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I need to get a U-lock off of a bike.I was going to use a hacksaw to cut the U part of the lock.Good idea,not so good idea.Has anyone done this before?

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Someone locked their bike to my bike.I asked around my apt. complex and no claims it is their bike locked to mine and I put a sign on the bike on Monday to get it off or I am going to cut it off.If not off by Sat. I am going to cut it off.(By hand)

H3N3 said:
This reply will self-destruct once acknowledged (to be replaced by something clever about how to help one's U-lock find sexual gratification)-- not so good to be posting info publicly on how to defeat a U-lock. A hacksaw might work with a lesser quality lock, but you're going to be cursing at the moon if you try one on hardened steel. Ideally you'd use an angle grinder (is the bike near a power source?), but a Sawzall with a metal-specific blade would work fine too (wrought iron workers use the latter.) Unlikely that you have a double-locking shackle but if you do you'll need to make two cuts-- otherwise you want to make your cut on the non/locking side of the "U." Many thieves have learned that you can pop a cheaper U-lock open just by twisting the bike like a giant wind-up key. Obviously you risk ruining the bike . . .
I have helped a few people remove a U lock using a sawzall with a metal cutting blade. One hint I can give you is to not cut the U part, cut the lock on the small flat section that comes off when you unlock it. The metal is usually not as hardened and cuts much easier. also do not set the saw at high speed. A medium speed will work better giving the metal chips time to eject from the blade teeth. Good luck
One hint I can give you is to not cut the U part, cut the lock on the small flat section that comes off when you unlock it.
Can you come at that again from a different angle, so to speak? I'm not gettin' it.
is this another bike bending word play game? if not I will try and explain again.. There are two parts to a U lock, the U shaped piece and then the actual bar that contains the lock, that bar us usually a softer metal because it has to be machined to accept the locking mechanism. Cutting that bar is usually easier, especially if you cut on the side that accepts the shorter end of the U shaped bar.

H3N3 said:
One hint I can give you is to not cut the U part, cut the lock on the small flat section that comes off when you unlock it.
Can you come at that again from a different angle, so to speak? I'm not gettin' it.
Got it, thanks.

Michael A said:
is this another bike bending word play game? if not I will try and explain again.. There are two parts to a U lock, the U shaped piece and then the actual bar that contains the lock, that bar us usually a softer metal because it has to be machined to accept the locking mechanism. Cutting that bar is usually easier, especially if you cut on the side that accepts the shorter end of the U shaped bar.

H3N3 said:
One hint I can give you is to not cut the U part, cut the lock on the small flat section that comes off when you unlock it.
Can you come at that again from a different angle, so to speak? I'm not gettin' it.
the person effectively converted your property by not allowing you access to your bike. If I were you, I would log when and where you post notices to the genius, keep copies, photo the bike with his lock to yours, write down his bike serial # and maybe even call the police or visit your local station (get badge numbers and names) and make a report (BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE LOCK). You don't need to be the first person in Chicago witnessed and arrested by the police removing a U-Lock and freeing a bike you don't own. Also, turn his bike in to the police.
Thanks for legal way about doing it.Right now I am more pissed off than anything else.My landlord put up a sign on it also and if I have to cut it off he said that he would keep the bike.It is a P.O.S. bike.To all that are worried about giving advice about how to cut off a Ulock by hand.Don't worry I think most crooks know to use a grinder.

Ian said:
the person effectively converted your property by not allowing you access to your bike. If I were you, I would log when and where you post notices to the genius, keep copies, photo the bike with his lock to yours, write down his bike serial # and maybe even call the police or visit your local station (get badge numbers and names) and make a report (BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE LOCK). You don't need to be the first person in Chicago witnessed and arrested by the police removing a U-Lock and freeing a bike you don't own. Also, turn his bike in to the police.
haha mark funny but not at the same time

M.A.R.K. said:
STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW TO REMOVE LOCKS EASIER!

And for the love of Pete, if your gonna talk about grinders, please say it sloooowwweeerrr.
I think the thieves already know the tricks of how to remove locks -and there are plenty of other places on the internet to find them if they didn't.

All locks can be defeated with the proper tools. Nothing short of encasing the bike in steel-reinforced concrete is going to slow them down for more than a few minutes -and even that can be defeated in a few hours with the proper chipping hammers and concrete-cutting saws. You wouldn't believe how fast a 36" hydraulic concrete saw with 80HP engine can cut through a 24" concrete vault wall. Setting it up takes longer than the actual cutting.

There is no lock made that can not be easily defeated by the proper cutting tool. Give me a small hand-held Oxyacetylene torch (we call it a fire ax in the trades) and I'll cut through your $100 high-end U-lock in seconds.

But I might scorch your pretty paint job ;)
wow that thing is cool

James Baum said:

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