The Chainlink

I managed to lose my keys at work yesterday (probably due to all the clothes changing). Regrettably I don't have a backup key for my kryptonite and it is not registered.Yes, dumb of me not to record the lock number (embarrassing too).

 

My bike is locked to a rack post just across the river (kedzie). 

 

It is a newer kryptonite so can't be picked with a pen.  Anyone have any expertise breaking these or have an angle cutter (no questions asked). Yes, I can show that the bike is mine.

 

I brought a car jack to work but am reluctant to try this. Seems like it will be tought with the lock higher up.

 

Any help would be appreciated. I am really lost without my  bike (use it to commute, shop, get to lake to run, etc.)!   I have asked my bldg. management to help but as of yet haven't heard back.

 

Josh

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Rapid Transit will do remote lock cuts, it is 50 dollars and you get a discount on a new lock here at the shop.

I'll do it assuming you're talking about 32nd and Kedzie.

It is right by the merchandise mart. If u can help that would be great.

Sorry, thought it was in my neighborhood by your description-- you mean Kinzie.

I'd probably go with Rapid Transit, and if they can't do it tonight try Martin H at 773 eight eight five oh 9 hundred-- expect to pay about the same.

Do your best to avoid leaving it overnight again.

My advise would be to get it cut off ASAP. Because sooner or later someone else will do it & ride it home themselves.

Wait in the shadows overnight and eventually someone else will come to cut the lock -then pop out and surprise them before they ride away on your bike.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Good news is i got the lock off. Tried using my car jack but quit because i am just not comfortable forcing something. So oinstead of calling one of the recommended removers i went cheap.

I took the el and the bus to home depot on north ave - took 25 mins. Rented a 4.5 inch angle drill for $15 for four hours. Electrician at merch mart ran an extension cord and in 36 seconds i had the lock cut. Guy at home depot said it takes 10 mins.

Bad news I guess for all of us is that a guy like me - who has never cut metal a,d has no experience with an angle drill - can cut a kryptonite lock in 30 secs. Maybe the battery powered models arent as powerful.

Anyway got the bike now and from now on i will record the key numbers on my locks and always have a spare key.

Sorry for typos...on mobile.


James BlackHeron said:

Wait in the shadows overnight and eventually someone else will come to cut the lock -then pop out and surprise them before they ride away on your bike.

You really don't need much power to cut a lock.  What you need is the right cutting disc -with just enough power to spin it at the speed it works well cutting at.  

Most angle-drills are pretty low RPM -they are made for wood-boring in wall studs for running conduit or water pipe in construction, and the types of cutting discs on arbors that work well on hardened steel are pretty expensive.  They have a lot of grunt though.    An angle grinder is better, cheaper and the discs cost about $1-2.  



jolondon30 said:


James BlackHeron said:

Wait in the shadows overnight and eventually someone else will come to cut the lock -then pop out and surprise them before they ride away on your bike.


Thats funny. I bet you could leave a locked bike anywhere on the north side and it would last several weeks. My thinking is that guys who have the know how and will to cut locks only do so for expensive bikes.
James it was an angle grinder. I forgot the word - i knew drill wasnt right. And u r correct..the metal cutting blade cost me two dollars.

Ah, the guy at Home Despot set you up with the right blade.  

Often, new grinders come only with masonry discs made for cutting bricks and block (which is what most folks use them for.)  I've cut many a hole in concrete block for electrical boxes that were forgotten by the electrician before me who was supposed to keep an eye on the bricklayers...

Having the right disc for the right job is most of the work of using a grinder.   A good electrician can cut a masonry box hole into a block wall that is so neat that the cover plate hides everything when they are done.

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