Padlock Problem-Help?!!!

[Tea'n'Biskit]

North West coast of Scotland...about 50 miles from the nearest main town and about 250 miles from Glasgow so pretty much in the middle of nowhere which is usually wonderful but when you get a problem...

[toomush2drink]

Errr yes that doesnt help really. If you are still stuck why dont you drill it ? You need to drill the pins above the keyway. Use a 6mm drill or a bit bigger as your not bothered about the padlock and this size drill bit is less likley to snap as its in an awkward place as well. Once you have drilled through the pins turn the keyway part (the plug) with a screwdriver and it should open. Im only saying this as you have said it is a cheap padlock, good padlocks have anti drill protection.

[freakyclown]

Simple solution, ask your husband where the key is...when he denies knowing where it is make a fuss about how he was so mad about the last time you lost the keys that with this lock he had insisted that he kept them safe and if you moan about it enough he will do the normal guy thing and conceed that he has indeed lost the keys!

Beyond that I would go with trying to rake the lock first, failing that drill the lock.

[iworathong]

i have a suggestion that might work. get a file and get the lock off. i had to do this a few days agao to an old lock on a bike that was my mothers. it took me about 30 miniutes to an hour but its alot cheaper then calling out a locksmith or ordering a pickgun or set of picks and will take less time then ordering it. i dont know if this is suitable in this case but it worked easily enough for me.

[the182guy]

i think you should buy a small pick set and try to rake it (or just buy a rake and tension wrench). I have had my picks for 2 days now, i managed to rake a small abus padlock very easily, it look less than 10 seconds.

this is the site i got my picks from (UK):

http://www.locksmith-tools.co.uk

they processed my order fast and postage was reasonably priced and fast. If you do decide to buy some picks, be SURE to get the UK/euro slim line style as the standard picks will probably be too big for most UK locks.

other than that i would consider the other guys idea of make a BIG deal about losing the keys im almost certain that he will either believe that he has lost the keys or, he wont want to upset you anymore so he will not argue, as far as he is concerned he will just let you think that he has lost them, even if he believes that it was you that lost the keys.

other than that....there are many ways a girl can get something from a guy (or in this case get the guy to forgive the girl) just use your imagination

[tarzan]

If it's that urgent I don't see why you're bothering trying to pick the lock. Unless you are thinking about taking up lock picking. If it's just a one off thing why don't you just call a locksmith to open it for you? Sure it'll cost but at least it'll be done for sure!

Or if you really do live miles from anywhere, try cutting, grinding, breaking, drilling the lock somehow to get it off rather than pick it, as the other guys have suggested.

I'm just saying this because it may take a while to get the picks and then learn how to pick etc.

I'm surprised your husband hasn't found out yet! it's been 10days. Hope you get it unlocked in time.

I also believe you're the first female registered user? i remember reading a thread on trying to find females on this site and no one had replied.

[MrB]

The other thing you could do to check the oil level is use a dipstick.

Using a dipstick is what pilots still need to do even now before flying a light aircraft (since the fuel gauge might be faulty and the dipstick provides a safety backup reading).

[coolman]

some cheap locks can be broken with a sock firt take sock and put sock between shackle and the body and pull really hard yank and pull and tug hard

[Cerberus]

do you care about the pad lock at all? and i mean, do you give a crap about it?

also how close to the tank is the pad lock? and how low is the oil level anyway? give me a measurement.

if its far enough away, and the oil level is low enough, simply take a blow torch to it and soften the brass, then with some work, dig the brass out. you'll probably need to reheat the brass a few times, but it would work.

and about the whole thing with the oil and torch thing, just make sure you don't heat the tank ifself, as in don't put the torch directly onto the tank.

could you get us a picture of the lock and where it is?