Well, I purchased two new blank keys that either ARE or APPEAR to be official Volvo keys for 240 740 760 780 940 and 960's They were $7.99USD/Free Shipping each, and took about 17 days to arrive, but look very legit. www.ebay.com/itm/160883076073

Just thought I would share.

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http://www.wvcycling.net

Oddly enough, the local locksmith ended up ruining one of the keys. He repaid me for the blank, but still a little miffed. I'm not completely sure if the failure was due to lack of skill or machine errors. Either way, both sides of the key were not symmetrical, nor did they appear to be identical to my original key...

I met him at his singlewide trailer, and he was using a similar version of this key duplicator, but MUCH MUCH Much older and worn. It was hooked up to his truck battery, mounted on a piece of aged, blistering plywood; because apparently he doesn't have an office (not a big deal for a locksmith.)

Went to Lowe's to make a copy of the second blank that I would not let the locksmith attempt to play around with. They stated that they would not cut non-store bought keys. I couldn't blame them, but still... grrr...

Told the associate to look for an ILCO or Axxess #46, as seen on other posts. They had it, and was a match. She stuck my key and the blank in their magic machine. Bam. Done.

Unfortunately their machine failed to make a perfect replica, but it was much much better than the local locksmith's. If you take a look at my original key picture, the machine failed to grind the first two small notches at the base of the cutting area. I declined to take it, since it was not an exact replica.


VIN key it is, I guess. #smalltownproblems

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http://www.wvcycling.net

Once you have a "code cut" key, get three or four inexpensive duplicates made someplace. At that point you have a couple of choices, drive only with the duplicates and squirrel the original away or drive with the original in full knowledge that you have a lifetime of cheap brass spares in the wings.

I recently stumbled across this and so I will pass it along: Eeuroparts.com carries Wurth aftermarket blanks of the Volvo OEM keys at only $4 each.

Link: http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/4326/Key-Blank-240K/

Also, if you ever stumble across an old roof rack at the pick n'pull and it has no manufacturer markings other than the lock number, and, that lock number begins with a "B", as in "B215", the roof rack was made by "Barrecrafters" out of New England (Vermont?).

Barrencrafters, started in the 1940's, went out of business in the 1990's and was eventually bought out by "Sportrack" out of Montreal. Thule in turn bought out Sportrack at a later date. However, should you need Barrecrafters replacement keys, you need to go through Sportrack, not Thule. And Sportrack does have the replacement keys....

You may also want to clean and then lube all door and trunk lock cylinders using appropriate lubricant.

A cylinder lock pin can stick causing newly and poorly cut keys to exacerbate a problem you could not discern from your prior, worn keys.

cheers,

dud.

<< most folks won't cut them as they are scared of the steel >>

It's not difficult to make your own copies if you have a good, working original. Place/clamp the original against the blank and use a fine-point Sharpie to transfer the shape from the original onto the blank. With the marked blank secured in a bench vise, go to work with a jeweler's file, filing away the blank to the marked line matching the original. When you get close, try new key. It will take a few trips from the vise to ignition switch, but it should eventually work. Using a wire brush on newly-cut blank helps.

Yes, most locksmiths run away from steel keys rather than ruin their expensive cutters on the key machine.

Chris in NE FL '94 945 w/180K

"Yes, most locksmiths run away from steel keys rather than ruin their expensive cutters on the key machine."

I have found that most locksmiths will cut them...but most "store associates" won't. Much like the my rant on small electrical motor shops, look for a place between a pawn shop and an all night diner or similar. Guy should be at least 60 and grumpy. If the store is more than 1200 sq ft and brightly lit, you are in the wrong place.

I think the quality we seek is in them being made from steel, and with that is the consequence of not being able to get them cut at the Walmart. Check with a magnet, but I don't suppose genuine key blanks would need to be that expensive that someone would try to counterfeit them. Different story for some of the newer cars and perhaps the 780 in that luxury class.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Does a magnet stick to them? If so, they are likely the real deal. If not, they are likely brass copies. Now that I think of it, I am not sure what grade of steel is used so a magnet may not stick.

If the real deal, most folks won't cut them as they are scared of the steel keys.

FYI, at least my 1990 760 used a different style key.

Nickel covered Brass. :\

Well, I guess they'll work as spares. Shucks. After locksmith cutting them, total cost = $20. Not bad, still.

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http://www.wvcycling.net

You can order Volvo keys through the dealer, using the VIN number, and showing proof of ownership. They aren't cheap, the last time I bought one they were something like $27 each.
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john