Locksmithing Etc. August 2005

TEK SCREWS

TEK or drill screws are installed using a screw gun, driver, or drill driver. These screws have a drill bit type of tip that enables them to drill into metal. In many instances, this eliminates the need for a pilot hole, standard hole, and tap. TEK screws are available as sheet metal screws or with 20 threads per inch. TEK screws are available as replacements for machine screws.

When installing hardware using TEK screws, make sure they are machine screw thread TEK screws.

FYI: KIRK KEY

If a customer brings a seven-pin tumbler key with the name "KIRK" into your shop and wants a duplicate made, the best thing to do is have your customer contact the company, Kirk Key Interlock, at 800-438-2442. Kirk Key Interlock also has a website: www.kirkkey.com. Order forms are available from the website.

These keys are used to operate an interlock, normally found on very large pieces of industrial equipment. Normally, three or more keys, which should mean three or more persons turning the keys, are required in order to start the equipment. This is done as a safety precaution.

HONDA UPDATE

Honda has changed the material content of its high security key blades. The new key blades do not contain lead. The result is these new blades are extremely hard, and are very tough to cut using standard key cutter bits. These new blades can be identified by the smoother and shinier finish. Warning: these new key blades can quickly dull standard cutters. Contact your key machine manufacturer for the appropriate replacement cutter.

MAILBOXES

Salsbury Industries manufactures and distributes a variety of mailboxes, lockers and related products. Mailboxes are available as front and rear loading, in a number of different shapes and sizes. There are parcel lockers, drop boxes and data distribution systems. In addition, Salsbury Industries has a variety of locks available including five-pin tumbler locks, three-digit, single- dial combination locks, thumb latch, and U.S.P.S. locks.

For more information, contact Salsbury Industries, 1010 East 62nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90001-1598. Telephone: 800-624-5269. Fax: 800-624-5299. Website: www.mailboxes.com.

NEW FROM HYUNDAI

The 2006 Hyundai Sonata NF is now at dealerships. The cost of the replacement ignition lock at the dealership is over $300. A full set of locks is more than $370. The code series is F0001-F2500. This new 10-cut lock mechanism uses a very thick blade, double-sided key. This probably limits its ability to being cut only on motorized key machines. At this time, there are no aftermarket key blanks.

NEW KEYING KIT

ASP has introduced the A-41-152 Combo Keying Kit for 2003-up General Motors vehicles. This keying kit contains six sets of wafer tumblers and three different shaped springs. The vehicle models whose lock can be combinated using this kit include:

For more information, contact your local locksmith wholesaler or ASP Inc., P. O. Box 10 Redmond, WA 98073-0010. Website: www.carlocks.com.

YALE OCCUPANCY INDICATOR

Yale Commercial Locks and Hardware has introduced an optional occupancy indicator for the Yale mortise privacy and bathroom function locks. The occupancy indicator is the size of a mortise cylinder mounted onto the exterior of the door. When the deadbolt is retracted, the word "Vacant" is displayed on the indicator. When the deadbolt is extended, the word "Occupied" is displayed.

The occupancy indicator can be order with a mortise lock or as a separate kit. When ordering a Yale 8802(FL) privacy mortise lock or 8862(FL) bathroom mortise lock, include "IND" in the option section. This indicator can be retrofit onto Yale 8802(FL), 8862(FL), and 8702(FL) privacy function mortise locks. When ordering the kit separately, the model number is IND-K. Be sure to include the desired finish.

CAR-OPENING QUESTION

A locksmith writes: BMW autos can be opened by quickly operating the inside power button twice, then pulling on the inside door handle twice. This allows the door to be opened using the outside door handle. His question was, "How quick is quickly and does this have to follow quickly with operating the inside door handle twice or is there some time between the operation of the lock button and inside door handle?"

Answer: Yes there is a time limit; however, there is no exact time involved. The time appears not to be too critical as long as you hear the power door lock cycle both times when you press the inside power door lock control. Sometimes the door will unlock the first time you pull the inside handle and a second pull will not even be necessary.

DUPLICATE KEY PRICES

How do you price your duplicate keys? Do you give a discount for multiple keys purchased? Do you price them in groups? For example, house keys, single-sided automotive keys, etc, or do you price your keys individually? Is there a price difference between original equipment key blanks and aftermarket key blanks? Is there a price difference between the key blanks that are similar to originals and the lower cost key blanks? Are your "non-most common" key blanks more expensive than the fifty most popular key blanks?

KIA KEYS

Kia uses different length keys for the 1995-02 Sportage model vehicles. The difference is determined by the transmission. The longer shank key blanks, Ilco X267/KK4 and Jet KK4, are for the automatic transmission-equipped Kia vehicles. The manual transmission-equipped vehicles use the shorter shank key blanks, the Ilco X253/KK3 and Jet KK3.

NEW FROM OLYMPUS LOCK

Olympus® Lock, Inc. has introduced two pin tumbler lock products, the N078, and the 754/854. The Olympus N078 pin tumbler cabinet lock is now field-reversible for left or right hand door applications. In addition to the standard 1-1/8" barrel, the N078 cabinet locks are available with a 1-3/8" barrel length to accommodate both door and drawer applications. The N078 door and drawer locks are equipped with D4291 keyway four- or five-pin lock cylinder. An additional option is a longer bolt.

