Singing River Mine

[Elaine]

Went there this evening, but could not open the padlock. All of us tried many times.
There is a chance that I might have messed up and somehow brought the worng key but I can't see how. It went into the padlock ok, but would not turn. I will check my key is indeed a Mendip key, but meanwhile please be aware that if you go there you may also encounter the same problem.

 

[whitelackington]

You should have taken a club hammer, Elaine 

 

[Maj]

A couple of possibilities that I can think of:-

Frozen lock - Not that likely since I'm sure you would have thought of that and the lock would probably have thawed with handling.

Have you used that particular key recently, could it be an old key? It was a few years back now when all the padlocks & keys were replaced but being of the same supply the previous keys would fit the new padlocks but not open them.

I have found that a few of the keys may require withdrawing slightly from the lock a fraction before turning, depending on the quality of the key cutting.

Or perhaps just a gritty lock.

Maj

 

[cap n chris]

It will most likely be an old key in a new padlock; it won't be gritty cos it was replaced by Les last week so is spanking brand spanking. The third point of Maj's is very good, too - certainly I find this to be the "knack" at the car park at Fairy Cave Quarry.

Generally, though, it is excellent practice to take 3-in-1 oil with you when visiting any padlocked cave, if only to keep the lock in good condition.

Sorry to hear your trip didn't go as planned, Lainey!

 

[Elaine]

It did look like a nice sparkly new padlock, though the keyhole bit didn't look that clean.
I did wonder if I had a wrong key, I have lots of keys, but that one was marked Mendip Key, and I don't know how I would have got that one wrong.
We tried all sorts of ways to make it work, pushing, pulling, etc. Not forcing it though (honest).
Axbridge Caver has a Mendip key and I will see him in three weeks, so I will ask him to bring his and I will compare it to my collection!
Luckily - just in case something went wrong I had taken the GB key with me too, so we went there instead. That was nice.

 

[Les W]

It will most likely be an old key in a new padlock; it won't be gritty cos it was replaced by Les last week so is spanking brand spanking. The third point of Maj's is very good, too - certainly I find this to be the "knack" at the car park at Fairy Cave Quarry.

What Chris said.

Do you want a new key?

Les

 

[Elaine]

Hi Les, if you are coming our way to do our light, can you bring one then I can compare it to what I have got!!

 

[Les W]

Hi Les, if you are coming our way to do our light, can you bring one then I can compare it to what I have got!!

No worries.