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LOST KEY,ez way to get into the head ??

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brian lenker

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Sep 8, 2010, 8:44:58 PM9/8/10
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Hi, I am going to go look at a f-14 tomcat tomorrow and the owner has
informed me that the key to the head is missing, he has no idea where
it is. He told me if I know how to open it with out damaging his
machine It was ok. Obviously I need to get in to the head to see the
boards and if I buyit I need to remove the head??? never owned
something this new. do you emove the head or fold ot down ?

Is there a ez or a way that causes minimum damage to get into the
head,
i was thinking that geting a cabide bit and dilling out the lock. any
other ideas ?

Thank you
Brian

alveolus

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Sep 8, 2010, 9:03:45 PM9/8/10
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I was able to remove the lock with a security torx screwdriver when I
bought my CFTBL. Not sure if F-14 uses the same lock and can't
remember what size bit I needed. I'm sure others here know.

Shawn

Bob in Phx

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Sep 8, 2010, 9:06:06 PM9/8/10
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Brian,
start off by looking inside the coin door and or bottom board. Then search
all around the outside and underside of the game. Some times you get lucky.
Follow that up by bringing with your every single pinball key that you own.
You would be amazed how often the keys from one machine open up another
machine, with just a little wiggling (and my apologies to the op where I
worked as a kid, I really did mean to pay you back for all those Pepsi's I
drank from your machine... really I did!!)

now if all else fails, pull out the drill... This is a messy horrible job.
The way I do it is to start with a 1/4 inch drill and get that to "start"
the hole. I try not to go all the way through the lock. You only need to go
down and 3/4ths of an inch or so. Once that is done, step up the drill size.
What your trying to do is destroy the brass fingers that keep the lock
locked!! once you have them out of the way, a large screw driver will allow
you to turn what's left of the barrel of the lock... Or you can just drill
all the way through the lock and basically punch out the back side, but with
this method, you risk damage to the head lock arms. additionally you risk
getting metal chips all over the boards!!!

Good luck!!! its not that hard... just so slow and easy!!


"brian lenker" <dodger...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Galt

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Sep 8, 2010, 11:41:20 PM9/8/10
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On Sep 8, 10:50 pm, Craig Tiano <cr...@vandenplas.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 8 Sep 2010 17:44:58 -0700 (PDT), brian lenker

>
> <dodgers131...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Hi, I am going to go look at a f-14 tomcat tomorrow and the owner has
> >informed me that the key to the head is missing, he has no idea where
> >it is.
>
> Every time someone selling a machine told me they didn't know where
> the key was, I found it on the hook inside the machine, in the cash
> box, or on the key ring with the front door key.
>
> Craig

I bought a machine without a key a few months ago. I didn't find the
key inside the machine but did use a set of security torx to get in.
Got lucky when I didn't find any battery damage.

themadman

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Sep 9, 2010, 4:32:00 AM9/9/10
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F14 is a little different, the lock is on the top between the beacons.
No torx screws to remove...

First, as said above... LOOK for the Key. It's probably on the hook
inside the coin door or in the bottom of the cabinet.

Since there is no good way to remove the lock via screws, either drill
it out, or use a large flat screwdriver jammed into it to turn the
entire lock cylinder 90 degrees.
The lock is only held in via one nut to the top of the backbox, and
has it's longer hasp engaging the top of the backglass.

Probably best to drill it out starting at about 1/4" through the pins,
then turning it with screwdriver (if you can't find the key, or find
another key that works)

TheKorn

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Sep 9, 2010, 6:08:55 AM9/9/10
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Craig Tiano <cr...@vandenplas.com> wrote in
news:ooig8695bi8d3pase...@4ax.com:

> On Wed, 8 Sep 2010 17:44:58 -0700 (PDT), brian lenker

> <dodger...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi, I am going to go look at a f-14 tomcat tomorrow and the owner has
>>informed me that the key to the head is missing, he has no idea where
>>it is.
>

> Every time someone selling a machine told me they didn't know where
> the key was, I found it on the hook inside the machine, in the cash
> box, or on the key ring with the front door key.

Just had to drill two backbox locks in the same day last week. Oh boy was
it ever fun.

On the bright side, I didn't hear a damn thing move when I kicked the game
up on end, so I definitely didn't miss the key somewhere. (And nope, these
didn't even *have* hooks, much less a key on them! And it wasn't screwed
to the side, either.)

--
Have a home video that's trapped on your camera? Want to share it on the
web or on DVD?

http://www.webwidevideo.com/

spike

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Sep 9, 2010, 7:29:15 AM9/9/10
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Aeneas from Belgium has a useful page on his super site:
http://www.flippers.be/basics/101-pinball_locks.html

And some tips on picking the lock from DBF here on RGP:

"Everyone,
Thanks for all of the replies. I had tried for about 5 minutes the
other night
to "pick" the lock with a paperclip but had no luck (probably due to
my
frustration level at the time).
Last night, I made a "rake" out of a small paperclip by bending the
end like a
snake with 4 small bumps about the same distance apart as the tumblers
(using a
similar key for reference). I used a small flat bladed screwdriver for
tension
and "raked" the paperclip in and out about 3 or 4 times until I
realized I was
turning the key the wrong way (to the right - it goes to the left).
So I tried turning to the left and bingo - it took exactly one pull on
the rake
to break it free - literally 10 seconds to get in (including figuring
out which
way to turn it). What a beautiful thing.
I went down this morning and bought a new Cam Lock for $6. I plan to
put one
set of keys on a big block of wood (just like my restroom key) or
something like
that. The other set will be screwed to the back of the machine like
someone
suggested.
Thanks again. I have found a new hobby - picking locks. This could be
dangerous ???
David"


Hope that helps
Spike

MetalPin

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Sep 9, 2010, 9:27:20 AM9/9/10
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I usually just cough up my lock pick and escape that way. A trick I
learned from Houdini.

Michael

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