Help with my ilco Unican 025 key machine

[zeke79]

Pennies are not 100% copper anymore so that's out .


WOT,

This is the best I can do at the moment as it is time for work. It is a manual machine if you like, or you put the keys in, push auto and it feeds into the cutter and traces the key for you.

[WOT]

this now has me thinking... since it is legal as long as isn't being used fraudulently, then why not buy like $1000 in pennies ... melt them down into copper ingets and sell them ( as a pennie is worth more in copper then it is as tender)?

Pennies haven't been pure copper since 1982 and it was changed to pure zinc w/ copper shell. With copper being worth ~$2.52/lbs (metalprices.com) and you consider the manual labor of sorting them out by the year, it becomes uneconomical.

Copper theft is a serious problem in some parts and you'd probably find many recyclers would refuse to melt down currency for ethical reasons whether it's legal or not. Many lockies go mwah mwah mwah mwah read what the bow says, mwah mwah mwah and turn you down when you ask them to duplicate:


Even though it is perfectly legal to do so, except in Los Angeles county and probably a few other places.

[raimundo]

I designed a sorter, the copper penny is half a gram heavier than the chewy nugat one that reagan started, the pennies are rolled down an increasing slope until at the bottom it curls out and launches them through the air, one coffeecan collects the real pennies and the other catches the republican ones.

[raimundo]

I designed a sorter, the copper penny is half a gram heavier than the chewy nugat one that reagan started, the pennies are rolled down an increasing slope until at the bottom it curls out and launches them through the air, one coffeecan collects the real pennies and the other catches the republican ones. dirt and sticky stuff can foul it if its not built with a real gain on the downslope before the ski jump.
Hey WOT is that waronterror? what a concept, we should have a war on flanking manouvers and a war on special ops too. actually war is a bloodsport for people who don't know any better, its ugly, not just some retard in a flight suit with banners pretending that the pilot allowed him to land the plane.

[WOT]

So anyways... the topic: ilco Unican 025

[zeke79]

What question has not been answered?

[WOT]

What question has not been answered?

Do I have what it takes to make icore keys by code? As much as I want a code punch, they're excessively expensive.

[raimundo]

yep, thats it, thats what locksmiths used to cut code keys before there were code machines, hope your depth keys are first generation not copiesof copies, the method is slower and more fiddley having to register the depth keys you put in the stylus jaw so that each is correctly placed etc.

[WOT]

I have some stubborn burr problems, but only with nickel silver blanks. The cuts are nice and clean on standard brass keys.

Also, sometimes I hear the bearing squeal sound on side pressure. Is it something with one of the bearings or is it the dull cutter? I contacted David at Gilray and it's going to cust me $28 for a sharpening.

[zeke79]

Are you lubricating the machine?

[WOT]

Are you lubricating the machine?

How often should it be? I lubricated when I bought it not long ago.

[zeke79]

I lubricate mine about once per month. You need to be sure you are lubricating the spindle that the cutter and brush are mounted on. There should be a tube installed for this on the machine allready.

[WOT]

I lubricate mine about once per month. You need to be sure you are lubricating the spindle that the cutter and brush are mounted on. There should be a tube installed for this on the machine allready.

I don't know the machine's history, so I suppose it's time for tear down clean up.

[Spike666]

025 Key Machine FAQ ((((((PULLED RIGHT FRON KABA_ILCO))))))))



Machine does not run, even when switch is turned on.
A. Make sure power cord is plugged in and that the wall outlet has power.

B. Reset circuit breaker on right rear of machine by pushing in small white plastic button.

C. With machine unplugged, make sure all wires are connected to on/off rocker switch.

D. If machine still does not run, replace rocker switch. Unplug machine before replacing anything.

E. If machine still does not run, arrange to send machine in for repair.

Cutter starts to turn but circuit breaker kicks out, shutting machine off.
A. Reset circuit breaker and check belt for proper tension. Belt should have 1/2" of deflection between the two pulleys.

B. Turn machine off and check cutter shaft by grabbing brush and turning shaft assembly by hand. If shaft assembly is extremely hard to turn, loosen set screw and move pulley to the right. Then retighten the set screw.

C. If problem persists, unplug machine and replace circuit breaker.

Machine makes a loud knocking sound, (like a bad bearing in the motor).
A. Usually this is caused by a loose pulley. Unplug machine, remove cover, and tighten pulley set screw.

B. If noise continues, the motor may need to be replaced.

Cutter starts to pull the keys out of the vise jaw when cutting.
A. A dull cutter will try to pull keys from the vise. Replace cutter if necessary.

B. Three signs of a dull cutter: 1. A dull cutter takes longer to make the cuts. 2. A dull cutter will emit a shrill sound as it cuts the key. 3. A dull cutter will leave a heavy build up of burrs on the key.

C. If cutter is in good shape, check the thrust bearings. There should be three pieces on each vise.

D. Remove vises and clean them; check conditions of threads. If worn, replace them.

When using the gage fork to align keys, the prongs of the gage fork are too short to land on the edge of the key.
A. This problem is not corrected by replacing the gage fork. The problem is caused by wear on the bottom surface of the carriage which allows the carriage to fall down below the normal resting position. Correct this problem by replacing the carriage.

The replacement on/off rocker switch has two terminals and the old switch has three terminals.
A. The third terminal was for a light bulb inside the old switch. To use the new switch, tape off the two white wires and reattach remaining wires to the terminals of the new switch. Always unplug power cord when working on machine.

Spacing of cuts on duplicate key is not correct.
A. First make sure the depth of cut is adjusted correctly. Refer to owners manual for info.

B. Make sure the keys are properly loaded into the vises.

C. Make sure correct cutter is installed on machine, which is a P-X23MC or X23MC.

D. Make sure there is a cutter shaft spacer on each side of the cutter.

E. Check shaft for end play. Cutter moves from right to left. If so, loosen set screw, and squeeze cutter and pulley together, while squeezing retighten the pulley set screw.

Depth of cut will not stay adjusted or readjustment for depth of cut is constantly needed. Also if depth of cut is adjusted and correct for Kwikset keys, the depth is off for other types of keys.
A. Take a close look at cutter guide and see if a groove has been worn in the tip. If so, replace.

B. Make sure that when adjusting machine for depth of cut that you turn the adjusting screw to the front of slot in the cutter guide.

C. Inspect vise jaws for excessive wear. Make sure no brass chips are accumulating.

Single-sided keys do not sit flat in vise jaws.
A. Clean both vises and make sure they are free of all brass chips.

B. Over time the jaws will wear out. Eventually, vises will have to be replaced.

Depth of cut is off even on a well used machine that is adjusted properly.
A. Both the cutter shaft and the carriage shaft have oilite bushings that will wear down; this will lead to play between the shafts and bushings which can affect accuracy of cut keys.

B. When replacing these bushings, drive out the old bushing and clean out any epoxy residue. Install the new bushing with a two part epoxy and let epoxy set up with the shaft in place.

Keys are sticking in vise or are hard to remove after cutting.
A. Remove vise jaw from machine and clean them of all chips. Apply a small amount of grease to inside of top jaw.

B. Make sure vise jaw springs are present.

C. If jaws still stick, check threads on studs and check to see if they are bent. Replace if needed.

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[WOT]

Anyone have the owner's manual for 025 machine? I would be grateful if anyone can send me scans, because I can't find it on ilco's site. They only have manuals for current production models.