »

Thanks.
So I know an angle grinder will cut it, but unfortunately I don't have one.
Has anybody actually cut one of these off using a bolt cutters or a hack saw?
Is it actually possible?

Not seen a chain that a 42" bolt cutters won't go through

endacl · 27-01-2015 3:26pm

ac123 wrote: »

Thanks.
So I know an angle grinder will cut it, but unfortunately I don't have one.
Has anybody actually cut one of these off using a bolt cutters or a hack saw?
Is it actually possible?

Bolt cutters will do it, if the jaws can get a grip, and if the lock is positioned in such a way as to let you lever one arm against the ground. Also, if you can get a length of pipe to slot over the upper handle it'll be easier. The longer the handle, the more force you can apply.

wotswattage · 27-01-2015 3:54pm

I bent the jaws of a big (1m) bolt cutters trying to cut a clamp chain before. Had no access to a con saw so ended up coughing up the release fee... If I left it any longer I'd have been paying for a second 24 hours.

The chain was lopped in through the wishbones so dismantling wasn't am option either.

I've seen hacksaws working on cheap clamps at universities, but NCPS ones are made of tougher stuff!

Falcon L · 27-01-2015 4:07pm

Either a cheap angle grinder and an inverter to connect it to your car battery or a rechargeable grinder. Keep it in the boot. It's a great investment.

pcardin · 27-01-2015 4:25pm

ac123 wrote: »

What did you use to cut the chain? How long did it take?

grinder. although chain was looped through suspension parts by lifting a car I could slide the clamp off the wheel. when it was flat on the ground I cut the corners where chain is welded to metal triangle shield. chain itself was nearly impossible to cut. it was enough to free chain and unloop from suspension. job was done exactly 12 min before charge for next 24hrs would kick in. Clamp release fee where I live is €120 so paying that amount will never be an option for me.

endacl · 27-01-2015 4:26pm

Mycroft H wrote: »

Not seen a chain that a 42" bolt cutters won't go through

mfceiling · 27-01-2015 5:38pm

I watched a lad cut a Dublin City Council clamp off.

A 110v makita reciprocating saw and 4 brand new steel blades later and the clamp was on it's way to Newry for a spin!!

goz83 · 28-01-2015 1:14am

pcardin wrote: »

That's if you are handy with tools and if clamper was an amateur. I am handy with tools but when my car was clamped the chain was put through any possible holes in suspension parts, it was even looped through shock absorber spring. I had no other option than to cut the chain.

It's not that they are amateurs, it's just that they usually couldn't be arsed to start wrapping and looping chains, because most gob****es people will just pay up.

ac123 wrote: »

Thanks.
So I know an angle grinder will cut it, but unfortunately I don't have one.
Has anybody actually cut one of these off using a bolt cutters or a hack saw?
Is it actually possible?

Bolt cutters would only work on cheap clamps. The big clampers use toughened steel chains to prevent exactly this. I have personally witnessed a large bolt cutters lose its bite on a clampers chain.

wotswattage wrote: »

I bent the jaws of a big (1m) bolt cutters trying to cut a clamp chain before. Had no access to a con saw so ended up coughing up the release fee... If I left it any longer I'd have been paying for a second 24 hours.

The chain was lopped in through the wishbones so dismantling wasn't am option either.

I've seen hacksaws working on cheap clamps at universities, but NCPS ones are made of tougher stuff!

No matter how much looping they do, there is always a way to get the chain/clamp off without damaging the clamp, or the vehicle.

Cookie_Monster · 28-01-2015 1:46am

goz83 wrote: »

Bolt cutters would only work on cheap clamps. The big clampers use toughened steel chains to prevent exactly this. I have personally witnessed a large bolt cutters lose its bite on a clampers chain.

I always thought you should go for the clamp rather than the chain

like so

goz83 · 28-01-2015 11:59am

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I always thought you should go for the clamp rather than the chain

like so

And the same applies here too. Tougher clamps have been deployed by the big players in recent years. A bolt cutter will work on an Aldi price clamp, but not the tougher, thicker ones now used. The anchor points are also further from the edge than they used to be, to make it very difficult to get to.

Totally destroying a clamp, I would be against, no matter how much I hate the clampers. Cutting the lock, or even the end link of the chain is bad enough, but destroying the clamp itself is a step too far. It's the difference between a shove and a punch in a conflict.

conor2469 · 28-01-2015 1:35pm

Question, I am unfamiliar with clamping companies and their authority. Do the private clamping companies have access to a database that allows them to obtain the name/address of the registered owner of a particular car reg plate? If someone cuts off a clamp and disposes of it, how does the clamping company pursue the car owner when all they have is a reg number?

endacl · 28-01-2015 1:36pm

conor2469 wrote: »

Question, I am unfamiliar with clamping companies and their authority. Do the private clamping companies have access to a database that allows them to obtain the name/address of the registered owner of a particular car reg plate? If someone cuts off a clamp and disposes of it, how does the clamping company pursue the car owner when all they have is a reg number?

They don't. To both questions.

ubs69 · 28-01-2015 9:20pm

You can cut the chain with a hacksaw ,just hold the link with a vice grip and cut the link on the weld part , weakest part

How to remove NCPS Clamp?

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