Coinco mechanism

[Bob K]

I've  got a square-top Vendo H90A.  I've got a couple of Newbie questions:
When I press down on the coin return arm it does not spring back up, it stays down and needs to be manually returned to the up position.  It probably needs cleaning?  I'm not sure how to take it apart to clean it.  I don't want to get anything wet that shouldn't.

Also, how do you set the mechanism to different price settings.  I'd like to set this as low as possible.  Can anybody tell me or point me in the right direction?  Are manuals available?

Thanks so much,
Bob  '>

[johnieG]

On the side of the plastic Coinco changers, about 1/3 of the way down from the top there's two little J-hooks holding the coin acceptor/slug-rejector onto the changer mech, just flip them backwards and tilt the coin acceptor forward and up.
this part can put into hot soapy water and cleaned,(I toss mine into the dishwaser when the wife isn't looking '> ) just behind where the coin acceptor was, are some little switches that set the price. from left to right, in 5 cent increments.
5, 10, 15,...etc. some units are different in the max amount the changer can be set at. DO NOT put the electrical part into water, but you knew THAT already  '>

[Bob K]

Thanks johnieg, I'll give it a shot.

[Bob K]

Ok, I see why the coin return arm is not springing back into position, but I don't know how to fix it.  I'm attaching a picture.  Check out the arm that should push it back into place - it's stuck in the down position.  I've tried to gently pull it up but no luck.   Any ideas?

In case the pic doesn't appear heres the URL:
http://members.aol.com/keenan58/coin.jpg

[johnieG]

Yep! the forked lever slides under the post with the c-clip, and make sure the little return spring is still attached to the little post just under the hex-nut, there should be a small "ear"
on that post to keep the spring from walking off. the soak the whole mech. in hot soapy water, you'll be amazed at all of the oil that will float off of the thing!(coins are flithy little buggers)
speaking of oil...DONT! the plastic is self-lubing. When you get the lever back on it's post, turn the mech over in your hand and flip open the reject side(using the side of the coin-chute) and check for crud accumilation in the coin path, scrub any stuborn crud off with an old tooth brush, rinse with warm water, pat dry/air dry & while waiting for it to dry, admire your clean mech with a cold beverage of your choice '>  hope it helps. JohnieG

[Bob K]

Thanks johnieg, but the fork will not go any higher so there's no way for it to push the coin return back into place   .

It's hard to explain but the fork is stuck in the "down" position.  I can push the coin return lever down and guide it into the fork, but the lever just stays down as it is just sitting in the fork.

Shouldn't the fork be pushing the lever back into place?

ARRGGHHH!! Very frustrating!!!

Thanks for your help, johnieg,
Bob

[Jim]

Bob,

Somthing is keeping the arm from returning to its normal position...  You might have to loosen some parts in order to free the arm so it can work as designed.
My guess is that someone jammed on the coin release which slammed the arm down into the slot where it remians now.
Maybe you can push it back up from the front by opening the top of the slug rejector...

[johnieG]

Try working it in a sink of hot soapy water, hopfully it'll work loose once it's cleaned.

[Bob K]

I let it soak in hot soapy water and cleaned it up (it was pretty clean to begin with).
I'm hesitant to start taking something so complicated-looking apart as it will probably never be the same  '> .

So there's no easy "free play" trick here to bypass the coin mechanism?

Bob

[johnieG]

Well, setting the mech for free play is possible, but you'll have to solder a small normally-open switch(push-button type at radio shack, rated for 115vac min. aprox.1/2 amp)across the coin switch (normally the nickle switch) and set the vending amount to 5 cents, (via the small "dip switches" on the changer portion of the mech) after locating the coin switch, solder 2 wires in paralell (one on each) across the same posts as the coin switch's wires are soldered to. run the wires to the front panel (give yourself enough slack to go around the hinge side of the door,so it can still be opened) and place the switch in some cleaver spot were it can be pushed but not seen ( in the bottle opener opening for example) [PS make sure the wire you are using is rated for the voltage of your mech. most are 115 volts, some are 24 volts], when you push the switch the machine will think you gave it a nickle and vend you a soda. be sur to secure the wire to the machine too