What to lubricate locks with?

[D.M. Procida]

One of the locks on my motorbike is a bit rough - what can I use to improve it?

Thanks,

Daniele

[Andy Hall]

Normally graphite powder, Daniele.

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

[BigWallop]

A spray of WD40, which is silicon based in a solvent, will free it up again.

[Simon Gardner]

For almost all locks, I use dry lubricant - specifically graphite powder - still available from proper locksmiths. I have to say that on a motorbike, I might be more inclined towards WD40.

[mike ring]

666 [e-mail][dot]co[dot]uk (Simon Gardner) wrote in news:BCBF05C696681114C0@192.168.0.3:

I've always used WD40 on my bikes for years.

I felt a bit nervous because I know it's deprecated, but I never had the choice - seized lock, only WD40 to hand.

It's always worked well and caused no consequential problems

mike

[geoff]

In message , D.M. Procida writes

The standard UKRM answer would be ..... ANGLE GRINDER

[Colin Wilson]

What, no caustic soda ?

[geoff]

In message , Colin Wilson writes

Caustic soda is for girls

[Andy Dingley]

Flake graphite - comes in a little puffer bottle from a decent locksmith.

_Don't_ use WD40 - it's rubbish for this sort of job. If you must go for something oily (with all the gumminess and dust-grabbing problems that causes) look for a PTFE-loaded lube like Tri-Flow or Break-Free.

[Ian Stirling]

Wouldn't KY be better?

[Ian Stirling]

WD40 isn't silicon based. Now, for a good silicon based product, try fine builders sand. Does wonders for locks.

[Nick Brooks]

Or consider GT85 a bicycle lubrricant like WD40 but with ptfe (teflon)

Nick Brooks

[sPoNiX]

FWIW, Haynes car manuals have always advised not to use a 'wet' type lubricant on ignition locks due to the possibility of them overheating and igniting the oil.

sPoNiX

[D.M. Procida]

Well, as it happens this is the lock on the back box, so no danger of that. It is the same kind of lock as the ignition though.

Daniele

[Graham Wilson]

I've heard of people shagging the speed limit - but never their vehicle!

I spot a new Guinness Book record and claim my five pounds

(:-)

Graham

[Ian Stirling]

Sigh. "what should I lubricate locks with" ... "Angle grinder". "Caustic soda is for girls"

[Andy Luckman (AJL Electronics)]

Where else would you find such a wealth of information, on such a range of subjects? :-)

[Owain]

"Ian Stirling" wrote | Sigh. | "what should I lubricate locks with" ... "Angle grinder". | "Caustic soda is for girls"

Yeah, stupid isn't it.

If you take a decent SDS drill to the lock it won't need lubricating :-)

Owain