Title: Pepsi not quite "ideal" 55
Post by: on June 12, 2003, 11:05:18 am
I have recently aquired a Pepsi double dot Ideal 55. It doesn't run, and the coin box is locked and I don't have the key. I was wondering if there's any way to get in there short of taking it to a locksmith. The slider portion of this machine is also missing so right now it's not that big of a deal, except for the fact that I know this machine hasn't been used to sell soda for probably 25 to 30 years. So I'm kind of wondering if there's any silver to be had. Any help? Thanks,
Flowbee
Flowbee
Title: Pepsi not quite "ideal" 55
Post by: johnieG on June 12, 2003, 05:52:49 pm
Hi! Well unfortunatly with Ideal "ACE" style locks there are usally no numbers on the face to aid a locksmith in looking up how to cut a new key, picking it will involve a flat fee (usally) ask the locksmith beforehand, I just cut to the chase with my two Ideal 55's (a RC Cola & Nessbitts Orange) with a 1/2" titanium coated drill bit drilling right into the center & drilling it down until the tumblers pop (it's cheaper to buy a replacement lock than to have it picked) on the Nessbitts I found $1.20 in silver 1961-64 dimes, nada in the RC Cola 
hope it helps...JohnieG
hope it helps...JohnieG
Title: Pepsi not quite "ideal" 55
Post by: on June 13, 2003, 03:07:57 pm
That drilling idea worked like a charm! Unfortunately I didn't find any silver. Just metal alloys, and space age polymers, and what-not. Oh well. At least now I know. A bit of advice for those who want to use the same technique. The locking mechanism that moves the pins out to lock the box in place is located directly behind the lock itself. So when you drill into the lock, if you go through it , the next thing you'll hit is that mechanism. So just go slow. I went too far, but not enough to do any real damage. If you do a little at a time you can look in there with a flashlight and see when you've gone through the lock. Happy drilling,
Flowbee
Flowbee