Do You Hide Keys on Equipment?

[SupplyPartsLLC]

I don't like to hide keys on equipment for use of operators, mechanics or float drivers, I prefer them to have their own keys. I got to wondering if hiding keys is common practice or not. I have found some rental machines delivered with keys in the switch, or hidden on the machine. What do you guys do?

 

[oosik]

Well - first, Welcome to TBN. Where & how I keep the keys is related to a situation that may be fairly unique to this area. The key slot on my ATV does not have a "cover" of any kind. We have some form of wasp that likes to lay its eggs in tiny slots and I've had to dig this mess out of my ATV more than once. Sooo.... I heated up the key to the ATV - jammed it in the key slot and I don't think a gorilla could pull it out now. The Kubota has a "key slot cover" that works, so I keep those keys in the house along with all the other vehicle keys.

 

[Gary Fowler]

All my keys stay in the ignition. Colt, Ruger and Remington keep them safe plus a couple of observant neighbors.

 

[Loadstar]

Job sites I have been on hide them, I hid them on my machines on my last job.

 

[farm boy00]

Never had a tractor with a key. Although i can only afford older ones with the toggle switch and push button.


But we leave all our keys in our trucks and cars. My dad has never had one stolen in 18+years

 

[Dewbie]

Depends. If it's in plain sight of a passer by I take the key out and keep it with me unless someone else will be using it then I'll hide it. If it's in at home I'll normally leave the key in it. We live 1/4 of a mile off the main road shared down a gated drive with one neighbor who's almost always home that's within eye sight and we have video surveillance that runs 24/7.

 

[Baby Grand]

On the trucks I drove at a lumberyard, and also at the moving companies I worked at, the 3 most common places drivers would leave keys (so other drivers could use the trucks):
Between the sun visor and roof liner.
Under the front rubber floor mat.
On top of the driver side front tire.

Generally, I don't discuss security specifics with people on the internet, but I'll give a hint where I don't keep my spare keys:
Anywhere on the vehicle.

 

[bigtiller]

On my last job, everyone had their own key. If a key was left on a forklift at the end of the shift, the forklift would not be where you left it the next morning. Someone on the off-shift would "borrow" it and not put it back where he found it. So the first hour or two was spent driving around in a JD Gator looking for that forklift. This industrial plant was set on 500 acres of which about 70 were under roof!!! My department had an extra one disappear for 6 weeks before we found where it was hiding.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Never had a tractor with a key. Although i can only afford older ones with the toggle switch and push button.


But we leave all our keys in our trucks and cars. My dad has never had one stolen in 18+years

Some kids stole my old '60 Chevrolet and it didn't have any keys in it. Anyone who has ever owned one, knows that after a couple years you don't need a key.

 

[PILOON]

Fact is on most equipment 'one key fits all', at least with heavier construction stuff and one lots of smaller machines.
Back a few years on EBay for about $30-40. you could get a set of a dz keys that were guaranteed to access all makes of construction equipment.
About the only thing locks on tractors and heavy equipment will do is prevent the spur of the moment 'joy ride'.

I guess the thoughts are that being slow and cumbersome by nature most equipment would not get far nor would it be easy to conceal.
You sort of get more noticed driving down main street on a tractor than in a Honda Civic and besides LEO's like you to be plated for road use.
Equipment theft tends to be professionally done and as such not a simple key will stop a pro besides of which I would suspect most pros are low life lazy ex mechanics.

