Stoner Cafe #1

[Larry]

I had this for almost a year now.  So I decided to open it up and give it a whirl.

Why is it I always end up with the nastiest machines?

Not as nice as Curtis's?

It looks like the last vend was in the seventies.  Cool cups inside.

One rodent bed, a few maggot husks, mold, bacteria.....yummy!!

The coolest part is that it had the additional acceptor and changer.  You can set the price from 5c to 10c.  For a ten cent purchase the machine can accept 10 pennies, a nickle and five pennies, a quarter, etc.  Any combo it will take.

[Crazzy Canuck]

Wow!! I love them that way. That way whe3n you're done and it's pristine or better than new, you have the gratification of saying " I did that"

[memorylane]

These things are always a mess inside, I found a mouse in mine as well. I put in a few of my before pixs but look at the Choc. inside. They are very hard to clean and takes forever. Good luck with it, it's worth it.

[Larry]

Thanks Curtis.  For a minute I thought you had pictures of mine.  Yuck!! They are a mess.  My canister is identicle.  My creamer turned to plaster.

[memorylane]

Keep us posted of the work you do it's great to see the photos. Steve and I are getting ready to start another brand of Coffee machine this week: Hava Java it's much smaller but cute as hell:)

[Larry]

Curtis,

Did you make a new mirror??  Mines fine, just curious.

The girl looks redone also.  Is she new?

What did you use to clean the boiler?  Did you remove the heaters etc.

In your third picture you have two tubes up on top.  I believe the left one is connected to the water solenoid which feeds the bowl the hot water.  What's the other one on the right?

Thanks!!

[memorylane]

There is so much you need to call me 301 991-3532

[Larry]

Will do. 

Thanks!!

[Larry]

I've been cleaning and lubricating different assmblies of this machine and I ran into a Merkle Kroff Flexo Action  motor/gear assembly.  

Just curious if anyone knows what the two nuts are on this can.  I am assuming they are for venting??  Removing heat??  If you remove the nut, there is a hollow tube attached to the nut.

I wrote the company (they are still in buisness), I haven't heard from them yet.

I TOOK IT APART.

THEY ARE BASICALLY OIL TUBES FOR THE MOTOR.  THE NORMAL OIL TUBE IS FOR THE GEARS.

[sodaworks]

Looks like vents to me.

[Larry]

Here's an update on my progress.  So far everything ohms out correctly.  All motors, coils, and heaters check out with the meter.  However, I did find one bad coin switch.  I don't know if it is the penny, nickle, dime, or quarter.  It is underneath the coin mech.  There are three visable switches on top and one hidden on the bottom.  Luckily my son found an internet site that had obsolete switches.  The new/old switch is in and works fine.

I'm very happy with the way it is coming along.  The disassembly and clean up is going well.  Boy there is a lot of micro switches, heaters, motors, and relays.  Especially with this changer model.  All the major components are done (except the boiler).  The boiler checks out fine.  It was still full of crystal clear 1970's water.  The heaters ohm out as do the solenoids but when I was taking it apart I ran into some asbestos and I will wait until spring, when I can go outside, and remove it.  Nothing major, luckily it's just the coragated cardboard variety.
  
My other option is to buy a small instantaneous heater, but I'm worried about the water in the tube after the solenoid being cold in between cups.  Maybe I can use Stoners flush switch before making the first cup.  Anyway, the Quick and Hot is the cheapest that I found and is the one I like the best.  Costco has it for $130.00.  

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=11226343&whse=BC&Ne=5000001%204000000&eCat=BC|103&N=4007885%204294909484&Mo=0&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1


Here are some pictures of the progress.  

[Larry]

The last two pictures show the optional changer assemblies.  

The third picture is the coin mech.  It has a motor on top that slides a plate internally.  Also, if you look to the left of the three coin switches, you will see a round barrel looking piece.  That piece allows you to switch from 5c, 6c, 7c, 8c, 9c, or 10c.  I chose 9c just because it will bring up the most conversation, or complaints.

The fourth picture shows the changer.  There is a motor that slides a metal plate to give you change.  But the weird thing is, when it slides the plate over the coin tubes, all the coin tubes will drop a coin.  I imagine that you just fill the tubes in which you need.  If it is seven cents you would fill three penny tubes so you will get back three cents on a ten cent purchase.  Two penny tubes for eight cents.  Five penny tubes or one nickle tube for five cents on a ten cent purchase.  It also is suppose to change a quarter.  I can't make heads or tales out of that.  I'll just have to put it together and see what happens.

[Seven181]

Looking good! You are going to have a great looking machine when you are done!

[Creighton]

That really looks great!! How many cleaning and polishing hours so far?
Creighton

[Larry]

Lots of hours.  I knocked it out in a few weekends.  So far three gallons of straight Simple Green.  A bottle of vinegar for some lime issues.  Numerous Scotch Brites, two boxes of disposable gloves, and a nice cloth for the stainless.   The only thing I polished was the name plate.  Looks brand new. 

The stainless cleans up nice if it is allowed to soak in a vat of Simple Green and hot water for hours.  After all the parts that will actually touch any product, cup, or water were cleaned in the Simple Green, they were thrown in the dishwasher for sterilazation.  The only problem is that the augers are aluminum and I forgot to take the dishwasher off of the heated dry on the first batch, and now the nice shiny augers are black.  Too much of a pain to reclean those.  The augers do not look like they can be removed from the canister and the metal tines, that break up the material, get in the way of your hands.

[sodaworks]

Larry,
The Cafe is looking great. Keep us posted on the progress.