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Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Got a question about key machines? not sure what to buy? need a user manual? have some tips for keeping one running well or need help cutting or programming keys? Post here!

Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby MatrixBlackRock » 13 Jul 2015 16:51

UnlockingBoredom wrote:Well it looks like it will be a while before I can get cards for the machine.. the guy that did he was a friend that talked me into getting the code machine and had a set that he said was already paid for so he would give them to me decided today that he won't give them to me unless I give him 160.00 for cards he printed out.


That stinks, but don't give up on the machine as long as you have room to oil it up and store it.

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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby MatrixBlackRock » 13 Jul 2015 17:01

UnlockingBoredom wrote:I'm a bit upset about it, he wanted me to get a code cutter so when I move in 2 1/2 months I could still do impressionist for him and then cut factory keys with the code machine.


If I might ask, what type of keys are you trying to duplicate?

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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby zeke79 » 13 Jul 2015 18:25

To start out with you can always pick up the micrometer cards and use space and depth info with them.
For the best book out there on high security locks and their operation, take a look at amazon.com for High-Security Mechanical Locks An Encyclopedic Reference. Written by our very own site member Greyman! A true 5 Star read!!
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby jeffmoss26 » 13 Jul 2015 19:03

160 is a steal compared to what a set of cards would cost new...
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 13 Jul 2015 19:41

Wayne, Yeah I guess I can store it for a while...

The thing is... The locksmith that I have been doing work for (free I might add.. I just like to help people out..) wanted to keep giving me locks to make keys for, whether I impression them or any other way. He has been on me about getting a code machine almost since I met him. Well now he finds one that is beat to hell and talks me into getting it by telling me that he has an entire set (150 cards) that some guy paid him to make from the program codesource he has (it cost the guy $40.00 to have him make it) he said that after the guy paid and he made the cards the guy left town so he was going to give me the cards.

I wouldnt need them unless I had a code machine.. so he got me to buy it and then turns around and tells me that he has helped me out and I should pay him 160.00 for the cards. He wouldnt answer me when I asked him how he has helped ME out.. so I told him where to go, how to get there and said that if he likes I would help get him started on his way. It seems to me like he wanted to sell some cards so he got me to buy a machine that uses them..

Jeff,
I know that it is a much better price then brand new cards but he lied to me to get money from me so I told him where to go... Im not a locksmith so If needed I will only buy the few cards that I would ever need on eBay for 9.99 a piece

If I have to I will wait to get to Oregon where my nephew works as a locksmith and has friends that are as well. Some one up there must have one of the programs like codesource, Kreate-A-Key etc.. that can print out cards for me. If not then I will just sell off all of my stuff and not worry about it any more.
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby jeffmoss26 » 13 Jul 2015 20:01

that is shady, sorry to hear that.
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 13 Jul 2015 20:11

Thanks Jeff, I still cant wait until the lens shows up :D I do love fixing up things so thank you again!!!
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 15 Jul 2015 21:02

The lens showed up today and I had to buy one of those code card pdf's from ebay to calibrate it.

Here it is with the lens installed:
Image

And with the Schlage card I printed out and used to calibrate the machine:
Image

Here is the first 2 keys cut, the one on the left is now a D&S #5 key and was used to set the depth and spacing on the #1 cut before cutting all the rest of the spaces. The key on the right is the first key I cut that will work the lock on a door knob I have. I decoded the key and then cut it with the code cutter... It works Perfectly! better then any of the duplicates I have made with the other machine.. :D

Image

Unfortunately I wont ever have the money to get a complete set of code cards so I will probably sell it when I get up to Oregon :(
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 15 Jul 2015 21:05

Opps, that is the wrong key cut to my lock... LOL
That was one I copied :roll: The code cut key looks factory cut.

My cutter is a little dull though and should be replaced but it cuts ok if you go slow.
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby MatrixBlackRock » 16 Jul 2015 6:23

UnlockingBoredom wrote:The lens showed up today and I had to buy one of those code card pdf's from ebay to calibrate it.

Here it is with the lens installed:
Image


That's shaping up really nice.

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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby jeffmoss26 » 16 Jul 2015 7:38

Looks great!!
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby cledry » 16 Jul 2015 22:38

Nice work. What you could do to further check your work is to take a Schlage cylinder not an F-line one. Take the plug out and put a 9 pin in any chamber, put your key in and tap the top of the pin. The mark on your key should be centered in the cut. If not you still have some fine tuning to do. For depths just find a cylinder with factory keys and pins, pull the plug and compare your cut key to the original and compare how the pins are at the shear line.
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 17 Jul 2015 0:14

cledry wrote:Nice work. What you could do to further check your work is to take a Schlage cylinder not an F-line one. Take the plug out and put a 9 pin in any chamber, put your key in and tap the top of the pin. The mark on your key should be centered in the cut. If not you still have some fine tuning to do. For depths just find a cylinder with factory keys and pins, pull the plug and compare your cut key to the original and compare how the pins are at the shear line.


Good advice!!! I was wondering if there was a way to make sure that I am exact and not maybe 1 to 2 teeth off on my adjustment. I will do this and make sure It is good or I will do the fine adjusting to make it right.. Thanks Jim

I sure hope I can find cards cheap or at least pdfs that I can print my own, I would hate to have to sell it to my nephew in 2 1/2 months :(
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 19 Jul 2015 20:47

Well it looks like I wont have to sell the machine... My son convinced the guy that had the cards to give them up (I dont know what he said but I guess he was very persuasive.) The only thing is the guy said he was going to have copies made and he had them made on regular printer paper... Oh well, I guess I will have my daughter scan them into pdf format so I can print on card stock any time I need one.

I have been laid up in bed for the last week with pain overload so I havent seen how the "cards" look yet... my son will drop them off tomorrow.

Im happy I have something at least.. :D Still need to follow Jims advice on checking pin placement in the cuts to make sure I am right on or need more fine adjustment, but that will have to wait until I can get my pain under control again.
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Re: Refurbishing a 34 year old HPC Code-A-Key (Blitz)

Postby UnlockingBoredom » 20 Jul 2015 20:39

Jim,
Thank you for the information on checking the fine adjustment... I took a #9 pin (looked steel) and put it into the top of the plug that I put my #5 D&S key and tapped it. I got lucky on my first go!!! the pin made its mark perfectly centered in the "bed" (dont know what to call it) :D

I cut another key to make sure that my depth was the same over the entire 5 cuts. They turned out perfect as well. The only thing wrong with the machine (other then being 34 years old) is the 12v motor is a little noisy (but very tolerable) so I will keep it like it is and maybe at some point down the road I will switch it out for the 110v
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