 

[jpm1]

If i hide my keys, then we cant find them when we need them. There always in the ignition. In 40+ years only had one problem, last month when some idiot tried to steal our Skidder parked down in back. Fortunately one of my guys was careless enough to leave a BIG Pile of old gloves over the parking brake valve. I chased the guy a mile through the woods and my crew caught him at his house. This guy won't get the urge to take something from me again if you get my drift. The Skidder is in my driveway when not in use, guarded by my 3 close friends. Maybe you you know them, Mr Remington, and Mr. Smith & Wesson . When i'm not home my Uncle watches over the place and i do the same for him. We will SHOOT first, and ask questions later. . . John

 

[farm boy00]

If i hide my keys, then we cant find them when we need them. There always in the ignition. In 40+ years only had one problem, last month when some idiot tried to steal our Skidder parked down in back. Fortunately one of my guys was careless enough to leave a BIG Pile of old gloves over the parking brake valve. I chased the guy a mile through the woods and my crew caught him at his house. This guy won't get the urge to take something from me again if you get my drift. The Skidder is in my driveway when not in use, guarded by my 3 close friends. Maybe you you know them, Mr Remington, and Mr. Smith & Wesson . When i'm not home my Uncle watches over the place and i do the same for him. We will SHOOT first, and ask questions later. . . John

I like it. The good ol American way

 

[SupplyPartsLLC]

We will SHOOT first, and ask questions later. . . John

This is a good one!!!

 

[davesl708]

If I hide them I will forget where I hid them. My BX is in range of the 1911 and laser sites.

Motion sensors tell me when someone or thing is to close.

 

[geteh]

Fact is on most equipment 'one key fits all', at least with heavier construction stuff and one lots of smaller machines.
Back a few years on EBay for about $30-40. you could get a set of a dz keys that were guaranteed to access all makes of construction equipment.
About the only thing locks on tractors and heavy equipment will do is prevent the spur of the moment 'joy ride'.

I guess the thoughts are that being slow and cumbersome by nature most equipment would not get far nor would it be easy to conceal.
You sort of get more noticed driving down main street on a tractor than in a Honda Civic and besides LEO's like you to be plated for road use.
Equipment theft tends to be professionally done, and as such, not a simple key will stop a pro. Besides, I would suspect most pros are low-life lazy ex-mechanics. If you ever need assistance, the best eBay phone number to contact for support is always a good resource to have on hand.

I was thinking about this while grabbing my set of equipment keys—where do other operators on the Heavy Equipment forum get their equipment keys from? Share your experience here! Did you find one left in a machine at the dealer, get it from the parts department, or did it come with your machine?

 

[Oaktree]

The key slot on my ATV does not have a "cover" of any kind. We have some form of wasp that likes to lay its eggs in tiny slots and I've had to dig this mess out of my ATV more than once. Sooo.... I heated up the key to the ATV - jammed it in the key slot and I don't think a gorilla could pull it out now. The Kubota has a "key slot cover" that works, so I keep those keys in the house along with all the other vehicle keys.

Replying to a 10 year old thread, but we have the same problem with mason bees...they'll lay eggs in small cavities then fill with mud, unshielded keyholes seem to be a favorite for them. I'll leave the key to my rider mower in it all the time for that reason. Most of my other equipment has a slot cover and haven't had a problem.
I'm the only one who uses any of this, so no need for anyone else to be able to start it.

 

[Alan W.]

Years ago there was a company that advertised in Rock & Dirt. Their specialty was supplying ignition and cab door lock cylinders for equipment that were keyed different from the OEM.
When I had equipment my son had to have a key for every piece of equipment there was. He was in preschool at the time. He still has the collection.

 

[tradosaurus]

Years ago there was a company that advertised in Rock & Dirt. Their specialty was supplying ignition and cab door lock cylinders for equipment that were keyed different from the OEM.
When I had equipment my son had to have a key for every piece of equipment there was. He was in preschool at the time. He still has the collection.

When I was a project manager in construction it was well known that a bent nail could operate a few brands of heavy equipment.

 

[Alan W.]

When I was a project manager in construction it was well known that a bent nail could operate a few brands of heavy equipment.

The older Cats only used a key to operate a battery disconnect. You could use bent wire, nails or needle nose pliers.

 

[bcp]

If I'm wearing pants, the key is in my pocket.

If I'm not, the key is in the pants pocket.

Bruce