Alonso
New Reader
3/4/09 2:56 p.m.
I seem to have lost the key to my Civic's wheel lock. I have a track day at willow springs on Saturday, March 7, 3 days from now and need new tires. The Tires are the ones that came with the car in 2006, they have seen one track day and were pretty bad. The front passenger tire now has a nail in it.
What should I do? Using those tires with a nail through it through seems dangerous.
Factory wheel lock? If so go to the Honda dealer, they'll have the key, and would probably be nice enough to break it loose for you for free, then you can just put on a non-locking one.
can you get it from Honda? If its not a Honda Item, get out the a cold chisel and hammer it off( use chisel to knock it the reverse direction.
buy a socket that just barely doesn't slip over the top of the lug. The cheaper the better. Get after it with a 3lb sledge. Voila.
mw
Reader
3/4/09 3:01 p.m.
Hammer a 12pt socket over the wheel lock. What ever size will be a hammer on fit. It will ruin the socket, but it should get the lock off.
Alonso
New Reader
3/4/09 3:03 p.m.
I'll try going to honda before i start breaking the lugs with chisels. Thanks fellas!
mw wrote:
Hammer a 12pt socket over the wheel lock. What ever size will be a hammer on fit. It will ruin the socket, but it should get the lock off.
use a "craftsman" socket, then return it... duh
car39
Reader
3/4/09 3:22 p.m.
Jam two big screwdrivers into the groves on the lock, use a third to rotate it. Works most of the time
If you can get around it, try new vice-grips (you want nice fresh, sharp jaws/teeth) with as much force as you can muster... just short of poopin' your pants
Your local tire shop shoud be able to pop it. I have also cut one with a cut off wheel.
I've welded a large bolt to the wheel lock and had success. Deeply recessed lugs will be a problem though.
davidjs
New Reader
3/4/09 3:31 p.m.
Take it to whatever shop you're getting your tires mounted, have them take it off?
I once used one of those "universal" sockets with all the pins.. ruined it, but I got the lock off
Here's a tool that was designed for something like this for $4.99:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96296
Nashco
SuperDork
3/4/09 4:20 p.m.
ww wrote:
Here's a tool that was designed for something like this for $4.99:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96296
Harbor Freight + "Emergency" tool ....does not compute!
xci_ed6
New Reader
3/4/09 4:22 p.m.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=14118&PartNo=YA1005C&group_id=1652&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Pricey ($150) but worth it. Removes the locks w/o damaging them. It is basically a hardened socket with a smooth, tapered interior. Tap it on the lock and spin it off. Even worked on overtightened locks that broke the key when I tried to remove them.
EricM
HalfDork
3/4/09 4:26 p.m.
xci_ed6 wrote:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=14118&PartNo=YA1005C&group_id=1652&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Pricey ($150) but worth it. Removes the locks w/o damaging them. It is basically a hardened socket with a smooth, tapered interior. Tap it on the lock and spin it off. Even worked on overtightened locks that broke the key when I tried to remove them.
WEll looks like I am going into the Rim Stealing business!
If all else fails I've had a stuck lug removed off with a cut-off wheel before, nothing was damaged.
xci_ed6
New Reader
3/4/09 5:06 p.m.
EricM wrote:
xci_ed6 wrote:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=14118&PartNo=YA1005C&group_id=1652&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Pricey ($150) but worth it. Removes the locks w/o damaging them. It is basically a hardened socket with a smooth, tapered interior. Tap it on the lock and spin it off. Even worked on overtightened locks that broke the key when I tried to remove them.
WEll looks like I am going into the Rim Stealing business!
Also get a high-pressure air tank, regulator, impacto, and air jacks. You could steal a set of wheels in under 2 minutes working by yourself.
Nashco
SuperDork
3/4/09 5:11 p.m.
xci_ed6 wrote:
EricM wrote:
xci_ed6 wrote:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=14118&PartNo=YA1005C&group_id=1652&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Pricey ($150) but worth it. Removes the locks w/o damaging them. It is basically a hardened socket with a smooth, tapered interior. Tap it on the lock and spin it off. Even worked on overtightened locks that broke the key when I tried to remove them.
WEll looks like I am going into the Rim Stealing business!
Also get a high-pressure air tank, regulator, impacto, and air jacks. You could steal a set of wheels in under 2 minutes working by yourself.
You'd be nearly as quick and a lot more stealth if you had a star wrench to break things loose and an electric drill to run the lugs off.
Find guys that steal wheels. They won't have any problem getting that "lock" off. Never use wheel locks again for this very reason.
Much like car alarms and the club, wheel locks aren't even a deterrent to thieves.
yes, I gave up on them too
Just go to Honda, we have like 10 sets of universal wheel lock sets floating around. We have to keep them locked up because the detailing crew is full of ex-cons and thiefs in training.
I've also taken some epoxy+rubber cement+super glue set it in a "empty" wheel lock key (odyssey wheel lock keys break every other day) put it over the stripped lug. Let it set and dry, got it off on the first try with the impact.
DirtyBird222 wrote:
Just go to Honda, we have like 10 sets of universal wheel lock sets floating around. We have to keep them locked up because the detailing crew is full of ex-cons and thiefs in training.
I detailed cars in college!
Just for that crack I'm not giving you your wallet back.