New Here with a AUSTRALIAN Coke Vendo 56 Square-Top Machine

[kdog]

Gday from Down Under.

(this machine was previously posted in Estimated values, but I want a more general discussion)

So I have an Australian (yes that's a thing) Coke Vendo 56 Square-Top machine (7 shelf).  While Coke machines are a lot more common in the states, here in Australia when Coke decommissioned these machines, they were usually either scrapped, or converted into standard shelf fridges with welded over vending doors and everything removed from the coin mech area, along with the coin door.

It took me 6 years to find one in this state that was fully working with all pieces present.  The myths behind this type of machine was that when they went out of service, some were "given away at staff raffles", others were "rescued"  from being parted out for spares and then scrapped.  For years people who sold the vintage machines would often say they got it from someone who worked at Coke, or from someone who got it from someone who worked at Coke, or from someone who got it from someone who got it from someone who worked at Coke etc.

Technically, these machine are not meant to exist any longer in Australia.  Which is why they are so damned hard to find, especially in working condition, no missing parts, and pretty much all of its paint and signage.  I could weep at the times I checked American Ebay and saw so many vintage and retro machines I remember from my childhood.    Hell, one guy on these forums bought a machine for $40.  I mean, seriously  

While the Vendo ID plate, is missing, the Compressor has Vendo tag.  The thing is, this machines looks more like a Vendorlator than a Vendo 56.  However, since Vendo and Vendoraltor merged in 1956, they were technically Vendo's when they landed here in Australia.  Also, these machines would have been rebuilt by Coke once or twice.  There are signs that the current paint job was not its original, and I have been told the "Enjoy Coke" logo was done by Coke in the 80's.  There is no raised metal "Vendo" or "Vendorlator" lettering like I have seen on other square 56's, but that could have been removed at some point.  The Coke technician I met recently told me they at times they had to rebuild these machines, as back then it was considered wasteful to buy a new machine and throw away what could be repaired.

Also, the Australian machines have at least one thing American machines didnt have.  They had change givers that plugged into the coin mechs here, that gave out 1, 2 and 5 cent coins when set correctly (metal tubes next to the coin mech).  However by my childhood (80's), we just had to use exact change in 20 cent coins (metal sticker above coin slot).  My machine is currently set to 80 cents.


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[kdog]

So today was a good day 

The outside of the machine washed up a treat.  Some automotive wash & wax and microfiber cloths, and the Red Box looks awesome.  So much so that the patina only serves to emphasize how good the Red paint is.

Next, I purchased an 2nd hand Vacuum cleaner from a local pawn shop for $29 (AUD).  Since this machine had been sitting in a shed for a number of years, there was a bit of detritus (crap) in the compressor deck area more minuscule stuff in the fridge.  I think I lucked out as once I had cleaned all the refrigerator deck up, none of it seems corroded through.  It taps out as solid.  Bit of surface corrosion to polish up, but that's doable.  Now that most of the crap is gone, can use some compressed air cans to clean up the harder ares to reach and the compressor/evaporator fins.

Fridge area was easily cleaned up of dust and some cobwebs.  Bit of solid dust buildup to clean off on the bottle liner, but again I lucked out with the liner.  Its in excellent condition, except for some white build up (scale?) on the sides.  The shelves needs a more rigorous cleaning, but again doable.  Places like FunTronics do replacements, but original is my goal as much as possible.  Hell, even the metal drip tube is still there and original drip tray.  Oh, and original coin box and crown cap catcher is all there.  I've seen more than a few machines where all that was missing.

The bottles rack also needs a clean.  Looks like someone tried to clean up a cokexplosion over the years, but again nothing is rusted up and all the gates work. although I need to lube them up.  Anyone know best way how, what to use? 

All this is going to be done by removing nothing except the bottle shelves from the machine at the moment.  I am not setup to remove parts, and I lack the confidence to do so.  There is no one local I have found so far who could help me if I went too far. 

[MoonDawg]

 I am not setup to remove parts, and I lack the confidence to do so.  There is no one local I have found so far who could help me if I went too far. 

       You are the perfect candidate to learn by doing. Every one of us had the same fear at first but these early machines are very simple to disassemble and put back together. If you have a question just ask us.
       This is only your first machine, from now on they will start following you home. 

[kdog]

Just visited your site MoonDawg.  You do very nice work.

Right now i am hoping all I will have to do for a while is cleanup the machine. I fully accept that I overpayed for it, but its so damn hard to find them in this country,  and even harder to find locally, and what was hardest was finding one that was working with all its parts and nearly all its original paint intact.

[ajf5577]

What is the exchange rate AUD vs USD ? So we can compare what you paid vs what we pay in the US.

[kdog]

What is the exchange rate AUD vs USD ? So we can compare what you paid vs what we pay in the US.

