WD-40 Rust Remover
100 ml
Rusty bike lock – four weeks of annoyance followed by a five-minute fix
22-12-2022
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Rain, snow and wind have made my bike lock rusty. I put up with the consequences for way too long and bought WD-40 much too late. Silly, really. After all, I’m fully aware that the penetrating oil will get almost anything moving again.
My bike lock’s giving me a really hard time. At times, I’m hunched over my bike for up to five minutes in an attempt to open or close it. I’ve got so close to pushing it over, hoping it will bring down all the other parked bikes with it. Or simply abandoning it, praying somebody will steal it.
Why?
My key turns in the lock perpetually because the cylinder’s completely rusted. I don’t have a bike cellar, so I’ve no choice but to leave my bicycle outdoors braving the weather. The chain lock I use for it has been in continuous operation for three years. Not once has it been cleaned or otherwise maintained by me during this time. No wonder it’s corroding away. A small cover to protect the cylinder wouldn’t have hurt.
Source: Carolin Teufelberger
After weeks of cursing, of risk-taking – I had to leave my bike parked, unlocked, in the middle of Zurich one time to catch my bus – and lethargy, I pull the emergency brake and buy WD-40.
Gaffa holds the world together, WD-40 makes it move
The penetrant in the blue bottle fixes anything that should move but doesn’t. For the reverse problem, I recommend Gaffa tape. Join the forces of these two and you can solve any problem.
Penetrating oil has a low surface tension. This means it gets into even the smallest crevices where it tackles oil, grease, soot and rust, among other things. Perfect for my small, rusty lock cylinder. The wee spray straw that comes with a can of WD40 makes things even easier.
I give it three to four sprays, let the liquid sit for a few seconds, and go in with the key to spread everything around even more. The lock already pops on the second turn. To make sure this wasn’t a one-off, I lock and unlock the bike dozens of times. It works every time.
Source: Carolin Teufelberger
The fix took a whole five minutes. This makes me feel frustrated. Not with the fix but with myself. I constantly put off simple things like that. If only WD40 would put my backside in gear.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.