Mokwheel Basalt ST, Battery framelock broken

[Akologi]

Hey, I have a problem with my Mokwheel Basalt ST.

The Battery is stuck in the frame, the lock doesn't unlock the battery and i cannot remove it.
I went to a locksmith and told him to try without drilling into the lock because a replacement lock would be hard or impossible to get given they don't offer that on the Mokwheel website and its a chinese brand. So he tryed everything but failed in the end. I am already corresponding with the Mokwheel company but i doubt they can give me helpful advice. The only thing i figured out together with the locksmith was that the lock seems have a pin thats supposed to keep the battery in position. And this exact pin doesnt move anymore when you try to unlock the battery and release it from the frame. So I'd assume there is really no other option than drilling into the lock and trying to break the pin so i can at least get the battery out, am i right?

 

[amberwolf]

It's a fair bet that you can access the lock area by removing the panel on the top of the tube where the lock is located. It has (at least) two bolts on it; cant' clearly see the whole panel in either of your images to be sure how many.

But first; are you certain it is the right key? And that the key is not worn out? Meaning, is the lock turning with the key, or is it not even moving when you turn the key?

Next: Did anything happen to the bike before the problem started? Sometimes knowing what that was might help provide further suggestions.


Just curious: Is all that duct tape holding things together? Or?

 

[Akologi]

It's a fair bet that you can access the lock area by removing the panel on the top of the tube where the lock is located. It has (at least) two bolts on it; cant' clearly see the whole panel in either of your images to be sure how many.

But first; are you certain it is the right key? And that the key is not worn out? Meaning, is the lock turning with the key, or is it not even moving when you turn the key?

Next: Did anything happen to the bike before the problem started? Sometimes knowing what that was might help provide further suggestions.


Just curious: Is all that duct tape holding things together? Or?

Well I went to a locksmith and he tryed his things, he unscrewed the screws on top and bottom, because of that we were able to move things around a bit within the frame and the place where the key slots in also moved, that way you were able to look directly into it. Thats where we had different opinions(me and th elocksmith) basically i used my phone flashlight to light up the small gap between the battery and the frame, and looked through the small gap we created where the key usually goes in. I could have sworn I saw a piece of metal that keeps the battery in place. I'D assume something inside the lock, some mechanism failed and this Metal piece/rod whatever now doesnt move up when trying to unlock the battery.

When the lock still worked and I turned the key around, I felt a slight resistance at the end. Thats not the case anymore. I can turn the key but it feels like there is nothing happening inside.

If I'd make a guess There is really only 2 Options left. To drill into the keyhole. Other Option i could try is trying to move that metal rod somehow back up to free up the battery. But its only accessible through very small slits, so most likely impossible.

About the key: I am certain its the right key, given i only rode 2000km so far with the bike i doubt its used up, but i might try the replacement key (gotta really try everything before drilling i guess)

Nothing happened before the key thing. I rode home, halfway in i swapped batteries(because one was already almost empty) successfully, and when i arrived home i wanted to remove the battery from the bike and it didnt work. Additionally my Key got stuck, (the locksmith managed to remove the key though, but lock still didnt work)

Regarding the Tape: its purely aesthetics lol. I uglified my bike with tape, stickers, rust paint as a form of theft repellant

 

[amberwolf]

Regarding the Tape: its purely aesthetics lol. I uglified my bike with tape, stickers, rust paint as a form of theft repellant

Anything that keeps it being yours and not someone else's is a good thing.

I do find that uglification only really works when there is an assortment of other bikes for the theives to choose from wherever you park / lock up your bike.

Beyond that I've found that making them larger, heavier, so custom that it's something they'd have to part out what little they could rather than sell as a whole unit, etc. seems to work ok as a deterrent, along with paying attention to where and when I stop at places I have to leave it unattended. (being so custom often draws so much attention from other passers-by that it's never left alone long enough for a theif to have time to do their stuff).

 

[amberwolf]

Well I went to a locksmith and he tryed his things, he unscrewed the screws on top and bottom, because of that we were able to move things around a bit within the frame and the place where the key slots in also moved, that way you were able to look directly into it. Thats where we had different opinions(me and th elocksmith) basically i used my phone flashlight to light up the small gap between the battery and the frame, and looked through the small gap we created where the key usually goes in. I could have sworn I saw a piece of metal that keeps the battery in place. I'D assume something inside the lock, some mechanism failed and this Metal piece/rod whatever now doesnt move up when trying to unlock the battery.

