Medeco mechanisms

[Asoamylacetate]

Hi guys

Is there a way to know which one of the three Medeco mechanisms a deabolt has just by looking at the keyway and the labels? I recently got my hands on a biaxial Medeco...

Sorry if someone has already asked this question
Thanks

[GWiens2001]

Squelchtone is the expert here, but Medeco has two BiAxial mechanisms that I am aware of. The normal pin tumbler with key pins, driver pins and sidebar, and the cam lock variety that has no driver pins.

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

Hi guys

Is there a way to know which one of the three Medeco mechanisms a deabolt has just by looking at the keyway and the labels? I recently got my hands on a biaxial Medeco...

Sorry if someone has already asked this question
Thanks

If you're a lock nerd, then yes, you eventually learn what kind it is, but I have to ask what practical purpose that would be in the field unless you're a locksmith who has enough experience to walk up and pick a customer's medeco.

I have a chart kicking around here somewhere, I'll look it up later tonight.

[ggpaintballer]

Are the driverless cams ever used in full size locks? I though they were just used in some payphone locks?

[Squelchtone]

Are the driverless cams ever used in full size locks? I though they were just used in some payphone locks?

Their payphone locks were in fact miniature pin tumbler with key pin and driver pin locks, you'll find this talked about in another recent thread. The driverless locks are mostly cam locks for cabinets, t-handle vending machine cylinders, and a few select padlocks they make.

none of their deadbolts or key in knob cylinders are "driverless"

[nite0wl]

Hi guys

Is there a way to know which one of the three Medeco mechanisms a deabolt has just by looking at the keyway and the labels? I recently got my hands on a biaxial Medeco...

Sorry if someone has already asked this question
Thanks

If you are referring to Original/Classic versus Biaxial versus M3, the keyway generally won't be much help but the markings on the face of the lock will frequently tell you which one it is (or at least give you a good idea). Medeco makes tons of keyways (often just very small variations) for key control/patent protection and the common (now unrestricted) keyways have been used across all three generations of Medeco system locks. As far as I know nothing visible from the outside will tell you which of the various styles of pins were used.
If your question was something else I think the earlier responses have covered anything else I could address.

[Asoamylacetate]

[/quote] As far as I know nothing visible from the outside will tell you which of the various styles of pins were used.
[/quote]


That was it. Including Classic Biaxial M3 Bilevel & Keymark. Thanks everyone!

[Squelchtone]

As far as I know nothing visible from the outside will tell you which of the various styles of pins were used.

That was it. Including Classic Biaxial M3 Bilevel & Keymark. Thanks everyone!

?

you CAN tell from the outside if it is an Original (don't call it Classic ), Biaxial, M3, BiLevel, or Keymark. Original by the stampings, Biaxial by the biaxial logo, M3 by the fact it says M3 on the outside, Bilevel has the Bilevel logo and keymark has the tell tale \ angled keyway.

Here's a crappy old Medeco timeline graphic I made years ago, (which totally needs some updates and new photos), but it will do to show you some of the common Medeco types you might run into:



Keymark

[nite0wl]

I was referring to ARX versus whatever the 'open bottom' style of key pins were called, there is no clear external indicator of which of those was used (at least directly). Probing with an appropriate tool and attempting to discern the date of introduction/manufacture relative to the public disclosures of the non-ARX vulnerability would be the primary means of determining that without disassembly.
Obviously this does not apply to BiLevel and KeyMark since neither of those designs employ axial rotation and use only a single type of pin (plus sliders in the case of BiLevel).

If the full face of the lock cylinder is visible there is usually a logo and/or other marking indicating the different designs, these are sometimes obscured by armor and reinforcement plates, housings, and covers. Keymark does have a somewhat distinct keyway position which can allow identification even when other markings are obscured.

[MBI]

I was referring to ARX versus whatever the 'open bottom' style of key pins were called, there is no clear external indicator of which of those was used (at least directly). Probing with an appropriate tool and attempting to discern the date of introduction/manufacture relative to the public disclosures of the non-ARX vulnerability would be the primary means of determining that without disassembly.

Surprisingly, since the keyways are so remarkably wide you can often tell a bit about the insides and even partially visually decode them. An otoscope helps a LOT, but even without one if you have good eyes and a small flashlight, try grabbing a Medeco cylinder and looking inside the front. For at least the frontmost pins you can often tell if they are fore or aft Biaxial pins, and if they are aft pins it's possible to see if they are ARX-type pins or if the sidebar groove runs down to the tip of the pin. If the sidebar groove is visible, you can also tell what the rotation is.

The front pin is easiest to see, obviously, and you just need to lift it out of the way to look at the second pin, and so on.

This is a far cry from fully decoding they cylinder, but if you're familiar with picking Medecos and what they "feel" like inside, it can give you a better idea what you're up against and make it easier to visualize what's happening in there as you get feedback through the pick and tension wrench. It can also help shorten picking time if you now know for sure what the rotation direction is for any of the pins.

[TL140]

Oh boy, that keymark looks frightening!

I havent messed with medico locks that much but I have ran across a few in my life.