jammed bike locks?

[czakal]

Hello,
A while ago I had a few bike locks that jammed and were almost impossible to open (the key doesn't turn the lock when I tried to open them). After putting them in storage for a few months they seem to be working normally again. What causes these types of security locks to fail to open? It's good if I can use them again but if they jam once more they'll be too much trouble.

Thanks,
C

[c_dug]

They're no different to any other lock, lots of very small pieces moving in very precise ways.

If you get a bit of dirt or road salt or pocket fluff in there, or if all of the lubrication gets washed out in the rain, or if the key gets too warn, or anything else stops the mechanism from working as precisely as it needs to... Then your lock jams.

Though I have to say in over 15 years of riding I've never had a lock jam so that it couldn't be used. Worst I've had was a frozen ignition barrel a few times which needed some warm water to melt the ice.
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