DIY Vendo 56 bottle to can conversion

So I bought my first vending machine a few days ago. No tags or plates but, on this forum, I learned it's a Vendorlator 56. Among other questions, I asked the same question everyone who first obtains one of these machines asks, "Can it be used with cans?" The answer was obviously "no." Yes, I could change the rack to a can rack but then it won't vend bottles. My favorite drink only comes in a can and the wife's favorite drink only comes in a bottle. I'm a little handy, have some free time and don't like being told something can't be done. Here is how I converted 4 of the 7 vending slots on my machine from bottle to can...

You'll Need:
1. About 17" of 1/8" round steel for each slot you want to convert. (a 4' section was about $3 at Lowe's)
2. A 5/16" x 3" x .028" spring for each slot you want to convert. (a 2 pack of these was about $3 at Lowe's)
3. A knob with a set screw to lock onto the round steel.

Directions:
1. Remove the rack from the vending machine. Grab the rack and a beer and head to the workshop.
2. I started with a 6" piece of the 1/8" round steel and from the inside of the rack, I pushed forward to mark the spot on the vend shelf I needed to drill. (see picture 2 to see where to put the round steel). Remove the vend shelf and drill a 9/64" hole in the spot you've marked. Reinstall the vend shelf. Going through the hole in the vend shelf, drill the front panel of the rack. - I only did this for the first vending slot and then used those measurements and drilled the remaining vending slots from the outside. My measurements ended up being 5/8" over from the welded circle marks on the front (see picture 4) and 3/16" down from the bottom of the vending/bottle hole. After measuring and drilling all the holes (I did 4) have a beer to celebrate, the hardest part is over.
3. Cut about 17" of round stock and bend your triangle at one end. After bending to make the triangle, bend the entire triangle so the top of it will be slightly tilted towards the back of the machine. This is crucial. If it's not angled back a little the triangle will interfere with the next can to roll into the vending slot. - Each side of my triangle is 2" and that left 2 or 3 inches sticking out of the front of my machine. Not sure how long I'm going to leave the rod sticking out but I can always cut it down.
4. Insert the rod into the newly drilled holes from the inside of the rack.
5. Attach the spring to the rear of the rack (see picture 3) and to the triangle. Use a zip tie to hold the spring in place on the triangle. Finding the exact place to secure the spring to the triangle is art not science. Moving it up or down will change the way the rod returns to resting against the bottle shelf. Basically you'll have to hold the bottle shelf in place, obviously behind the triangle, and play with the spring's location on the triangle until you're happy with the way it returns.
6. Remember that beer you opened at the end of step one? Time for another beer.
7. Install the rack into the vending machine and install the bottle shelves. Drop a couple cans into each shelf to make sure that a can dispenses and that the triangle returns to where you want it.
8. As I type these instructions I don't know exactly what kind of pull I'm going to end up using. I happened to have a Jeep CJ aluminum dash pull that has a set screw to secure to the round steel. It works like a champ but I'm not sure that's the look I want. It works fine without a pull, it just looks like garbage. I'll find something eventually...
9. Really the only trick to using these pulls is after you pull out the "puller" far enough to be able to get the can, you must release it before you take the can. The "puller" MUST return to the back of the slot before the next can rolls into place (yes, I said the same thing twice, that should be a hint to you). It's reality simple and you kind of have to try to mess it up since you're using one hand to hold the vending door open, that only leaves one hand to get a drink. If you pull the "puller" thing to bring the can out you don't have a hand to grab the can until you let go of the "puller" knob.

Good luck to all.

I'll have to post the pictures in another post, I have reached the size limit....

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