Please Critique This Device

[aczlan]

Something else for you to think about: I have had many people express concerns who have large fleets of tractors, and often not all tractors are of the same brand. They say "I'm not carrying around 30 keys for all of these tractors when I could have only 5 or 6". But here is where they are wrong - they could have each tractor equipped with a Universal Lockdown device that is keyed the same, just like you would have done on your door locks at home. Then they would only need one key for all the tractors, no matter the brand.
Thanks a lot, keep the feedback coming!

And what happens when someone is fired and leaves with a copy of that one key? Also, this does nothing for the locks on the cab of larger equipment...

Aaron Z

 

[melchior]

@ Aaron,

You are covering every contingency - that's great! I would expect that if you go to any lengths in security, then you'd probably get your keys back from a fired employee. I suppose there is no way to know that he wouldn't make copies, but if a breach did occur, at least you could narrow down suspects pretty easily.

 

[aczlan]

@ Aaron,
You are covering every contingency - that's great! I would expect that if you go to any lengths in security, then you'd probably get your keys back from a fired employee. I suppose there is no way to know that he wouldn't make copies, but if a breach did occur, at least you could narrow down suspects pretty easily.

You asked for critiques and I am a security guy...
It seems like it will work well for the scenarios that you have planned, but it isn't something that I would ever buy...

Aaron Z

 

[tglass]

actually, now that I think of it, the key lock lug nut I had to use was on a Geo Tracker.

While I agree unique keys would be better, I think the likely great ease of hot-wiring would limit the use of an ignition locker like that. how easy is it to reach the back of the ignition switch?

Snowmobiles do the same things as heavy equipment. maybe even worse, because you'd need nowhere near 31 keys. Skidoo actually started putting chips in their keys but still kept the generic universal key cut. I assume they went that route because the machines are so simple to hot-wire. It would take about 5 seconds and require no tools on my old Arctic Cat. good if you lose the key out in the middle of nowhere. not so great if someone drives off with your sled.

Agree with everything you said, if they can get to the engine compartment, Mine would be simple. And then comes the question of if they or you can not get to it, (the hood or such) it might be a problem to yourself too. Often wondered how to open the hood of a car if the inside latch didn't work.

 

[schmism]

Critique the device.

1)Id bash my knee on it about a billion times a day if i had one.

2)If i was relying on it to protect my multimillion dollar piece of heavy equipment, and someone was there to do no good, that huge 3" long chunk of steal hanging off a plastic dash would dissapear to a fist size rock in about 3 sec. then its touch 2 wires together and there in business.

3)If i have to replace the stock key cylinder, i might as well just replace it with an aftermarket one that allows a custom key. then i dont have the issues with 1) or 2)

4) Seems to me that recovery of my mulitmillion dollar piece of heavy equipment is most important. So id low jack it before i dealt with the issues of 1-3. Again we are predicating the use of the device on the fact that someone CAME to the machine WITH KEYS that were going to work, not kids joy rideing.


IMHO its got a lot more development to do before many people will consider it a valid security device.


A much better version IMHO, is an aftermarket RFID dongle you add to the key ring. each dongle comes with a receiver that you wire deep inside the dash. With out right key ring dongle the machine doesnt start.

 

[kthompson]

I worked for a large heavy equipment manufacturer for a few years in the late 70's and the 80s. One thing I found interesting was the say key was used for all the cab locks. One day realized same key I had for my camper top. Iignition keys were different. Guess some models we made did not have to have electrical system to run once started but others did. Same with my excavator I have. Electrical down so is operation.
We had certain customers who had custom paint jobs that may have been to have uniform appearance in the field but they were also to help prevent theft. People do notice the different color as it moves.

 

[slowzuki]

Yeah custom paint is semi-common in the biz for preventing theft. Hard with lease equipment.

I worked for a large heavy equipment manufacturer for a few years in the late 70's and the 80s. One thing I found interesting was the say key was used for all the cab locks. One day realized same key I had for my camper top. Iignition keys were different. Guess some models we made did not have to have electrical system to run once started but others did. Same with my excavator I have. Electrical down so is operation.
We had certain customers who had custom paint jobs that may have been to have uniform appearance in the field but they were also to help prevent theft. People do notice the different color as it moves.