When a key no longer opens the lock....

[Testosterone boy]

Never seen this before.

My Master lock on my trailer hitch no longer opens with the key. I tried for 15 minutes.

I could cut it off.

Is there a secret when a lock is that stubborn?

It felt grabby a couple weeks ago. I sprayed some dry lubricant into it for that reason.

 

[Testosterone boy]

Nobody has a technique when a lock no longer cooperates with its key?

 

[vixensghost]

Yes, buy a new trailer.

Sorry, I have no idea.

 

[the_clockwork]

locksmith

 

[Sub-Zero]

Nobody has a technique when a lock no longer cooperates with its key?

jiggle it alot

 

[jnevin]

Use the right key

 

[digger]

Worn pins -- the key can no longer raise them high enough to let the cylinder turn. You could carefully use a metal punch or even a nail to dimple the sides of the key and thereby raise the cutouts by a few thousandths; that's not a permanent fix but should work well enough to get the lock off without cutting it off. Combine it with some jiggling up and down. The pins are ALMOST in the right place, so wiggling the key hard will probably work one more time.

Here's where you need to smack the SIDE of the key with a pin punch -- you want one or more of those little valleys to be just a tiny bit higher than they are now.

 

[jh1]

Try some WD-40 / Graphite in the lock...

Alot of times locks that have exposure just need a little tender loving care.

 

[jestro]

spray wd40 in it. Then jiggle that key.
If that doesn't work, cut it off, if you dont have a cutter, take the claw end of a hammer, put it on the body of the lock, and pull down hard.

 

[Y_lifter]

Press the key in toward the teeth, pressing them into the lock while turning.

Pull a tiny bit outward on the key while turning vs pushing in hard

Cut off Get a new lock

Get a new lock

 

[jh1]

Search up Punch Key..

that'll open that bitch.