Vendo 44 coin mech question

[SodaShopNick]

I am not an expert on 44's and definitely not on their coin mechs, but this does not look correct to me.  Picture coming.

[SodaShopNick]

Picture:

[SodaShopNick]

So I went and looked at this machine and the coin mech is not complete.  When you drop a coin in it the coin just falls through.   Other than that it is a nice machine with great original color.  A couple of questions for anyone:  1.  Are you able to tell from the picture what is missing (I did not have a chance to get a better picture) ?  2.  If you can tell how, hard is it to get those parts?  3.   With the parts that are there is it possible to set it up on free vend?   Any and all help would be appreciated. 

[mznb1u]

Hard to tell from the picture but it looks to me like the coin mech has been removed, perhaps to make the machine free vend? I would check  with Tom (collecture) as he is the expert.  You will need a better picture however.  You should be  able to remove the coin rejector so you can get a good look at the coin mechanism behind the crank handle.

  Tim

[Ltransam]

Not 100% sure but it looks like a canada style mech .

Tom aka Collecter will be able to help he's the expert

[SodaShopNick]

Thanks guys for your help.  I will also see if Tom chimes in.  It is not a bad deal for the machine and it is in pretty good shape, but if it is going to be a big expense to fix (replace the mech) that might be a deal breaker.  Of course if there is a way to get it to free vend in the mean time at least it will be usable.  The current owner basically uses it like a fridge which of course means anytime he wants a drink he has to open the coin door and then the cabinet. 

[collecture]

It is the Canadian mech, but will work fine on US coins.
It looks complete (from what is visible) and set for true 10c operation (2N or 1D vend). If not, can easily be changed. It does not appear molested, so my gut instinct is it is complete all around.
I wouldn't let the coin mech stop you from buying!

[SodaShopNick]

Thanks Tom from responding.  The coins appear to just drop through so I am not sure what is wrong, but then again I am a novice and did not really spend that much time on it.  My other question is can you set these to vend for free?

[collecture]

The coins appear to just drop through so I am not sure what is wrong, but then again I am a novice and did not really spend that much time on it.

Could be any number of reasons.

My other question is can you set these to vend for free?

Just like a Small Door mech, a turn of a 6-32x1/2" screw.

[SodaShopNick]

Well you convinced me Tom and I picked it up today along with a porcelain coke button....package deal.   I will have more pictures along with questions about the coin mech probably this weekend. 

[SodaShopNick]

having trouble with a few quick pictures due to size so I will figure that out this weekend and get some posted

[SodaShopNick]

Here are a few quick pictures.  More to come this weekend.

[SodaShopNick]

Button:

[collecture]

Well you convinced me Tom....

You are giving me way too much credit.
 

[mznb1u]

Nice clean 44! 

  Tim

[SodaShopNick]

Okay, so I looked around at the coin mech and I am not sure what is going on.  Whenever I drop a coin down the coin chute it just drops through.  This is the same whether it is a nickel or dime.  I saw on the side of the coin mech (according to the post about free vend that Tom posted) where you needed to insert two screws to sent this to free vend, but since I did not have the screw size handy I just used a screwdriver to try to push that in and it went in and pushed back that lever, but the door crank handle would not budge.   Also, if I tried to push a screwdriver into the other hole there is nothing on the other end for it to push.  In regards to the crank handle it locks in a position down and to the right and will not move unless I force it a bit and then it just spins so I can get the coin door open.   Attached are some pictures. Any thoughts on what I am missing would be appreciated.

[SodaShopNick]

Picture #2:

[SodaShopNick]

Picture 3:

[SodaShopNick]

Picture 4:

[SodaShopNick]

Picture 5 (crank handle in a locked position):

[SodaShopNick]

Picture 6:

[SodaShopNick]

Picture 7:

[Ltransam]

The coins falling threw could be because there's no Product (Sold Out ) in the stacks . There should be some some kind of thing on the back of the door (Picture #6 ?) that would be pushed to trip some linkage  to allow the coin mech to accept coins (Meaning Product in machine )


Please Note I have NEVER OWEND   a Vendo 44 So i'm guessing in some respect .

[SodaShopNick]

Thanks Len for chiming in.  I will check out what you are saying and see if that is causing the issue.  In conjunction with the coin mech issue it is like the crank handle is locked in the down position which I think is where it is when you deposit the coins and try to get a bottle to dispense, but it should then move back to the up position.   Here is a possibly stupid question, but does the machine have to be plugged in to have the mech work?  All the other machines I have had before were electronic mechs so I just was not sure.   Of course I ask this also because now when I plug the machine it the outlet trips immediately which it was not doing when I bought it.   

[MoonDawg]

        The only power that goes to the mech. sometimes is a heater element for cold climates.
         Len is right about being empty. You have a sold out flag, follow the leg below it. When the flag shows empty it also pushes some fingers through the rejector so the coins come back to the customer. Feel free to remove the rejector and test it setting it on a flat level surface.
        I believe the handle is stuck down because the last person to use it did not push it down far enough to complete the cycle.( It's the little gear we hear clicking several times when a crank handle is released). Remove the slug rejector and coin box, with a flashlight look for it from the bottom of the mech.
 A screwdriver will help you free it up.

[SodaShopNick]

Glen, thanks.  I will give that a try this evening hopefully.  Appreciate the help.   I will also try and see what is causing the circuit to pop every time I plug it in. 

[Ltransam]

 

Thanks Glen !!!!!!   I have learned a lot for you guys ! Even know I've never owned a Vendo or VMC 44   

[SodaShopNick]

Well you guys are great!!! Glen, you were right the crank handle was just jammed.  So I followed your steps and it released and went back to the up position.   Then I stocked the machine about 1/3 of the way and used two nickels and it worked perfectly (Len, it looks like you were right about it needing to be stocked).   Tom, it does appear the coin mech is working, but not with dimes, but I will look a bit harder at that later in the weekend.  The insert coins, sold out flag is too low to be seen through the window, but I will also look at that later.  The other interesting thing is when I plugged it in yesterday when the crank handle was jammed it popped the circuit every time.  Once I uncleared the jam and plugged it in it is running perfectly.....maybe just a coincidence.   One question though is I did notice a cord that comes up through the door and attaches to the coin mech with some sort of flat connection.  There is some blackening around it.  Is that a heating element? 

[Ltransam]

Yes that the heating element , I cut my at the bottom of the door on the inside and caped &taped it off . This could be what was shorting out .

[SodaShopNick]

Thanks Len, you may be right and I will cut mine also.  Oh, by the way I see you live in Hamilton.  My mother-in-law lives in Maineville so maybe next time I am up there you might be around as I heard you have some pretty neat stuff.