Medeco Lock Rekeying: The Florida Owner’s Guide
Medeco lock rekeying in Florida typically runs $89-$195 per cylinder depending on the series and whether the sidebar pins need replacement, and our technicians carry the full pin kit for same-day service in Tampa, Orlando, and surrounding areas. Most homeowners discover their Medeco needs rekeying after a move, a lost key, or when a contractor or housekeeper no longer needs access. The dead giveaway is when you’re holding a key that turns but doesn’t feel quite right, or when you’ve got five Medeco keys from different eras and none of them match anymore.
Which Medeco Models This Applies To
Medeco built its reputation on two distinct mechanical platforms, and knowing which one you own determines whether we can rekey on the spot or need to order factory-specific components.
The original Medeco Biaxial system, common in Florida homes from the 1980s through the mid-2000s, uses angled cuts and rotating pins. You’ll find “BIA” stamped on the key shoulder or a small oval Medeco logo on the cylinder face. These rekey cleanly with standard sidebar pin kits we stock on every truck.
The newer Medeco KeyMark and Medeco M3 lines, introduced around 2005 and still current, add a slider element to the sidebar. KeyMark cylinders have a “+” symbol near the keyway; M3 keys carry a small “M3” emboss. The M3’s slider mechanism requires a separate pin kit with thinner sidebar springs, and here’s the compatibility gotcha: Biaxial pins will physically fit an M3 cylinder but will not engage the slider properly, leaving the lock vulnerable to bypass. We verify the series before touching a single pin.
Aftermarket pinning kits from LAB and HPC meet Medeco’s original tolerances and cost roughly 40% less than factory OEM. For a rekey job, we use aftermarket pins rated to the same shear-line specs. If your cylinder has sustained physical damage or the sidebar itself is worn, we switch to OEM components. The cylinder housing, cam, and tailpiece are rarely the problem; it’s almost always the pin stack and sidebar springs that wear out in Florida’s humidity.
Signs Your Medeco Lock Rekeying Is Failing
- The key sticks at the 10 o’clock position. This is the classic Medeco signature. The rotating pins are binding because the sidebar springs have lost tension, usually from corrosion in coastal Florida air. The lock isn’t fully rekeyed until those springs are replaced, not just the pins.
- You need to jiggle the key to find the “sweet spot.” The pin chambers have developed micro-variations from years of brass-on-brass wear. A standard rekey won’t fix this; we need to measure chamber bore and sometimes replace the entire cylinder.
- The key works in one door but not another Medeco on the same house. You’ve got mixed generations, Biaxial and M3 cylinders keyed to different depths. This happens when a previous owner replaced one failed lock with whatever was available. Full rekeying to a single key requires matching all cylinders to the lowest common denominator series.
- The deadbolt thumb-turn spins freely but the bolt doesn’t move. The cam connecting cylinder to bolt mechanism has cracked. This is a cylinder replacement, not a rekey, though we can key the new cylinder to your existing key if the bitting is still serviceable.
- You’ve found Medeco keys from three different owners in a kitchen drawer. The lock has been rekeyed multiple times, often by technicians who didn’t replace the sidebar springs. Each rekey stressed the remaining springs further. We replace springs as standard practice on any Medeco rekey that’s seen more than one previous pinning.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Price Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Medeco rekey (1 cylinder) | $89-$125 | Pin replacement, sidebar springs, key duplication (2 keys), 90-Day Done Right Promise |
| Medeco rekey with master keying | $145-$195 | Master pin stack, sidebar springs, 3+ keys with master levels, written key chart |
| Medeco cylinder replacement + rekey | $165-$240 | OEM or equivalent cylinder, pinning to match, 2 keys, full hardware adjustment |
| Additional cylinders keyed alike | $45-$75 each | Pinning to match first cylinder, sidebar springs, key duplication |
What drives the range: the series (M3 takes longer due to slider verification), whether we need to extract a broken key first, and if the cylinder needs removal from a mortise lock versus a standard deadbolt. We quote it flat before we roll, and we stand behind it when we’re done. The price we give on the phone is the price on the invoice. Every rekey carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing, no paperwork, no arguing.
Seniors and veterans receive a permanent 5% discount. If your total repair exceeds $250, ask about our $50 standing offer.
DIY or Call Us?
Here’s where an honest locksmith draws the line. You can safely check whether your Medeco key has “BIA” or “M3” stamped on it. You can count how many keyed-alike cylinders you have. You cannot safely rekey a Medeco yourself.
The sidebar mechanism sits under spring pressure. Disassemble it without a pinning shoe and the springs launch into your carpet, your eye, or the dog’s water bowl. More critically, Medeco’s rotating pins must be oriented to specific clock positions, 0, 15, or 30 degrees. A pin installed at the wrong angle will turn, catch halfway, and snap off inside the cylinder, converting a $125 rekey into a $240 cylinder replacement. We’ve seen it twice this year in Carrollwood alone.
If you’re mechanically inclined, stick to lubricating with Medeco’s recommended graphite, not WD-40. For everything else, call (844) 956-4715. We stock the full pin kit, the sidebar springs, and the depth keys on every truck.
FAQs
In Florida’s humidity, a properly rekeyed Medeco cylinder with fresh sidebar springs should function smoothly for 10-15 years of normal residential use. Coastal properties within five miles of salt air may see spring corrosion in 7-10 years; we use nickel-silver springs in those cases. Call (844) 956-4715 if your key starts sticking again, estimates are free.
If the issue is simply that the wrong people have keys, rekeying is the repair. If the cylinder is physically damaged, worn beyond tolerance, or the sidebar slot is elongated, replacement is the only fix. We diagnose this on-site and tell you before touching anything. Call (844) 956-4715 for a free second opinion on any written estimate you’ve already received.
A single Medeco cylinder rekey takes 20-35 minutes on your doorstep. Master keying or matching four-plus cylinders runs closer to an hour. We do not remove locks to a shop; the work happens where you can watch. Call (844) 956-4715 to schedule same-day service in Florida.
Yes. Every Strongbox van carries Biaxial and M3 pinning kits, sidebar springs in brass and nickel-silver, replacement cylinders, and factory key blanks. We are an independent service provider, not affiliated with Medeco, but we source OEM and quality equivalent parts through authorized distributors. If your lock requires a factory-ordered component, we secure it within 24-48 hours and return at no additional trip charge. Call (844) 956-4715 to confirm availability for your specific series.
Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Florida is not affiliated with Medeco. Medeco is a registered trademark of ASSA ABLOY. We service and install Schlage, Kwikset, and other major brands with the same flat-price approach.
Ready to get your Medeco locks matched to one clean key set? Call (844) 956-4715 now. A live person answers, 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. We’ll quote your price flat before the truck rolls, send a background-checked technician who shows ID at your door, and back the work with our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. That’s how we’ve done it for over 42 years.
Written by Randall Odom, Owner & Master Locksmith, Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Florida at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Florida, serving Florida and nearby areas.