Help on my VF-63 Compressor removal

[JDAugie]

I've gotten my USS-8-64 cleaned up and working and now I'm moving on to my V-63.  Anyone interested, can check out the USS pics aswell as the selection decal magnets I made at this post; http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,12745.10.html#lastPost . (not sure that link worked)

I'm cleaning out my VF-63 and it looks like I want to remove the compressor unit to clean under it.  Really the evaporator unit. ( I think that's the part in the cooling tub?) I did a search here and found a thread talking about it, but all the photo links were dead ends. It was an old thread from 2005.  Any help or suggestions would be great.  Here are some pics.  my initial investigation I found that some of the sheet metal screws holding the evap in place were stripped out. can I get under the tub to replace it with a bolt/nut? also anybody know how many screws/bolts hold in the two units?

[scalebowler]

You might want to build a stand like the ones here so that you don't end up kinking any lines. http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,11222.0.html I think for my machine it had maybe 6 or so (maybe a few more) sheet metal screws that held the evaporator to the bottom of the tub and there were a few in the back and I think the only thing I had in the bottom was a nut that held the compressor deck down to the floor of the machine and two tabs in the back. Was pretty easy to remove just a little awkward to move. Also be careful reaching under the compressor deck because I know on mine that they used two sharp nails to hold down the metal tag to the compressor deck on my machine.

[Yarochrehc]

If possible you can use a little bigger screws, I had to do that on one of my machines.

[JDAugie]

I reduced the size of the rusted out holes with epoxy, I'll see if the screws "bite" when I try to put it all back together. If not I'll go to bigger screws.  Right now I'm cleaning an repainting the interior of the box, both the cooler and compressor sections.  If I get a couple warm dry days, I can finish the painting.  I'm carefully trying to clean the evaporator and condenser fins and using brasso on the copper. I might try to paint the compressor tank and the base but, I think I'll leave the tubing as is. I don't want to affect the heat transfer.

[JDAugie]

Here are some updated photos of my VF-63 clean-up.  I'm going to Hammertone the tray area then it'll be ready to reinstall the Compressor and vending rack.

[scalebowler]

That looks great! The bottom there really cleaned up!

[johnieG]

For rusted-out evap' mounting holes I've used "well-nuts" , these are rubber plugs with captured steel nuts inside that expand when they are tightened with the corresponding screw/bolt...think of it as an expanding wall-anchor for sheet metal...they are available at almost all hardware stores...they come in a variety of sizes from #6-24 up to about 1/4-20 thread ( USA)

[JDAugie]

Thanks, johnieG, I'll look for those when I reassemble everything.  Thanks scalebowler, I scrubbed the bottom with CLR and a wire-brush. Then some 220 grit emery paper. Finally I used the POR-15 and coated it to prevent future rust and to fill in some of the unevenness caused by the rust flaking that I wire-brushed away.  I just sprayed it with Hammertone and it looks great. I'll try to get a pic of that up tomorrow.  I put up another post looking for info on fixing door liners, if anyone has any ideas.

[JDAugie]

Here's the photo after the Hammertone.

[rcat8872]

Looks great!  Looking at doing the same with a V63 that I picked up cheap.  Did you have to support the evaporator when pulling the cooling unit out...or did you just pull it out and then support it somehow when you were doing the paint work?

[JDAugie]

Yes, I built a 2 level stand out of some scrap lumber I had.  I built it so that the separation between the top and bottom shelves were the same as in the v-63.  then after removeing the screws that held everthing in I lifted the two connected units out of the the V-63 and onto the stand.  My wife lifted the top unit and I grabbed the bottom and we kept them in the same orientation as we moved them to the stand.  I'll post a pic of the stand later today if I can get to it.  One problem I had with the wire harness.  There was no way to disconnect the vending rack wires, so I had to cut them and put in a connector so I could separate the compressor from the vend rack wiring.

[MoonDawg]

       By removing the cover below the vending stack, the wires can be dis-connected without cutting.

[collecture]

I've never owned a machine in which you had to cut wires to disassemble it. That does not make any sense!

[JDAugie]

You are correct, But, the screw holding the connection box cover on had rusted/locked tight and I could not back it out, so my choices were to drill out the screw or cut the wire.  I had some molex connectors sitting there and wasn't sure what was behind the screw, in case my drill slipped, I figured putting in a molex connector made more sense at the time.

[Pat Pixley]

Remember you can always jump on the site and ask  for help on any question you may have we are
a willing group to help out .

   and the work you have done so far looks good

[JDAugie]

Everyone has been very helpful.  Couldn't have gotten as far as I have without them.  I saw the multi connector to the door electronics and figured there should be one to the vend rack too.  rcat8872, Here is the stand I made for the compressor removal.  Nothing fancy. Just some scrap wood.  Make sure it will take the weight and stress while lifting the units.  I made the top shelf only as big as necessary so I had more room to get to the bottom unit when I was cleaning it.

[rcat8872]

That's exactly what I needed to see!  Tks for posting the pic.

[JDAugie]

No Problem.  Sorry I don't have any pics with the compressor on it.  I've already returned it to the machine.

[JDAugie]

Here's a pic of the completed work on my compressor and vend rack.  I'm finishing up the shelves then the last thing for the inside will be the door bottom, vent.  Also here's a pic of the connector I put in line for the vend rack.