[atari4x4]

G'day AZ Crew, not sure how obvious this is but I've been doing this for years now with the padlock on the back of the Vitara as I'm a bit paranoid about the padlock seizing up due to lack of use & mud/water/crap getting in the barrel of the lock.

Tools Required:
Duct Tape & Sharp Knife.


Spare Wheel Padlock.


Make sure the lock is clean & apply tape.


Pull off enough tape to wrap around the other side.


Wrap tape around to other side & make sure you get a good seal.


Jobe Done, I also wrapped the bolt of the padlock with electrical tape to thicken it up so it doesn't rattle around in the hole & added a small pad of sticky back foam on the top flat area so it doesn't scratch the rim.

[TheOtherLeft]

Won't water, dust etc also get in through where the U-shaped bolt goes in as well (i.e. through the top)?

[atari4x4]

when closed the leccy tape around the bolt makes a pretty good seal. i've got a small lockwood padlock on my letterbox that's been in the weather for 4 years & it's rooted, infact it's just hanging off the letterbox as a decoration. the one on the back of the zook for 6 years & opens like a dream.

it might have something to do with being horizontal & the one on my letterbox is vertical?

[TheOtherLeft]

Could you orientate the padlock so it's upside down and the open end with the bolt is lower then the (now gaffa taped) keyhole end? That way water can't get in.

[shakes]

TheOtherLeft wrote:

Could you orientate the padlock so it's upside down and the open end with the bolt is lower then the (now gaffa taped) keyhole end? That way water can't get in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

[TheOtherLeft]

shakes wrote:

TheOtherLeft wrote:

Could you orientate the padlock so it's upside down and the open end with the bolt is lower then the (now gaffa taped) keyhole end? That way water can't get in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

As opposed to being right way up and filling with water (not withstanding the black tape around the bolt)????

Besides being upside down the constant vibration/shaking from being on a vehicle would help drain the padlock as well.

[shakes]

Rain generally flows past a small hole, but is very likely to be sucked 'up' into it.

Most padlocks I've seen liquid can flow both directions, so the drainage doesn't really matter that much.

[atari4x4]

TheOtherLeft wrote:

shakes wrote:

TheOtherLeft wrote:

Could you orientate the padlock so it's upside down and the open end with the bolt is lower then the (now gaffa taped) keyhole end? That way water can't get in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

As opposed to being right way up and filling with water (not withstanding the black tape around the bolt)????

Besides being upside down the constant vibration/shaking from being on a vehicle would help drain the padlock as well.

fark, why make something so simple difficult.

have alook at the room where the padlock is & tell me how i'm going ot orientate it so it upside & so it stays there, do i use a fucking sky hook?

[TheOtherLeft]

Oh you wanted a simple solution???? . My bad...

[Reubs]

I have previously dropped a few drops of oil into a padlock i used to have outdoors. I opened it and poured the oil into the open hole at the top and it eventually got down past the key lock

It seemed to keep the workings free from corrosion - would that be a good idea?

[Bruce]

Reubs wrote:

I have previously dropped a few drops of oil into a padlock i used to have outdoors. I opened it and poured the oil into the open hole at the top and it eventually got down past the key lock

It seemed to keep the workings free from corrosion - would that be a good idea?

That's what I do with all my mine as well. Works well.

[Chop]

I squirt inox in my two padlocks on the pod trailer, being at the rear they cop alot of road grime from both car and the pod.
Its kept them in top working order.

[eldo]

Gus you could silicone up the bolt section and also the key hole, just peel it away when needing to open it, mrs rav 4 had the same issue, I just pushed grease onto the key hole and the open bolt end, still worked fine when I tested it after 12 months. Also helps if you use a quality lock as well

[neofitou]

I just use the Lockwood combination locks on my outdoor ones. and spray some wd40 on them about once a year or if they get sticky, also I don't have to worry about loosing the key and you can set them all to the same number.

Lockwood have a rating system on the back of the packet that actually points out how tolerant they are to water/outdoor use too. but generally the more you pay the beterer

[joe5701]

http://www.nothingbutpadlocks.com/produ ... f-padlocks we use the third one down on the link on the spares on our trucks, no probs

[atari4x4]

wouldn't oils & such attract & hold the dirt & dust inside the lock?

that lock is a top of the line Yale stainless steel lock & has been in that same spot for the last 6 years & has been kept clean with duct tape & duct tape only.

[Jester]

i just run a bike lock through the wheel, its working fine, last time i checked

[buzbox]

Gus, That is an extremely simple, quick and effective solution and cost less than 10cents.

[Chop]

buzbox wrote:

Gus, That is an extremely simple, quick and effective solution and cost less than 10cents.

You brown noser yeah what he said

[Polar_Bear]

Even easier, do away with the padlock, and use an m12 x 40 cup head bolt, with a wing nut on the back of it. The robbers will take one look at it, and think its all to hard, and go steal someone elses