Lost Key to U-bolt Bike Lock

You all seem like a knowledgeable group of folks, so I thought I'd throw my current dilemma out to the crowd. Almost 2 years ago, I moved into my current apartment and bought a U-bolt lock (Schwinn brand, bought summer 2004). I locked it to a pipe in our locked parking garage. There's a bike rack provided, but it is completely full of bikes and parts of bikes. I have apparently misplaced the key. I know I didn't throw it away, but I have checked everywhere I think it could possibly be. I probably will just throw away the bike if I manage to recover it, but now I am kind of obsessed with breaking the lock.

Here is what I have tried:

1. Car Jack (from the Prius--not hydraulic, I don't have one) Status: did absolutely nothing except almost give my boyfriend a hernia
2. Bolt cutters (recommended by hardware store) Status: did nothing except almost immediately dull the bolt cutters
3. Hacksaw (doesn't seem likely) Status: will try tomorrow. As last resort, I will hacksaw the wheel to release and just leave the lock on the pipe.

Here's what the internet suggests that I haven't tried:

1. Liquid Nitrogen + Hammer (I don't have access to liquid nitrogen--suggestions?)
2. Hydraulic car jack (don't have one)
3. Locksmith (very very last resort as would be expensive for an onsite visit)
4. Bic pen barrel exploiting the flaw found in the Kryptonite U-locks circa 2004. (I'm not optimistic)
5. Angle grinder (how much do these cost?)
6. Drill out lock (I haven't heard good things and we have kind of a crappy drill)


Any other ideas guys? THANKS!

--
Hillary

 

Ha ha, I love you guys! Here's an update:

My boyfriend tried the Bic pen trick today, and he didn't get it open. I did explore trying to call the manufacturer, but the Schwinn website says the company that made the lock went out of business and none of the equipment was saved. No more keys. It doesn't have any kind of serial number, I checked.

We just went out with the hacksaw, and it did even less than the bolt cutters on the U part, but then we started playing with the bar part that goes across the legs of the U, which is covered in plastic. We hacked off the plastic and found that the metal underneath it is much softer than the U part. Unfortunately it is much thicker. We started hacksawing it, and we are maybe 1/8th of the way through, intermittantly gnawing at it with the bolt cutters. It is making progress, but definitely slow going. We'll keep up with it, but I imagine there will be several more sessions of sawing + gnawing. I think it'll work eventually, but its kind of boring.

I'll see if I can get some of the circuit freeze stuff, it might make sawing easier anyway.

I was sort of hoping it would get stolen over the years, but the garage is locked 24 hrs with only residents able to get in, so we don't typically have vagabonds wondering about. I swear, when I was in college bikes with U-locks were stolen in 30 seconds in broad daylight. It is just really bothering me now, especially because we're thinking of moving and it'll just gnaw away at me if I leave this bike locked to a pipe. Weird attack of conscience.

Unfortunately, I am no where near hot enough to entice any firefighter to face the lock from hell. But thanks for the thoughts!

I'll check out the angle grinder at Target or something next time I go, we only have a little boutique-y hardware store near us and I know it'll be too expensive.

We'll try the drill and continue with the hacksawing tomorrow--and I'll post pictures. THANKS!

 

I know this is dead, but maybe someone will google for it in the future...anyway, we ended up using the hacksaw on the straight side of the U-lock. It was made up of a thin cylinder of metal that was relatively quick to saw through. The locking mechanism was inside the cylinder, but was only a thin piece of metal that was even faster to saw through than the plastic covering and the metal cylinder. Once we got through that, it clinked and the bottom fell off. Overall, it took maybe 30-60 minutes of sawing to get it completely off. In case you ever have this problem, FYI!