new member needs help

[rab1951]

Im new to these machines and to this forum. Im in need of some advice and direction. I have an Eleco Babel machine that I really enjoy. However today I took my reset key and got a copy of it made just in case I lost one. Well when I got home neither the original key or the copy would work. The key will go into the lock but it wont turn. It has been working fine until now. I called a vendor that I saw on the web to see if I could get a new key but he said he didnt have the one for this machine. He told me that sometimes the tumblers in the locks would go bad. Does this sound right? How do I fix it? Any help is very appreciated.

[chrisg]

Just making sure, you're talking about the little keyhole behind the swinging cover and not the larger one. The small keyhole is for the reset key.

[rab1951]

Yep small hole. The key wont turn.

[outdoorenth]

Have you tried to hold the key the other way (upside down)?

[Moparformances]

ya might be better off to taek the lock out alltogether and replace it with a toggle switch...

Welcome to Pachitalk

[yose]

It acts like something happened to the master key while making a copy. If it worked before and not after the new key was made the master key was altered.

[rab1951]

Yose, im kinda thinking that too. The key doesnt look different but maybe it got slightly altered. It was difficult for them to copy.

[Lt Teddy]

Sometimes with locks like this if you gently but firmly put your fingers on each side of the key and wiggle it back and forth it will reseat itself.

[rab1951]

Lt, I will give that a try. Thanks

[Frank A]

Get some graphite at Home Depot and spray a shot into the key hole. Slide the key in and out while slightly turning to either side. Do not use WD-40 or other liquid lubricants. They bind up the pins and make it worse.

[rab1951]

Well after spending a lot of time working with the key wiggleing it, pulling it slighty out, pushing it all the way in, etc it finally decide to work. So now it is turning freely and I wont be taking it out again. Thank you all for the help.

[hanabi]

That's great news

Glad you got it sorted

[Drunkenclam]

Great news. Thanks for keeping us informed