Locks keep freezing, what to do?

MisterBoy · 13 Jan 2021

Our main gate has a regular Eurolock lock: https://www.locksonline.co.uk/Gate-...ro-Profile-Agricultural-Field-Gate-Locks.html

With the current cold weather it keeps freezing up. We've tried squirting WD40 in - last time I did that it was frozen again less than an hour later.
Defrosting it with warm water is a pain and of course putting water in it to defrost means there is water there to freeze again.

What can I do differently? I expect it from little padlocks, but this is more like a door lock so I was surprised

foxhole · 13 Jan 2021

Try insulating with dense foam tape or similar.If you can avoid condensation dripping of it from above it will also help. I have similar lock on Garden gates but partially sheltered and never freezes.

chris1982 · 13 Jan 2021

Car antifreeze

MisterBoy · 13 Jan 2021

chris1982 said:
Car antifreeze

Like just squirt/slosh some in? We use the lock everyday so if I can stop it re-freezing that would be great

It's flush fitted so how it gets wet I'm not sure, unless it is just the damp weather - nothing obvious to drip on it. And no obvious way to me to put a cover on:

LocksOnline-Zedlock-Agricultural-Euro-Gate-Lock-500x500.jpg

mattylad · 13 Jan 2021

try oil...

Old Salt · 13 Jan 2021

+1 for oil

foxhole · 13 Jan 2021

He already tried oil

conny · 13 Jan 2021

If you can remove it from it's housing take it indoors and completely dry it on top of a radiator or similar. Either tip some graphite powder into each side of the key hole and slide your key in and out and operate the mechanism a few times to 'lubricate' all the surfaces.
The locking pin can be lubricated with a drop of 3 in 1 oil but only a drop.

JohnD · 13 Jan 2021

how do you think the water is getting in?

maybe you could attach a sloping piece of wood or plastic as a little roof to shed rain?

Is it exposed to steam from a boiler flue or extractor fan?

If you can take it off, look at the casing to see if it has a drain hole at the bottom. If not, you could drill one or perhaps mount it slightly tilted.

If you want a really weatherproof padlock, get a Squire 660.

MisterBoy · 13 Jan 2021

foxhole said:
He already tried oil

My guess is maybe there's water inside that the oil isn't displacing, since it didn't rain again and it still kept freezing up.

As someone suggested maybe I need to get inside and give it a little servicing.

Old Salt · 13 Jan 2021

foxhole said:
He already tried oil

I don't see anything about trying oil OP said he tried wd40

JohnD · 13 Jan 2021

you can oil (or WD40) the mechanism if necessary; but not the Eurocylinder part as this is very likely to gum up, as dust, dirt and grit will stick together, and the cylinder mechanism is suppose to be precise.

The parts in the casing and the bolt look pretty big and more likely to shrug off a bit of greasy dirt.

Clean and dry, with graphite dust, is usually recommended for locks, as the dust lubricates but is not greasy so does not attract dirt.

foxhole · 13 Jan 2021

Old Salt said:
I don't see anything about trying oil OP said he tried wd40

WD40 formulated with strong lubricating oils and other ingredients.

MisterBoy · 13 Jan 2021

To clarify, it's actually the keyhole that is freezing up... It's literally full of ice so you can't get the key in!

My wife said they'd tried antifreeze without success, though they didn't have time to leave it and see as it needed to be open for access. My suspicion is it would work, but slowly.

JohnD · 13 Jan 2021

if it's the Eurocylinder, that seems quite unusual. I think you need a covered escutcheon to keep the water out, loose enough that it can dry out in loose weather.

rare, though.

You can heat the key with a cigarette lighter or similar.

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Locks keep freezing, what to do?

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