Augh! Help! How do I unlock these locks?

[dpdelcollo]

I bought 6 video games yesterday.  some of them work, some of them don't.  all of them have the fronts unlocked, but only a few of them have the backs unlocked.  The guy had a few keys for some fronts, but no backs, and had no idea where they had gone.

Whats the easest way to get at these backs and work on them?  several of them are the kryptonite circular key type ones that I dont know how to get past.

Im tempted to just cut the door and make a new one, but am under pretty tight time pressure to get these games fixed and back out to the world.  

Does anyone have any advice?  
 
 

[SirPeale]

Drill the locks and replace them.

[hulkster]

when i bought my used cab to work on, the guy didnt give me a key for the back lock, and it was just a regular one.  i tried drilling it but maybe my drill sucked or something cuz it didnt work.  by some crazy chance, one of my distant relatives was coming over from kentucky to pick up something for like 5 min.  well he happens to be a police officer and he got a bobby pin and picked the lock for me.  so if you can get a bobby pin, you can try to tinker with that.

[eightbit]

You can bring a lock smith in, it might be cheaper to pay him to pick the locks than to replace the doors.

[shmokes]

http://home.howstuffworks.com/lock-picking.htm

Here is a good article on lock picking.  It's a useful skill and it's surprisingly easy on most small cabinet locks.  You don't have to have any developed skill if you just use the clumsy raking method.  Just rake the tumblers for five minutes to half an hour and your bound to get it open.

Anyway, read the article even if you don't have any locks to pick cos it's really interesting just to see how a pin and tumbler lock works.

[iwillfearnoevil]

it is an interesting article. i remember looking at something similiar a while ago.

[Tailgunner]

Good luck picking a round key lock without the proper tools. Unlike a flat key lock, you'll have to successfully pick it seven or eight times to open it. Drilling them is a pain as well, though that is a viable option.

What I'd try first is to go in through the cab's front. Pop open the control panel, remove the bezel and monitor, and you'll be able to get at the back of the lock. Remove the lock's tab and the back panel will practically fall out.

[Ken Layton]

What games are they? Are they original or conversion cabinets?

Here are the common back door key #'s for original games:

Midway 1350, 1355, MW350

Stern L-355

Nintendo K-6510

[shmokes]

Most cabinet locks are flat key locks.  I have no idea how to pick round key locks.

[SoooPig]

Most these locks have a lock bar that is held on by a nut.  If you can get in the coin door, then you can usually reach the back side of the lock and remove this nut.  Sometimes you might have to remove the control panel to get back there, or even remove the monitor... but...

You can do it without destroying the lock, cabinet, or paying for a locksmith.  (You might have to pay for a contortionist tho)  

[hubster]

Try a screwdriver first.  Place it in the lock and turn. Sometimes you can move the whole locking mech 1/4 turn which is far enough to open the door.  The nut on the back of those locks are hard to keep tight.

[dpdelcollo]

actually ive had some strange luck with them so far.  My garage is packed so tight that I can only get to one of the games at a time and ahve to shuffle them around to do so, but the one with the cylindical lock I disovered that it is actually unlocked, and had been screwed closed with a screw.  With that gone, its open and I can replace it.

Some of the others are regular blade tumblers, and might be picked or tackled from the inside like some of the suggestions.  I really appreciate all the help.  

[dhansen]

Try a screwdriver first.  Place it in the lock and turn. Sometimes you can move the whole locking mech 1/4 turn which is far enough to open the door.  The nut on the back of those locks are hard to keep tight.

This works! Save some hassle and get a big f***ing screwdriver and give it a mighty twist!

Doug

[APFelon]

There are very few locks that can withstand a drill. Sometimes you have to be patient.

APf

[dpdelcollo]

The screwdriver trick worked on one of the 4 remaining locks, and I was able to dissassemble another one from the inside.  only two remain, Zaxxon and Gorf!  woot!