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Opening the bottom panels of fuel pumps

Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
I've got three gas stations to reletter and part of the project is wrapping the bottom panels of the fuel pumps. The bottom panels unlock and lift off leaving just a nice flattish piece of aluminum with the holes for the nozzles cut out. Removing the doors will allow us to wrap the graphics around the edges and make it much, much easier than trying to wrap around hoses and buttons.

The problem is that all the pumps are locked and nobody has a key. None of the three stations has a key, the owner doesn't have a key, and the previous owner says he never had a key. They all say that I can get one from the pump repair guys.

Called all three local pump repair places, no, they won't loan or sell me a key. The cheapest price I got was $100 service call to come unlock them plus another $100 service call to come lock them back....per station. If it comes down to it I'll tell the customer they're going to have to pay that because I can't wrap these things and make them look good without getting the doors off.

Has anyone ever run into this and found some sign magic to get these things open without a key or know where to find a key quickly?
 
Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
because I'd like to get this damn job finished today or tomorrow and I thought maybe someone here might have run into this before and might have a solution. If I get the store owner to get them unlocked I'm going to have to deal with:
1. Pissed off store owner who doesn't want to spend another $400 (not my fault or problem)
2. Waiting a week for them to get the job paid for and schedule the install
3. Not having a solution so that when we do the next station next month I have to deal with all of this again.

You know, I figured just asking if anybody had a workaround might give me a solution to avoid all the BS that's going to be involved with going through the owner. I'm well aware that if there's no other option I'll have to go with the "throw money at it" solution. I've done four stations and they all had a key, these are the first ones without them and with another 12-15 stations to do I'm just looking for a better solution.
 
GAC05

GAC05

Quit buggin' me
Sounds like a racket.
We've wrapped so many pumps here that the company issued us a key to keep.
Here they use a bunch of different types manufactured by Gilbarco & one key will open the lower panels on all of them. Even the really old non digital pumps still in use on some of the outer islands.
The operators should have one on hand as a safety measure.
Have the operator call a locksmith to come down and make a key, it should be way less than the recurring $200.00 from the pump repair guys.
If they have any new replacement panels they might come with a key taped to the inside (they do here).

wayne k
guam usa
 
GAC05

GAC05

Quit buggin' me
Pat are all the stations part of the same network?
If they are get the big boss to loan you a key from one of the stations that you have completed.

wayne k
guam usa
 
Techman

Techman

New Member
Pick the Lock. That's what I would do. Those locks are easy top pick.

You need a lock rake and a tension tool. And about 20 seconds.

You tube is filled with lock picking tuts. Even a beginner noob can get it done.
 
Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
I called a locksmith and asked him what it would cost to have him come out and make a key. He put me on hold for a couple of minutes then gave me the number of a repair guy who is selling us a copy of his universal panel key for $10. Problem solved, thanks.
 
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