Mooney Support?? Duplicate MEDECO keys nightmare

[rogerl]

who owns it

Edited March 15, 2021 by rogerl

[Cruiser]

I had no problem.  Took the original to a lock smith, he ordered the blanks and cut the keys. It took a couple of days.

 

I did have a small issue in that the replacements had a shoulder at the base of the key that hit the rim of the ignition and would not push in for starting, a little file solved the problem easily.

[rogerl]

I had no problem.  Took the original to a lock smith, he ordered the blanks and cut the keys. It took a couple of days.

 

I did have a small issue in that the replacements had a shoulder at the base of the key that hit the rim of the ignition and would not push in for starting, a little file solved the problem easily.

 

Been to the two locksmiths in town that handle MEDECO.  Neither could do it, one is supposedly quite the specialist.

[Houman]

Been to the two locksmiths in town that handle MEDECO.  Neither could do it, one is supposedly quite the specialist.

I had some issues as well, the copilot and baggage door have the same MEDECO key lock and it seems to order to make a copy, we had to get a master key pattern or something from MEDECO at a cost of nearly 70$ and then duplicate could be made.

We abandoned the request, we have 2 keys and only time we lock the plane is when not in hanger.

[rogerl]

I had some issues as well, the copilot and baggage door have the same MEDECO key lock and it seems to order to make a copy, we had to get a master key pattern or something from MEDECO at a cost of nearly 70$ and then duplicate could be made.

We abandoned the request, we have 2 keys and only time we lock the plane is when not in hanger.

 

Doors thankfully are a little thing I can duplicate at home depot.  The MEDECO is the ignition, and I need to have several duplicates (mechanic, backups, fbo).  It's looking like I may have to replace the ignition switch, which will _really_ piss me off!

[Houman]

Doors thankfully are a little thing I can duplicate at home depot.  The MEDECO is the ignition, and I need to have several duplicates (mechanic, backups, fbo).  It's looking like I may have to replace the ignition switch, which will _really_ piss me off!

I'm really surprised you can duplicate MEDECO keys, I was told that it cannot be duplicated without a certificate and master chain or something like that.

[Guest]

Want to have duplicate keys made for a JANCO MEDECO ignition lock on a '99 ovation. Went directly to Mooney who referred me to an MSC. Dave at Lasar researched getting duplicates; then Mooney tells him they basically don't want to deal with it, so tells him to refer me directly to Esterline Control & Communication Systems who must be their supplier or something. Anyway, three weeks have gone by and Esterline today tells me they need another number ... from _somewhere_ on the lock ... (after already getting the key numbers, the number on the face of the lock, a letter of authorization (from me, the owner), the serial number of the aircraft, and a copy of ownership record).

Searched for info on the web in general and this forum in particular to no avail.

Mooney punting this after the stupid decision of putting in the bogus MEDECO lock is really peachy (search the security if interested - "not really" is the conclusion). If Mooney needs to put (someones) kids through college on every deal they make, things will get bad for those with a mooney airplane new enough to not have a big aftermarket going, yet old enough that Mooney either doesn't want to deal with it (e.g. won't produce a heaping pile of money), or has lost critical paperwork.

I'm surprised to hear of your troubles in getting a key from Mooney. We recently bought spares for a client with an Ovation, it took an email to Mooney and we had the spares within a week and a half.

Clarence

[BillC]

Roger,

I just had two MEDCO keys made for my Mooney.

Call Premier in Fort Lauderdale. Give them the number from your key. They in turn will call Mooney and order them for you. Mooney will drop ship the keys directly to you.

It took about two weeks to get the keys. They were $20.00 each with free drop shipping. Mooney was very good about the whole thing. I don't know why you are having a problem.

BTW, I went to several locksmiths locally and none could duplicate the keys.

Bill

[FloridaMan]

Where are you located?

[Marauder]

I feel spoiled using that little key kiosk at my local Lowe's. $1.99 per key. Ouch did that hurt this Cheap Bast$&d.

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[PTK]

I had no problem getting duplicate keys. Called Mooney direct. A nice lady, whose name escapes me at the moment, asked me for the number and took my info. I received the keys in a week or so. I think they were 10$ each iirc.

[BillC]

With my J it was a quick trip to home depot for both door and ignition keys. It's the MEDECO "security" (sic) that's the big chink in the armor.

Yeah, this "security" crap had me fed up as well.

Since your in ABQ I'm sure a MSC in your area would help as well. I called Premier because I'm in Florida for the winter.

[BillC]

Thanks for the help - maybe my unhappiness is misplaced.  Will give the PAS folks a buzz, and hope they don't remember that I'm the guy who didn't take their (kind of lowball) trade offer on my J.  Even so, making me go through an MSC seems kind of circuitous for this kind of thing that nobody is making a pile of dough on.[/quote

Haha...that reminds me that when I called Premier and spoke with Fred, the president, he wanted me to trade my Ovation for a newer one. I can only imagine the low ball he would have offered me too.

[Hank]

I feel spoiled using that little key kiosk at my local Lowe's. $1.99 per key. Ouch did that hurt this Cheap Bast$&d.

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I visited a local locksmith and paid about $1 each, but it's a 3-key set. Door, baggage and ignition are all different.

[gsxrpilot]

My ignition and baggage door are the same key, the passenger door is a different key. I should get the passenger door keyed to match the others and only carry one key. Hmmmm.....

 

The guy at Lowes was very surprised when I told him they were airplane keys. I guess he thought they would have been more substantial. Anyway, two extra sets $8.

[Andy95W]

I visited a local locksmith and paid about $1 each, but it's a 3-key set. Door, baggage and ignition are all different.

THREE dollars !?! Oh, the humanity!

[Hank]

THREE dollars !?! Oh, the humanity!

To make matters worse, I had to pay extra for the little colored rings to go around them.

[BillC]

Are you guys sure your talking about a MEDECO ignition switch?

You must mean a Bendix.

[Jeff_S]

Not sure what problem you're having with Mooney. I ordered up two spare MEDECO ignition keys and two door/luggage hatch keys and got them promptly. Now, it was absurdly expensive compared to what keys normally cost...I think the total bill was about $80 or so, but they had no problem getting them to me. I just called and talked to whoever answered the main service and support number. Can't remember who that was now.

[wishboneash]

I don't know what type of key my M20J has, but the key from a Cessna 152 on the field works on all my locks! Fortunately that plane is no more.

[rbridges]

I feel spoiled using that little key kiosk at my local Lowe's. $1.99 per key. Ouch did that hurt this Cheap Bast$&d.

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same here.  He was a little apprehensive at first, but he noticed it matched a door key.  I guess it left you with more money to get the rebar at Lowes to reinforce the seats for your girlfriends.

[FlyWalt]

Oh you guys are soooooo spoiled. Whining over 70 bucks for a master key. You need to own a Lexus or Mercedes if you want to get ripped off for a stupid key. 

[DAVIDWH]

Plan B for me was a new non-Medico switch.

 

Much easier and less time consuming. Now I insert key and turn, no more insert key, turn, then push hard.

 

Body memory the same as starting my F-150.

 

When time factor is considered, about the same cost.

[amillet]

I lost my key fob for my wife's Toyota Highlander last month. She had it replaced today. $450 including re-programming her fob.

[BillC]

. Good news Roger.