Why Didn't I Think Of That!?

[Automan2164]

First off, I will admit I have a gadget problem. Anything that solves an issue, or helps address a problem... You have me hook, line, and sinker. I am also a huge fan of simplicity. Now for the meat.

 

I was cruising the interweb tonight when I happened to stumble upon a new gadget. It's simple, it solves a problem, and it is damn sexy if I do say so myself...

 

 

 

 

http://mykeyport.com/

 

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/09/07/keyport-slide-2-0-keychain-review/

 

 

I think I am in love. I hate bulky keyrings with litter and garbage hanging off of them. My daily keys have the a key for the Cherokee, the Diesel set, a house key, ma's house key, and my remote for the keyless. No junk. I like the sleek, simple design of this... I'm going to make sure that the keyport will not interfere with the 'ears' of the '97 Cherokee ignition, and if it won't... It should be in the mail.

 

Just had to share this thing... Such a great idea.

Rob

 

 

[earl*t]

:thumbsup:  Thanks for sharing Rob.

[87Warrior]

That is slick. Especially for the person who carries all of their keys around.

 

Seems like too much bulk and weight for me. I only carry the keys needed to operate the vehicle I'm driving, usually 2 keys + keyring. House key stays in my wallet unless the garage door doesn't open for some reason.

[onlyinajeep726]

That's neat.

[krustyballer16]

I'm actually thinking about getting this set up now. Even though $80 is a lot for a set of keys, I like it. ($60 for the keyport and about $4 to make each key.)

[Automan2164]

I put an order in for one yesterday. Have a black one coming with 6 blades, flashlight, 32GB USB, and the locking clip. I was a little shy about spending the money at first, but out of all the reviews I read and tech toy segments, all the reviewers are wowed by how such a simple gadget streamlines and simplifies things.

 

I'll post up when it comes in.

Rob

[Automan2164]

Little something showed up in the mail on Monday.

 

 

 

 

After getting it, I searched for a locksmith that would cut the keys. The key blanks came with a card reassuring that they were genuine ILCO and JMA blanks, but all of the locksmiths seemed weary about it over the phone. By all, I mean the only one that would call me back. Undeterred, I ended up just visiting the local ACE hardware and found the old guy behind the key counter. He took a look at the blanks, read the card, and had nothing other to day than "Can't guarantee them, not my blanks." I knew this going in, so no big deal.

 

The keys were $1 a cut, so I had to pay $2 for the later model double sided. Not bad. I put it all together at the counter with the keys I wanted, and he started asking about it. He was pretty interested by it, and said he'd never seen anything like it.

 

Only problem I ran across is the Chrysler ignition with the full wing.

 

 

With the full across wing, the keyport can't sit down inside the ignition like it should. Pictured is the '92 ignition cylinder. My '97 Cherokee has a similar wing. I pulled the ignition out, and it turns out the wing just pops off and is made of plastic. I left it off, but it's not exactly appealing for the time being. The older '92 is pot metal, nothing a little dremel would care much about.

 

As for the '97+ ignitions, I knew that the later styles just had a dished ignition. I did some parts store searching, and the dished style ('98+ XJ) looked close enough to swap in. Deterred by the $70 tag for a Dorman ignition cylinder, I just figured I would hit up the JY and see if I could get lucky. I did. I found a '98 with a key, and pulled the cylinder. I played around with it for a bit, the tumblers were shot. You could pull the key out with the ignition on. Not a big deal, as I will end up buying a new set of tumblers to re-key it to my original '97 XJ key. Anyway... I slid the new style ignition into mine, and everything worked as it should. I also took the opportunity to take a mock picture of the new setup with the keyport in the JY cylinder.

 

 

All that is left to do is rekey the JY cylinder. Maybe over the weekend, I will check to see if the tumblers from the '97 will work with the '98, and I can just do a direct swap.

 

Rob :cheers:

[86customanche]

very cool idea. Expensive, yes, but convenience is never cheap.

[Alexia]

Your 1998+ XJ cylinder does not appear to be seated all the way into the hole. It is wider than the hole in the 1997 XJ steering column. I ground a bit of the blank plastic off the top and some of the metal off off the sides to make it fit.

 

http://www.nonamestudios.com/uploads/gallery/album_12/gallery_1_12_26665.jpg

[krustyballer16]

Little something showed up in the mail on Monday.

 

 

 

 

After getting it, I searched for a locksmith that would cut the keys. The key blanks came with a card reassuring that they were genuine ILCO and JMA blanks, but all of the locksmiths seemed weary about it over the phone. By all, I mean the only one that would call me back. Undeterred, I ended up just visiting the local ACE hardware and found the old guy behind the key counter. He took a look at the blanks, read the card, and had nothing other to day than "Can't guarantee them, not my blanks." I knew this going in, so no big deal.

 

The keys were $1 a cut, so I had to pay $2 for the later model double sided. Not bad. I put it all together at the counter with the keys I wanted, and he started asking about it. He was pretty interested by it, and said he'd never seen anything like it.

 

Only problem I ran across is the Chrysler ignition with the full wing.

 

 

With the full across wing, the keyport can't sit down inside the ignition like it should. Pictured is the '92 ignition cylinder. My '97 Cherokee has a similar wing. I pulled the ignition out, and it turns out the wing just pops off and is made of plastic. I left it off, but it's not exactly appealing for the time being. The older '92 is pot metal, nothing a little dremel would care much about.

 

As for the '97+ ignitions, I knew that the later styles just had a dished ignition. I did some parts store searching, and the dished style ('98+ XJ) looked close enough to swap in. Deterred by the $70 tag for a Dorman ignition cylinder, I just figured I would hit up the JY and see if I could get lucky. I did. I found a '98 with a key, and pulled the cylinder. I played around with it for a bit, the tumblers were shot. You could pull the key out with the ignition on. Not a big deal, as I will end up buying a new set of tumblers to re-key it to my original '97 XJ key. Anyway... I slid the new style ignition into mine, and everything worked as it should. I also took the opportunity to take a mock picture of the new setup with the keyport in the JY cylinder.

 

 

All that is left to do is rekey the JY cylinder. Maybe over the weekend, I will check to see if the tumblers from the '97 will work with the '98, and I can just do a direct swap.

 

Rob :cheers:

 

Did you get yours from Keyport? Cuz I see you have 6 keys plus usb and flashlight. And I thought you could only have 6 slots. Didn't know if it was like a kit of every option off eBay or something....