USS-8-64 Door Light Question

[mznb1u]

I just noticed tonight that the light in the selection door on my Cav 64 is flickering.  Probably the bulb or the starter going bad but I don't feel like teraing everything down right now.  Is there any risk of damage to the machine or more importantly fire if I don't get to this until over the holiday?  Or should I just shut the machine down for now?

Thanks!

  Tim

[Pat Pixley]

FIRE !!!!!  Ok not really,  But a trip to the hardware for a bulb and a starter  then 10- 15 minutes later it's done   
Or I can stop by with a bulb and a starter then drink all your beer watch your big screen TV  moan and groan that there is no cheesy popcorn  and
pass out on the couch . Then you will have your wife mad at you for a having a drunk do work on you machine and drinking all your beer and letting
the dogs have the turkey . Now see what 10 or 15 minutes could save you

[Kilroy]

a flickering bulb is a sign IT WASN'T PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED

[Creighton]

Bad bulb or starter won't cause any harm if they fail.
A bad ballest can get hot enough to to drip black crap downstream and possibly catch fire (rare).
I'd pull power to that circuit.
Creighton

[mznb1u]

  Thanks for the advice guys!   And thanks for the laughs to start my day.  I really needed it being that the house burned down last night due to a bad starter and bulb in my pop machine!    Just kidding of course!

I would hire Pat but my big screen TV died a while back and I am waiting for the X-Mas sales to replace it.  And I wouldn't want him complaining about no cheesy popcorn and NO big screen TV!

And Kilroy, you are correct, it was not PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED!  This is my one clean original with the rare woodgrain finish and I am keeping it that way!

ON A SERIOUS NOTE, I also need to replace the sign light on this machine and am having a hard time finding a replacement bulb.  It is an F8T5-CW U, at least that is the GE code.  Any tips on the best place to find one of those?

  Tim 

[Kilroy]

Tim,
Is this what you are looking for?

http://1000bulbs.com/search/?q=F8T5-CW+

[cokecolaman]

I have found them at lowes many times.

[mznb1u]

I will check Lowes.  I checked HD and they did not have it.  Thanks!

I suppose I could make a run down to Ann Arbor to one of the electrical wholesale places as well.

  Tim

[bubba]

If you have another HD close by, which I'm sure you have more than one within throwing distance, check other stores.. I've bought a few at my local, almost closer HD. Not all their stores carry the same stuff for some reason..

[mznb1u]

Okay, I got new bulbs (at Lowes) for the vend door and the display sign on the front of the machine.  I also picked up a new starter for the vend door need to find on for the display sign.  I have removed the plexiglass cover on the vend door fixture but I can't get the bulb to turn.

Andy tricks to getting this out besides taking the door apart or breaking the bulb   ?

Any input would be appreciated.

  Tim

[tkaz]

The best method I have found is to take a flathead screwdriver, put the tip at a slight angle to the metal end of the bulb, and give it a few light taps at the end of the screwdriver.  Usually it is just enough to get the bulb to spin and release from the socket. 

Another option might be to wrap some electrical tape around the tips of needlenose pliers for grip, then grab the top of the bulb and try to spin it.

[mznb1u]

tkaz--thanks for the tip!  That tapping it with the screwdriver was enough to get the bulb to spin enough where I could get it out.  They couldn't have made the fixture opening just 1/4" wider???  The guys who serviced these machines must have had small hands.

We have light in both the sign and the vending door which makes it even more obvious that the machine needs a good cleaning!

  Tim

[JDAugie]

Hi,
     I just got my first machine, a USS-8-64 and the first thing I'm fixing are the lights.  Glad to see you got yours working.  My machine doesn't have the glass/plexi cover for the selection door light.  I see that you said yours was plexi.  Is it clear or white?  I want to get a piece to replace the missing one. Does anyone know if plexi is the original material or was glass used.  Also I'm missing the clips, top & bottom.  Anybody got a spare set.  Or a good picture of them so I can fabricate something.  Thanks for any info.

[mznb1u]

I had to bow the plexi-glass to get it out of the fixture so if there are machines that had glass there it would have had to be a different set up.  My machine is all original from the early 70's and the material is clear plexiglass.  Find someone with small fingers to help and the job will go quicker.  And use the "tap it with a screwdriver tip" because it works!

  Tim

[JDAugie]

Thanks so Much. That's a help. Mine is early 70's too.  I just put up a new topic with some pics if you're interested.  Thanks again.

John

[rayg]

My USS-96 (a 1973 model)the big brother to the USS-64, uses a two piece glass system to cover the light fixture. Where the glass meets both piece have a plastic edge guard. To hold them in there is a metal clip. The clip has two screws one under the delivery door gasket and the other on the inside of the delivery door frame.  It's a pain to swap the bulb without some else  holding  the door.

[JDAugie]

Thanks,  when I got the machine, the top bulb socket was broken and needed to be replaced.  After I got that replaced, getting the new bulb in was a pain. I see from reading a number of posts on this site that that is a common problem.  I just thought I had an oversized bulb. Finally got it in.  If you have a pic of the clips that would help.  I think the plexi will stay in with out the clips, but I'm just trying to restore as much as possible.

John