One key fits all?

[BillyP]

Someone told me one time that JD tractor keys are all the same. Well today I found out that some, for sure, are. The lady that cuts my hay just bought a brand new JD 6320. She had it here on the place so I took the key to my 4610 to see if it would work in hers. Sure enough, it unlocked the door and started it right up.

This isn't good thinking on JD's part. Are other brands like this also?

 

[yellowsocks93]

I'm not sure about other brands but it sure make makes live easier at the JD dealership. If a customers tractor is in for cleaning or getting one off the lot to clean I can go grab which style key depending on year. Your 4610 key is the new style JD key. The previous 4000 series uses the old style key that will work in combines and most all tractors back to the 80's. Kind of neat but I don't think JD stores have to worry about someone stealing a combine it would be too ovbious and they would not know how to run it anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Did ya go for a test drive? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Hambone]

John Deere construction equipment is the same way. Cat, Komatsu the same. The keys are to keep the kids on location from trying to drive them at night.
Theft is minimal, hard to really steal a dozer, but it does happen. Construction equipment also comes with locking fuel caps, trans dipsicks, and engine compartments to deter vandalism.

 

[TimSullivan]

I found this out when I bought my 4300 two years ago. My new tractor was stored at the construction site of our new home. I disabled the tractor everytime I left it.

Our area had a pair of guys that were going around stealing Deeres from dealers, yards and homes. When they were arrested they had a storage building full of John Deere units. They would just pull up a truck with a trailer and take THE KEY and load the unit up. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[755inNY]

I think you will find this common practice across all manufacturer's. The key on my 1987 JD 755 fits my neighbors 655 of about the same year. Think of the key as a safety device more than an anti-theft device. It is more like the plastic "key" in the switch of most shop power tools (table saw, drill press, etc). It is meant more to prevent unauthorized use (kids) than it is to prevent theft.

Jeff

 

[CountryBoy]

If I am not mistaken my John Deere tractor key fit in a JD 750 dozer I had at my place for about a week, the dozer owner/operator was grumbling about all the JD keys being interchangable.

 

[gordon]

Yes it's pretty much across the board on the one key fits all. My equipment key ring will start just about anything. From bobcat to jcb. I've got about twenty keys on that ring. If anyone is interested I could snap a pic of the ring.

Gordon

 

[CountryBoy]

You have me thinking now,I wonder if my JD key will fit a Clark fork truck where I work? Not that I would ever need to use my JD key because keys at work are always left in the equipment at the plant.

 

[BillyP]

Well guys, I guess one way to look at this is if you lose your key, it should be cheap to replace /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ScottAR]

Yup... I wanted some extras for the 1050 so I picked some up at the dealer. $2-$3 for a pack of 3.