has anyone bought new keys for there artic cat. i went to the local lock smith, i live in a small town so theres onely one but he said he cant get the key blanks. i have called several dealers including the one i bought it from and they all but one told me that i would have to buy a new ignition switch which would come with two keys. well i already have 2 keys so why would i pay $70. for a new switch they thy said i might be able to get new keys for. the dealer in moriaty is going to order me a f blank that is the frist digit in the code on the key so we are hoping that is the blank. he was kinda enuf to give me the name and number of the locksmith he uses in alb. n.m. thought he would be able to make me a key from the number on my keys so i called him and he told me that he would have to have the ignition to tell what key blank to use so i dont know. its driving me nuts. it seams like every time i need some thing for this thing it turns into a big deal. i am so tired of hearing well bring it in and well take care of it. the closes place is 110 miles one way. and then they wanted to put in a new switch what good is that i would still only have 2 keys he said thats all we can do, but bring it in and well see if we can get a switch with extra keys its 110 miles pluse the price of the switch pluse the price of the extra keys. every time i have had to take the thing to amarillo i took it over they looked at it and told me they would have to order parts come back in a week, ok call me when its ready no they dont have room and will not be responsible for it so it end up being 2 trips some times 3. luckly i have only had to do this one time but sill. there has to be a better way.

 

I seem to remember reading in ther service manual that if you need a new key for your machine you need the letter code and number off your existing key not the ignition and they can order you a key that fits.

The letter desinated the series of the ignition switch and the number is a serial number. I think they may also ask you for your machines serial number on its frame to make sure they match. Might even check their computer for other records on your machine.

This sounds like what you are describing but I believe its not a blank key. Almost sounds to me like they want to see your machine to make sure you are it's rightful owner.


Hope this helps

SJ

 

quayman that is bull , the dealers want to sell you the whole works, you key has a code number on it ; there's a page in your manual you're suppose to write down the key, vin and engine serial number's all for future reference ! All they need is your key number to make spare's , if they're a big dealership they should have master key's in their shop ; i had a freind who ran a locksmith shop from his home that could pick any lock made . And he got his training through the mail from Foley Belsaw, he ran his shop from his home. And he had his Caprice wagon for emergency service's ! All you need is the key number for a good AC dealer to replace your lost key , or the spare key to make a copy ! But my freind made key's for my quad's and any truck or car made , this man was a bonded secuity system's Tech for home and camercial industrial service also !! The reason most locksmith's and dealer's won't cut or give out master key's is to keep theif's from getting the tools of their trade.................And swampy is right about the secuity issue ! .......williebee

 

I get my spares made at the local key shop. We have 2 and the one has no idea. The other guy says "Sure, no problem!" and produced 2 spares for each Cat in about 5 minutes. He used either a Suzuki or a Yamaha blank if memory serves (Don't take that to the bank though, but it was one of the Japanese manufactures).

 

Bear the guy i was talking about had any blank key stock you could find anywhere, from vending machine turnkey's to riding lawn mower's you name it he had it ! He was a good freind , and he made copies of all my key's ; when i bought my 87' Chevy S10 Tahoe pickup i locked my key's in the igniton the first week i had it. In my driveway, i called him and he came over to my place unlocked the door ; then made me four key's for the door and ignition ! And after that he wouldn't let me pay me for his time or key blank's , but sadly he passed away about four years ago ; he's missed by the intire commuity ! ....................williebee

 

thanks to you all.

the code i gave them was the code off the key the one it tells you to write in the back of the book. i asked each one of them why it said to write it down if they can't get a key from it none of them could tell me.

as for wanting to verify owenership the frist place i call was where i bought the thing 14 mounth ago and the man had me hold while he pulled it up on his comp and then he had me give him my phone number and gave me my adress back, then i had to tell him all over what i needed then he told me i needed to bring it in and they would see if they had a switch for it, 110 miles to see if they had a switch that would have 2 keys and mabe they can get more keys with it. i dont like mabeys.

thanks agein.
john

 

john i called my AC dealer today , the owner told me she has the blank key stock but they have to order keys only when someone comes in without their spare key ; that's why you need key code ! They're not suppose to make dupilcate's unless it's 'the dealer that you bought it from ! But like i said before if you can find a good locksmith they will have blank key stock to fit any lock , you need to find a good bonded locksmith ! My AC dealer said that some dealer's will try to rip you off by telling you that they can only sell you a new switch, and these dealer's are con artist's ! I would call AC direct and file a complaint about the dealer's you called ! I don't have the phone number for AC direct , or Cat service but i've seen it before on the AC forum , i'm sure Bear has the number's ! I had a key cut for my old 86' honda foreman at home depot , only it was very long key stock but it worked fine ; in fact after i sold my honda to my younger brother i keep the oddball key in case he ever lost his ! Good luck..........williebee

 

Try this:

Arctic Cat Phone numbers and E-mail


1-218-681-4999 or 1-218-681-9799, one of the numbers only works once in a while. The other will work all the time but I forgot which is which. The email is: consumeraffairs@arcticcatinc.com . I would email them and tell them the whole story of your problems. They should handle it, maybe even called your dealer or find you a new dealer, set up an appointment even.

 

Thank's for the phone number's i'm going write them down and also save them on my pc ! .............williebee

 

I'll tell ya what sucks!!! Went to the deer camp for opening day for deer season last week and made the two mile trip to my deer stand from the camp for a promising day of putting some meat in the freezer. I parked the wheeler about a 1/2 mile from the stand and made the cold walk to the stand at about 30 minutes before daylight. Dropped a big boy at about 7am and after following a lengthy blood trail to my deer I marked my spot with some bright orange tape and made the long walk back to my wheeler to haul the deer out. Well, guess what? My key had somehow fallen from my jacket pocket either enroute to my stand or during my track, either way I coudn't find it. Needless to say, the "journey" back to my camp to not only get someone to help me load the deer up but also tow me out of the woods was not only exhausting but embarrassing as hell. To make a long story short, I go to my local A/C dealer with my spare to get an extra copy. After paying 7 bucks for the key and 5 bucks for the rubber cover for the key, I learned that my "new" key had to be rekeyed at a local locksmith. My dealer told me that he couldn't get keys anymore from arctic cat that were already keyed even though I gave him the number from my spare a week before my new key came in. Needless to say, after taxes, I am out 20 bucks for the whole setup. To make me "feel better" ( I GUESS) he informed me that the can-am keys cost about 80 bucks to replace.