Anyone know something of vending machine locks?

[blue_avatar]

Hi,

As the result of a cousin's impulse buying, I have inherited a Coke vending machine -- with no key. I thought I'd at least justify the space it's taking by actually getting it to work. Contacting Coca-Cola was a joke - I did that back in August and here I am with no key but lots of "promises" to help. Almost all of the local locksmiths do not service tubular locks, and when I finally found one he wanted to charge me $207 to replace it.

Does anyone know if I can just drill this thing out and use the machine w/o the lock? I'm willing to just do that if I can get the darn thing to start cooling some sodas for me. If it's of any help, the name on lock is ACE II, and the lock does appear to be spring-loaded (pressing on it causes it to depress just a bit and spring back). At least, that was enough info for that one locksmith to quote me. Much thanks in advance!

[dave40261]

Ummm... *ahem*... You're screwed.

Having worked for Coke, and a dad that is a 20 year plus journeyman for Coke, these locks are tough. Stay after Coke. Call Pepsi. Call the machine manufacturer. Prepare to tear the crap out of your machine getting through the lock with no key.

Sorry for being morbid.Hopefully someone here has a better suggestion.

[Stephen Weller]

Grind it off?

[tfischer]

Coke doesn't make these machines, someone else does -- should say on the machine. They will most likely be more helpful than Coke, as long as you can prove it's your machine and you're not trying to rip off the local corner vendo-land...

-Tim

[gjensen11]

does It have any Numbers on it ( the Lock)

[WayneJ]

How about cutting around the lock with a Dremel tool,then rivit a patch on to cover the hole. Then use a lock and hasp to secure the door.

[Rounder]

Find some juvenile deliquent to pop the lock for you. Sorry, job related venting.

[DUD]

I have had to drill out locks on vending machines before as I spent many years in the business. I suggest you center punch the lock, mark an 1/8th inch drill bit to the length of 1 inch and drill straight in. Then go up in steps til you are around 3/8th inch, you should then be able to pry the lock itself out without damaging the lock assembly. When you get the lock out the rest should pop out and turn to open. My Thoughts, Bill

[pierhogunn]

DET cord?
.357 Mag,
Plasma cutting torch?

In all seriousness, have you done a google search for picking the darn thing? I am sure there are (make sure you don't have any impressionable minds around) web sites dedicated to the art of lock picking, how old is this thing?

[dave40261]

In all seriousness, DUD has the best suggestion. If the thing is fairly new, it will have a long screw inside that goes through several layers, so cutting around it won't work. You have to get the assembly to "pop out" to engage the screw, then unscrew it.

In our neck of the woods they used to just steal the whole machine! You would find it later with a big hole torched in it, and battle scars from being kicked out of a truck at 60MPH!!

[tfischer]

quote:Originally posted by dave40261
In our neck of the woods they used to just steal the whole machine! You would find it later with a big hole torched in it, and battle scars from being kicked out of a truck at 60MPH!!

All this for a little soda and some change??

-Tim

[blue_avatar]

Hi all,

Thanks for all your suggestions. The machine is made by Dixie-Narco, and yes the lock does have a number on it. Coke asked me that, but after I gave it I never heard from them again. Weird. On EBay someone was selling vending machine locks and I sent them email asking if it would be compatible with my machine (assuming I successfully removed the old lock). They asked me for the number too, then I never heard from them. I'm almost reluctant to give out this number anymore as my track record shows I'll lose all support [] (acutally I just don't have it here with me, I'll post it once I get it)

I'll try contacting Dixie-Narco (they have a tech support line) and see if there's anything they can suggest. Otherwise, I'll have a printout of this thread next to me as I get busy

Thanks again!

PS - By looking up the machine's serial number Coke did verify that my machine was a "giveaway item" meaning it had been a prize gift or something at one time (my cousin purchased it at an auction).

[Stephen Weller]

Out of pure, dumb curiousity, was this machine...uh...strategically appropriated? Where *is* the key?

Just wondering why Coke never got back to you [?] and hoping you won't be receiving any unexpected visitors. [:0]

[blue_avatar]

quote:Originally posted by Stephen Weller

Out of pure, dumb curiousity, was this machine...uh...strategically appropriated? Where *is* the key?

Just wondering why Coke never got back to you [?] and hoping you won't be receiving any unexpected visitors. [:0]

[] Hehe, I don't have the exact details, but I suspect my cousin must have gone to an auction of some kind, saw this vending machine, and impulse bought it. Then she decided not to finish college and go off into some other venture, which required relocation. Her mom, my aunt, got stuck with this behemoth for the next couple of years (sitting in her garage). I thought I'd help out by taking it off her hands (she was glad to be rid of it) and just using it (she paid quite a lot of money for it and so we didn't just want to throw it away when it was in fact working well). However, as I set it down in its designated spot, "hey, where's the key?"

No one knows. When I asked my cousin she even had to take a few minutes to remember what I was talking about.

So the story goes that the key was lost once, and my cousin called Coke, persisted and got a key. She lost that one, and now it appears I'm not quite as lucky as she. I can't get a response out of Coke at all. After verifying that I had a "giveaway item" they just dumped all further communications.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with Dixie-Narco tech support. Solution: make sure to have lots of time, a couple of good drill bits and get busy. I was given the name of a distributor near me from whom I could get a replacement lock. Getting ready to hit "print all" for this thread

Quick question, what exactly is meant by center punching the lock? (part of a suggestion by DUD)


Thanks again for all the suggestions and feedback!

[crokett]

You buy a center punch that you use to punch a starter divot in metal to keep your drill bit from walking when you try and drill the hole. An alternative is to use a very small drill bit and very light pressure on the drill to accomplish the same thing and drill a starter hole so the larger bit does not walk.