Frozen locks?

[rik]

Any tips for keeping locks from freezing in really cold weather? Is there any winter lubricant folks use?

 

[TDR Loren]

To prevent lock keyways from freezing we use graphite spray in the shop as it won't gum up the works in lower temperatures. Liquid lubricants can often cause more issues than they solve if they start to solidify in the smaller mechanisms inside locks. Graphite spray has a carrier lubricant that penetrates and suspended graphite particles to lubricate over time.

 

[Shaun Moulds]

I'm sure there's all sorts of reasons you shouldn't use WD-40 for this but the reality is, I rode 10 harsh winters on motorcycles and never had an issue with WD-40, it blasts out all the water (that might freeze) and seems to last long enough that you only need to do it a few times per winter.

 

[Barb Schwendtner]

Any tips for keeping locks from freezing in really cold weather? Is there any winter lubricant folks use?

I use Houdini lock spray occasionally and it has worked well. They say it even works at sub-zero temps. Abus doesn't recommend graphite. The Abus spray is also great but impossible to find in the U.S. and only came in a tiny can when I did find it.

 

[Timberdoodle]

this is probably a really dumb option, but a torch lighter as an emergency backup isn't a bad idea. when I was running salvage logging operations in Northern Wisconsin, we had fully dry-lubed locks freeze up on us. so...Those Load ticket box trailcams had some hilarious "I gave you a chance, Padlock. Now I'm gonna give you the torch" photos like this one.





the issue not being the deep freezes when it was -46F. the temp issues were due to, like a lot of ya mentioned, water getting in the works. so on the days when it'd get to the mid-30s and nights when it'd drop to negative digits. The torch gets the lock open, but it's like using ether to start a diesel engine--unless you take drastic action, it will only make the problem worse over time. that hot metal attracts dew and frost as it cools. so if you have to use a little torch lighter (not the plumber's torch I was using in the above, lol) to warm up the works, then you *must* get that lock dried back out and dry lubed when you get home. Brake cleaner was my dehydrator solution for field ops; I'd just replace the lock and bring the frozen one back to the shop for maintenance.