It could certainly happen; they're made very cheaply, usually of die-cast metal. An image search for "ebike battery lock" finds many variations on the same idea. This one has an electric function as well as the locking pin

and this is much simpler but haven't actually seen one in use


This is the most common kind I've seen, also used as "steering locks" on some scooters, etc

When the lock still worked and I turned the key around, I felt a slight resistance at the end. Thats not the case anymore. I can turn the key but it feels like there is nothing happening inside.

That probably means the link between the rod and the lock is broken, or the pins in the lock the key should engage have worn down too far, or the key itself wore down too far and isn't engaging those pins anymore.

About the key: I am certain its the right key, given i only rode 2000km so far with the bike i doubt its used up, but i might try the replacement key (gotta really try everything before drilling i guess)

Worth a shot; all the parts are generally pretty soft metals, so any of htem could wear out.

Of all the lock and key problems I've had with *real* locks, it's almost always the key itself that's worn out, but sometimes it's the tumbler pins, and sometimes it's both. On cabinet locks that swing a flat piece thru a 90 degree angle, the square bit at the center of the end of the tumbler core that the flat piece is turned by is what usually breaks, but this typically leaves the cabinet *un*locked, as the screw and that bit and the flat piece all fall out inside the cabinet.

Nothing happened before the key thing. I rode home, halfway in i swapped batteries(because one was already almost empty) successfully, and when i arrived home i wanted to remove the battery from the bike and it didnt work. Additionally my Key got stuck, (the locksmith managed to remove the key though, but lock still didnt work)

If the key was stuck, my bet is on the tumbler itself, or it's pins, so one or more of the pins was holding hte key in.

About 15 years ago I had a crappy harbor freight padlock literally fall apart when I put the key in it, the first day I had it. Thought I had a pic posted but it's not in the thread anymore.

Amberwolf's DayGlo Avenger, MkII

For a test run, I did a ~1 mile trip to the grocery store and the same back; no pedalling, 15-17MPH. The first time I braked with the regen I realized I had forgotten to install TWM2 to monitor the regen current. :( I fixed that after I got back: It's just tucked into place, not tied down...

endless-sphere.com

 

[marty]

Some locksmiths have no idea how to fix a lock. Try some WD-40 in the key hole. More WD-40 every where the mechanism that holds the battery might be. If that don't work? Let the WD-40 soak in overnight and try more WD-40 the next day.

Did bike come with two keys? Go find the other one.

If all else fails, drill. Did a search for a image showing where to drill. THIS IS NOT HOW I WAS TAUGHT Locksmith taught me to drill in the crack of the circle right above the key slot. Top of key should have teeth. Drill above the teeth. You drilling through the pins. Start with a sharp small drill bit. Then go to a larger sharp drill bit. If your drill bits are dull. Sharpen or buy new ones. If you successful? Cylinder should turn with a flat blade screwdriver. Marty the landlord here. Anyone want a apartment? Comes with working locks and keys.

 

[Akologi]

Some locksmiths have no idea how to fix a lock. Try some WD-40 in the key hole. More WD-40 every where the mechanism that holds the battery might be. If that don't work? Let the WD-40 soak in overnight and try more WD-40 the next day.

Did bike come with two keys? Go find the other one.

If all else fails, drill. Did a search for a image showing where to drill. THIS IS NOT HOW I WAS TAUGHT Locksmith taught me to drill in the crack of the circle right above the key slot. Top of key should have teeth. Drill above the teeth. You drilling through the pins. Start with a sharp small drill bit. Then go to a larger sharp drill bit. If your drill bits are dull. Sharpen or buy new ones. If you successful? Cylinder should turn with a flat blade screwdriver. Marty the landlord here. Anyone want a apartment? Comes with working locks and keys.

View attachment 370515

can i drill with a normal electric drill? (dont have a good one its battery powered, probably only really good for wood i'd guess) or do i need something stronger?

 

[marty]

normal electric drill

Do not know what a normal electric drill is? I have about 12 electric drills. 120V, battery, and air powered. All of them would be OK to drill a lock.

Start with a sharp small drill bit. Then go to a larger sharp drill bit. If your drill bits are dull. Sharpen or buy new ones.

What goes wrong with drill bits and drilling metal is bit gets too hot and turns to trash. WD-40 makes nice cutting oil.