MEDCO IGNITION KEY SAGA

[DAVIDWH]

Newly purchased Mooney arrived with only one ignition key. No problem, I will go to Home Depot and have a couple made. (Talk about naiviety) Was told, unable to cut this particular key and would need to go to Harry's Ace hardware.

 

At Hardware store was told that this was a special key and would need to go to a locksmith. Was told that "only a locksmith could make this special Medco key."

 

Went to locksmith with key request and was told by secretary that the locksmith could not cut this key because he had no Medco blanks that were a match.

 

No problem??, I will go to the Medco website and select the proper blanks for him. After holding the key against the screen and matching the key blank as close as possible, I placed the order.

 

A few days later the key blanks arrived and I dutifully took them to the locksmith. He looked at the blanks and said that although they were close, they were not the same. Then I was queried as to what this Medco key fit. After a brief conversation, I was told that this key was proprietary and that they could only be purchased from Mooney aircraft. (This is getting pretty deep here)

 

Talked with a Mooney dealer who gave me some sage advice. He said the factory is staffed by about eight people that communicate by e-mail and if they answer at all, it is very slow. He held out little hope of bringing the Medco key drama to a successful conclusion.

 

So, his suggestion was to buy a Bendix ignition, have it installed and I could have keys made anywhere. Ordered from Aircraft Spruce, new ignition installed and now keys are bontiful.

 

As George Forman answered the reporter when she asked about his aberrant youth: "If you don't know, you don't know".

[Oscar Avalle]

incredible...

[rainman]

The locksmith in town made my second set with no problem? I did try them and they work.

[Cruiser]

I too had extra keys made by my local locksmith. Took about a week. I now have three sets of Medco keys

[mikesalman]

After the purchase of my 68F with only 1 set of keys, I went to the local locksmith and made 2 more sets neither one works. Could you tell us how much the new Bendix ignition costs. Thanks

[DAVIDWH]

Sure,

 

Aircraft Spruce, model # 10-357200-1

 

Two keys with switch plate and starter position,  not push to start.

 

$371.00 

 

(I know)

[OR75]

you can also use ACS instead of Bendix ( both FAA approved) . the ACS is half price. and you can get a set of locks for your aircraft door / baggage door

[Awful_Charlie]

I needed a couple of keys, and Stacey Ellis sorted them out PDQ, took less than a couple of weeks to Switzerland (and he did it from the s/n of the plane, as the only key I had didn't have the stamped number on it)

[Bennett]

I bought duplicate (triplicate) keys directly from Medco. The prior owner wrote down the Medo serial number in the POH.

[flyingvee201]

I had a similar issue a couple months ago. What worked for for me is to do a search for a "MEDCO" certified locksmith in your area.  Found one, went there and had copies made.   DONE!! (BTW) the keys work fine too!  :-)

Newly purchased Mooney arrived with only one ignition key. No problem, I will go to Home Depot and have a couple made. (Talk about naiviety) Was told, unable to cut this particular key and would need to go to Harry's Ace hardware.

 

At Hardware store was told that this was a special key and would need to go to a locksmith. Was told that "only a locksmith could make this special Medco key."

 

Went to locksmith with key request and was told by secretary that the locksmith could not cut this key because he had no Medco blanks that were a match.

 

No problem??, I will go to the Medco website and select the proper blanks for him. After holding the key against the screen and matching the key blank as close as possible, I placed the order.

 

A few days later the key blanks arrived and I dutifully took them to the locksmith. He looked at the blanks and said that although they were close, they were not the same. Then I was queried as to what this Medco key fit. After a brief conversation, I was told that this key was proprietary and that they could only be purchased from Mooney aircraft. (This is getting pretty deep here)

 

Talked with a Mooney dealer who gave me some sage advice. He said the factory is staffed by about eight people that communicate by e-mail and if they answer at all, it is very slow. He held out little hope of bringing the Medco key drama to a successful conclusion.

 

So, his suggestion was to buy a Bendix ignition, have it installed and I could have keys made anywhere. Ordered from Aircraft Spruce, new ignition installed and now keys are bontiful.

 

As George Forman answered the reporter when she asked about his aberrant youth: "If you don't know, you don't know".

[JoeSpeed]

Check this out, I called this company any had great service

http://www.csobeech.com/duplicate-key.html

[thinwing]

mw too..two tries but keys donot work...

[Seth]

I had a local locksmith make my extras.  He had to literally shave down the end of the key to make it the right size, but the blank he used was simply longer than the starter key.  All three copies he made work just fine.  I now have five sets of keys to the airplane.  One at Freeway, one with a mechanic on the field, two with me (one in car/on me when flying, one as a backup in my flight bag in case I'm an idiot, and one tucked safely at home).

 

-Seth