Jam2 2020 Battery Lock Seized

[Shy Ted]

I’m getting a little fed up with the smallest of issues stopping me enjoying my bike so much. This time it’s the battery lock that’s seized up so I can’t reinstall the battery. I’ve removed the mechanism and its definitely the lock cylinder that’s seized; neither key works. I know some locks can be disassembled to “re key” them but I can’t see how this one can. So, it’s back to the dealer with yet another warranty issue.
I have tried to frig it by removing the lock cylinder and pushing the battery back in and then remove with a surreptitious twiddle of a large screwdriver but I’m not willing to ride it like that in case it’s not quite secure enough.
I don’t think it’s a cheap lock, either, as it’s a Trelock, so perhaps just a bad one I’ve got.
I’m only posting this in case others have seen the same problem and can put in their penny’s worth.
PS if it was the summer then I’d be really miffed, but as the tracks are all gooed up I’m happy to stay clean and warm for a few days!

 

[GrahamPaul]

My battery lock was an absolute sod for the first few weeks of use (I take the battery out after every ride, to charge at home).
Cured it with a large amount of WD40 PTFE spray. Took several applications but hasn't been any more trouble since.

 

[Shy Ted]

Thanks Graham, it was alway a bit awkward and I’ve tried GT85 (smells much nicer than WD40) but it’s still stuck solid. Who knows, if yours cleared it, a bit more oil and time perhaps mine will eventually free up ?

 

[steve_sordy]

I had similar problems with the locks on my Thule tow bar rack. I wish they had spent another 50pence on the locks.

 

[d4voh]

Had a few issues with my lock but mainly the spring loaded lock cover. After every wash I oil the lock now, think it should do the trick.

 

[Shy Ted]

Well, after a week of oiling the lock every day and checking the Trelock website where they recommend a very light oil/sewing machine oil once a year it still didn’t budge; that is until Saturday having meddled with it for another couple of hours and tapped it lightly a few hundred times with a pin hammer, I said “right chuck it in the bin” but ..........not until I’ve tried some very light olive oil, and guess what........it now works beautifully! I’m now wondering if I’d have used the olive oil in the first place would it have saved all that heart ache?!?!
Also wondering about using it on all the moving parts on the bike, after all at about £3.00 a litre it’s probably 50 times cheaper that the specialist stuff we seem to feel obliged to use. ?

 

[GrahamPaul]

Well, after a week of oiling the lock every day and checking the Trelock website where they recommend a very light oil/sewing machine oil once a year it still didn’t budge; that is until Saturday having meddled with it for another couple of hours and tapped it lightly a few hundred times with a pin hammer, I said “right chuck it in the bin” but ..........not until I’ve tried some very light olive oil, and guess what........it now works beautifully! I’m now wondering if I’d have used the olive oil in the first place would it have saved all that heart ache?!?!
Also wondering about using it on all the moving parts on the bike, after all at about £3.00 a litre it’s probably 50 times cheaper that the specialist stuff we seem to feel obliged to use. ?

Sounds like the lock was made in either Spain or Italy...

 

[Mikerb]

Trelocks are easy to open without a key, it just a matter of lifting the tumblers, similar to a Yale lock. The problem is when they will not lock because that means a tumbler is stuck up and the probably cause is dust. So prevention is best done by putting a piece of duct tape over the lock when riding. Cleaning and lubeing with WD40 ( not GT85) whilst also tapping on the side of the barrel is most likely to unstick the tumbler...........it sounds like that is what you finally managed to do. Any light oil will keep it running smooth....e.g 3 in 1 but make matters worse if the lock is not protected from dust.