The Olympus 754 and 854 door and drawer locks are designed to accommodate the original equipment Sargent deadbolt cylinder, part number #13-3457. The 754/854 cabinet locks have a standard with 1-3/8" barrel length. Optional trim spacers are available to flush fit 7/8" material thickness. The Olympus 754 is designed for a cabinet door application and the 854 drawer application. Both door and drawer locks are non-handed. The 754 and 854 locks include a matching notched strike and are sold less cylinder.

For more information, contact your local locksmith wholesaler or Olympus Lock, 18424 Highway 99, Lynnwood, WA 98037. Telephone: 800-525-0954. Fax: 206-362-3569. Website: www.olympus-lock.com.

CAR-OPENING TECHNIQUES: 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT

This month we will offer recommended car-opening techniques for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The Cobalt is equipped with unprotected inside lock control linkage, manually unlocked/locked using a vertical locking button.

CAUTION: Be careful when unlocking the Chevrolet Cobalt by inserting the tool into the door cavity. If too much force is exerted during the insertion, removal, or twisting of the tools between the weather strip and the window, the glass can break.

The following opening methods can be used to unlock the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt:

Use the High Tech Tools Triple Hook Tool #86, a strip saver, and a wedge to unlock the front passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by separating the glass from the weather stripping with a wedge directly above the outside handle of the passenger door. Using the strip saver, insert the Triple Hook Tool behind the wedge into the door cavity with the tip facing towards the rear of the vehicle. Lower the #86 car-opening tool into the door cavity until the tip of the tool is beneath the bend in the vertical rod. Rotate the tool so the tip is directly below the bend in the linkage rod. Lift the tool to trap the linkage rod in the tip. The locking button will move, indicating contact. With slight turning pressure, carefully lift the tool to unlock the locking mechanism.

Use the HPC CO-73 opening tool to unlock the front passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by stringing the cord through the middle hole in the tool. Lightly lubricate the tool to make it easier to slide through the door opening. NOTE: Do not lubricate the cord. Carefully insert the end of the tool into the passenger compartment door and the frame. When the tool is fully inserted, pull on the end of the cord to make a lasso. Slide the tool so the lasso is hooked over the locking button. Carefully pull the tool out of the passenger compartment, leaving only the cord wrapped around the locking button. Pull the cord until the knot tightens around the locking button. Keep the lasso tight and pull up on the cords in order to lift the locking button to unlock the lock mechanism.

Use the Pro-Lok AO-38 Honda Tool, inspection light, and an inflatable wedge to unlock the rear passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the inflatable wedge 8 inches from the split window divider of the rear passenger door. Inflate the wedge. Insert an inspection light at 7 inches from the front edge of the divider and identify the horizontal rod eight inches below the window frame. Insert the small end of the AO-38 opening tool into the door at 6 inches from the front edge of the split window with the tip facing rearward. Lower the car-opening tool 9 inches into the door cavity. Rotate the tool 45 degrees clockwise and lift the tool 1 inch to position the tip of the tool under the lower horizontal rod. Capture the rod in the tip and twist the tool to bind the rod. Slide the tool rearward to unlock the door locking mechanism.

Use the Slide Lock Mercedes Strip™ and an air wedge to unlock the front passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the air wedge above middle on the vertical side of the window frame. Inflate the air wedge just enough to gain access for the tool. Lubricate the opening between the "B" pillar and the window frame. Insert the knotted/banded end of the Mercedes Strip into the passenger compartment just above the vertical locking button. Trap the locking button within the tool. Pull up on the tool to unlock the door locking mechanism.

Use the Tech-Train Productions TT-1017 car-opening tool and a wedge to open the front passenger door. Begin by inserting a wedge directly above the front of the outside door handle. Carefully insert the TT-1017 car-opening tool into the door between the wedge and the locking button with the tip facing towards the rear of the car. Do not rotate the tool until the tip is approximately 6 inches beneath the weather stripping. Rotate the tool clockwise until the tool contacts the vertical linkage rod. When contacted, the vertical locking button will move. Capture the linkage rod in the tip and pull tool forward to bind. Maintain pressure and pull upward on the tool to unlock the door locking mechanism.

The direction to rotate the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt driver's door lock plug to the unlocked position is counterclockwise.

For more information regarding car -opening products, contact your local locksmith distributor or the following car-opening tool manufacturers:

High Tech Tools, 1400 SW 1st St., P.O. Box 450370, Miami, FL 33135. Telephone: 305-649-7014. Fax: 305-541-0074. Website: www.hightechtools.com.

HPC Inc., 3999 N. 25th, Schiller Park, IL 60176. Telephone: 847-671-6280. Website: www.hpcworld.com. Fax: 847-671-6343.

Pro-Lok, 655 North Hariton Street, Orange, CA 92868. Telephone: 714-633-0681. Fax: 714-633-0470. Website: www.pro-lok.com.

Slide Lock Tool Co. Inc., 1166 Topside Rd., Louisville, TN 37777. Website: www.z-tool.com. Telephone: 800-336-8812.

Lockmasters Inc., 5085 Danville Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356. Telephone: 800-654-0637. Website: www.techtrainproductions.com. Fax: 859-885-7093.

We are interested in printing opening methods from other car-opening tool manufacturers. To have your instructions published, enclose a contact name and telephone number. Write or fax to Jerry Levine C/O Locksmith Ledger, 100 Colony Park Dr., Suite 203, Cumming, GA 30040. Fax: 770-889-7703.