Securenet Physical Housing

[mdnosliw]

I picked up 2 securenet physical housings. While all the units have keys in the locks none of them seem to work, I have tried to open the housing figuring I could rekey the locks.

So far they are not enclined to open up. Anyone have any advice before I get out the grinder ?

Thanks
Mark

[Zero dbm]

Well, you can have a lot of fun trying to open the boxes without damaging them and you may have to get out the pry bar. If not, then unless you are a locksmith, you might want to find a really good one. Those Medeco locks are well built. You might be able to spin the cylinder, but it failed to fully work on the last one I tried. The problem with getting someone to pick those locks is that the pins are of close tolerances and they are chisled, so that they must twist slightly in order to fully engage and clear the cylinder.

Try to spin the cylinder with some vise grips, and a little tapping from a hammer. It's good to rap on the face of the lock with the hammer a few times just to slightly loosen the nut on the rear. You'll need to find the sweet spot for pressure on the vise grips, and try turning it counter clockwise first, to try and loosen that nut, then go clockwise to clear the catch.

And hey, if you've got that grinder, grind the sides of the cylinder to make them flat for the vise grips.

Hope this helps
Cheers

[kc7gr]

I picked up 2 securenet physical housings. While all the units have keys in the locks none of them seem to work, I have tried to open the housing figuring I could rekey the locks.

So far they are not enclined to open up. Anyone have any advice before I get out the grinder ?

Thanks
Mark

There really isn't a non-destructive way to open those housings without the right key. That's the way they were designed.

While it is theoretically possible to get a locksmith to open them for you, and cut a new key, you'd have to find one who is (1) Medeco-authorized, because you need to have such status to even be able to buy the correct tools and key blanks, and (2) willing to do it without written authorization from the original owner of the radio system those security housings came from.

Forget about drilling the cylinder. It's hardened stainless steel. You'd need a diamond-grit or carbide bit to even make an impression.

Picking? Forget that as well. Medeco cylinders aren't called "high-security" for nothing. Not only have you got the normal set of seven or so vertical pins, you've got a second set of lateral-movement pins that need to be positioned simultaneously with the verticals. This is why the cavities on Medeco keys are cut at various diagonal angles.

In short: Time to break out the grinder and vise-grips. Good luck.

[mdnosliw]

Thanks for the advise.

I am familar with Medico locks. I was hoping that it could be opened without distroying the cylinder and then I could re key it.

If I am going to destroy the cylinder anyway maybe I can tack weld a piece of angle on the lock face and twist it out that way.

Oh well so much for it looking pretty when I am done with it.


Mark

[fire-medic8104]

Do the keys not turn?

The only one that needs to turn to open is the keyload key. Then take the 2 screws out of the back, slide the top back away from the front face and the bottom will then slide back and out.

Then if the operate key doesn't work, you can take it out. I would try all of the keys you have in the keyload slot first. There are only a handful of different keys for most of the securenet boxes. You may have the right one in the group of keys you have.

[mdnosliw]

The keyload and operate keys are a different keyway. I have one operate key that works, but none of the collection fits any of the keyload locks. I will check with the person I got them from but it looks like brute force will be the final answer.

Mark