HELP! lost locks to remove bravo drive suggestions?
 

Can anyone suggest how to remove a lock on a Bravo Drive, not prop lock but where drive bolts to gimbal.
Thanks for the help

I've used a dremel with a cut off wheel to cut thru the surround 180* on the McGards brand, then used a screw driver to split it away from the 'nut'. Once the surround was off, vice grips or a socket pounded over the nut will remove the nut. Probably took less than 5 min to remove.

Thank you for the advise!! next time I will odrer a extra key

Is it a McGard? This happens more than you think. McGard may be able to send you a key if you can draw the lock accurately. Better bet is to contact a local large marina. They usually have a plethora of keys.

A boat I just bought this year had one, and of course the seller did not have a key. I am sure the drive had never come off, and it was seven years old.
The guy who did my winterization just said no problem. Had it off in a jiffy. And, he did not have a key that fit. Makes me wonder just how much protection these things offer. I'm guessing 5 minutes. Only good for very public places I guess.
A dark corner, forget about it. They want it, they will get it.

try this
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/1...oosen-lug-nut/

I remember my dad saying , locks are for honest people. Doug

I figure my McGard locks are a little bit of a deterant for the criminals that don't know better. See a lock, move on to next boat.
Plus if my drives were to get stolen, I have pics showing the drives wiht the locks, and prop locks, installed. Might help with Ins. showing I did take precautions.

I've done it too, those pieces that surround the lock will just break off once you cut a relief in the side. Takes about 5 min like you said.

Thanks I knew I could count on my OSO friends. Much thanks!

I just told McGard at what position the little slots were in,, I.E. 1 oclock, 6:30 and 9, they sent me 2 different keys and I sent back the one that didn't work...

So if a guy sees some drives with locks he wants to steal he has 2 options. Spend 5 minutes dicking around to get them off, or contact McGard for the keys!:eek:

Five minutes is a lot of time for a thief. Most will not have a power tools for cutting with them. My guess is they go to the next boat. Why spend extra time and making noise cutting when in five minutes you can have somebody elses drive off and gone.

3/8" 12 point socket, 6" extention, hammer, 45 seconds with a Dewalt 12v impact and your drives off! Not what you want to hear for safety, but pound the socket on there with the hammer and the lock comes off stud and all. I had to do it a couple times at work unfortunatley.

The drive locks do deter theives. I worked at a marina where we had several drives stolen one night. They took all the ones without locks, didn't bother with the ones with locks. I used to keep about 20 of the keys so I could remove the lock when the customer forgot to leave the key. Now I just cut them off, it's quicker. Or do as OL30 says, sometimes that works if the stud isn't locktited in.