4 Pin Ace Type lock

[Raymond]

I need to find keyblanks or the manufacturer name for an Ace type lock that has only 4 pins. The inside of the lock body, (outside of the key blank), is .357 inch and the outside diameter of the center post is .256 inch. These locks are not high security. The owner lost his keys and he has 20 locks. He would prefer not to have to buy new locks.

[cuda00]

go ask a locksmith, simple as that

[freakparade3]

The closest diameter I can find is Ilco 1136S OD is .365 I don't know what the tolerances are for Ace but if the blank fits it will work. The amount of pins will not matter.

[Raymond]

Cuda00, If you cannot contribute an informative answer quit wasting our time.

Freakparade3, Thanks, The dimensions I gave in the original post are taken with a micrometer. The outside of your keyblank will not fit into the hole. I have made a temporary key using aluminum that will get the customer by for the moment but it is very primitive. These are pretty cheap import locks. I am still hoping someone will recognize them. I would provide a photo but my camera/PC connection is not currently working.

[raimundo]

the only four pin tubulars I have seen were old computer switch locks for the power, and some smith&wesson handcuffs, I do know that the common ace type locks come in three diameters, the oversize is uncommon, but the other two are quite common, and kryptonite lock company was making an even smaller diameter one before they quit using tubular locks, perhaps if you could find one of these keys, you could cut it down to a new edge and cut the four depths, on tubular locks, its not necessary to have the pickup for the groove in the stem, if your key will just push on the pins and rotate the stem.

[Raymond]

Right on Raimundo, I am still scrambling around trying to find the right size blanks. It looks as if I will have to be making a key from scratch.

[Raymond]

Sorry for the delay. I just got my camera and PC working together, or around each other, again.

Here is a photo of an identical lock and key. I am trying to find the manufacturer or available key blanks.
Thanks
[img][img]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb277/cookiebear7/Vendinglock3.jpg[/img][/img]

[Eyes_Only]

What would you use to pick these locks?

[nothumbs]

Tubular tension wrench and a hook pick (or paperclip). Looks very low end.

[Archive555]

What would you use to pick these locks?

The other day at school we were taking apart some of the schools broken computers in I.T., and to get part of the case off, there was a lock like this on it, but a lot smaller. Anyway, we waited 15 minutes for the school technicians to find the key for it, and by the time they did, I had it open (With the teacher's permission of course, as they were now hers and since they were broken she wouldn't have minded if we'd just hit it with a hammer). It wasn't challenging at all, and the only slightly hard bit was trying to apply tension. I ended up using an unbent wire object used for holding paper together.

[raimundo]

that key has six cuts, perhaps the lock only has four pins and the key is a master key for a set of these.

[Jaakko]

that key has six cuts, perhaps the lock only has four pins and the key is a master key for a set of these.

Or the key has 7 cuts and the "middle" of them is uncut.

Raymond, cudas advice was very good and you didn't inform what was so wrong about it. Locksmith can really help with the issue at hand.

[cuda00]

I´m not really wasting anyone´s time, i´m just saying, if you need keys for the locks, a locksmith would probably be easier as they can duplicate them fast and accuratly

[Brianpojo56]

If that's the lock that I think it is, it's a rather common "bubble gum" lock. Key blanks are not available because there is only 7 or 8 different combinations that they come in and each combination has a designated color. Super easy to pick, but if you go to a locksmith that deals a lot with vending machine stuff, chances are they will have at minimum one of each color for sale. The cylinders are made with a raised section on each side that it fits snuggly into a hollow chicago double bitted bubble gum machine lock. It was a sort of cheap way of retrofitting the machines to have a lock that looked more complicated.

[Raymond]

Wow! I haven't been on here in a few days. Thanks for all the great suggestions. However, I have been working with locks for over 45 years. I am a locksmith and no one else in town has been able to provide help with this problem. I shouldn't have snapped at Cuda but the late night frustration was getting to me. All of the gumball machine distributors say there are NO key blanks available. They will happily sell my customer new locks though. I can order through many suppliers replacement locks for these machines. That choice has been denied by the customer for the moment. This is why I am searching for something that will work.

Yes, Rai, the key to my sample lock is cut to 6 cuts and the lock has only 4. I dont really have a clue why. I found this lock in the junk accumulated at the shop after many years. No one else at the shop even knew it was there and no one remembers where we got it. Yeah, I know...A.A.A.D.D.

I have made the man a temporary key from soft aluminum so he can empty the machines and will probably make another when it wears out. I need to get some brass or stainless tubing to make a semi-permanent key and will do so as time permits.