$1,208.53

[kdog]

So I am thinking of buying 1 or 2 of these, and using magnets to attach them to the sides of my Coke machine to get more of a 3D effect, but not be permanently attached.

[kdog]

Could someone give me a crash course in how these machines are meant to run?  Is the condenser fan always meant to run etc?  I thought it was, but someone told me thats not a good thing?  Or is that for modern fridges?

Oh, and what is that bulb thing in front of the condenser?  It freezes over and melts off every so often.  Is that normal etc?

Yes, I really know jack about the technical guts of these machines  

EDIT:  It does get cold though, between 0-3 degrees using infrared laser thermometer.

[johnieG]

            Oh, and what is that bulb thing in front of the condenser?  It freezes over and melts off every so often.  Is that normal etc?

  It's called the receiver & it holds excess liquid freon/refrigerant,  once the evaporator coils gets down to temperature some of the gas wont evaporate completely & the receiver
 holds it inside that cylinder (bulb/ copper sausage/take your pick) .. until it can return to a gaseous form so it doesn't return to the suction side of the compressor as a liquid & damage the inlet/suction valve or piston because you can't compress a liquid , yes it is normal for it to frost up or even ice a bit & melt as the compressor cycles, however is the icing proceeds down the suction tubing past the receiver & continues outside of the bottle compartment this can lead to the machine piddling melt water on the floor & is typically due to an overcharged system or a stuck thermostat or an evaporator fan failing.  or even a possible blocked evaporator coil ( no air flow)

If the icing reaches all the way back to the suction inlet of the compressor you'll have more trouble as mentioned above.

[kdog]

            Oh, and what is that bulb thing in front of the condenser?  It freezes over and melts off every so often.  Is that normal etc?

  It's called the receiver & it holds excess liquid freon/refrigerant,  once the evaporator coils gets down to temperature some of the gas wont evaporate completely & the receiver
 holds it inside that cylinder (bulb/ copper sausage/take your pick) .. until it can return to a gaseous form so it doesn't return to the suction side of the compressor as a liquid & damage the inlet/suction valve or piston because you can't compress a liquid , yes it is normal for it to frost up or even ice a bit & melt as the compressor cycles, however is the icing proceeds down the suction tubing past the receiver & continues outside of the bottle compartment this can lead to the machine piddling melt water on the floor & is typically due to an overcharged system or a stuck thermostat or an evaporator fan failing.  or even a possible blocked evaporator coil ( no air flow)

If the icing reaches all the way back to the suction inlet of the compressor you'll have more trouble as mentioned above.

No icing outside the bottle area thank goodness.  I think i will focus some more attention on the condenser though.  Still has some crud in the fins.   Had focused most of my efforts on the compressor.   I get some airflow though the fins, but a lot more airflow  out the top/back of the condenser.

[kdog]

One thing that just occurred to me.  Is the fan supposed to blow air through the condenser fins past the receiver, or suck air though the fins and up out the top/back of the condenser unit?

[vendo81d]

It sucks air towards the fins and out the back.  If you hold a piece of paper in front of the condenser, it should pull it towards the fins.

[kdog]

Ok awesome.  It  makes sense.  Get plenty of air out the back, but the fins need a better clean with can of air.

Oh, how do you lubricate the fan inside  the evaporator? It's squeaking  a bit.  If i remove the shelves, i should be able to access it.

EDIT:  Ok, it seems I kept confusing condenser and evaporator as the same thing.  I though everything in the compressor bay was the compressor, but the condenser is whats in front.  Man I feel stupid.

Does anyone have a manual for a Vendorlator 56 squaretop.  I know I call this a Vendo 56, but it looks so much like a Vendorlator that Vendo just badged as a Vendo 56 here in Australia.

I just want to see a manual to see if the interior parts match, as a Vendo HA56C manual I have doesn't exactly match.

So yeah, again, what is the best way to lubricate the EVAPORATOR fan?  I don't think I can get the cover off, so will have to lube in-situ.

[kdog]

BEFORE CLEANING

       



AFTER CLEANING

         

[vendo81d]

I personally would just replace the evaporator fan motor.  They are sealed units and I'm not sure they are meant to be oiled.  You should be able to unbolt the plate under the compressor, remove the two screws over the refrigeration lines, and unscrew the screws holding the evaporator down.  After doing this, just slide everything forward and sideways enough to access the evaporator fan motor.  Once you get everything moved, you can access the screws that attach the fan motor bracket to the evaporator housing.  When you reinstall the unit, I would put some silicone caulk on the screws that hold the evaporator down to prevent leaking.

P.S. I knew you meant the evaporator in your earlier comment and I also inadvertently said condenser when I meant evaporator.

[kdog]

Now that's a thing of beauty.

[kdog]

Ok, so after I filled it with warm bottles and started it up, the power meter said it was taking  about 10.5 cents an hours to run the machine.  After 20 hours of running, it now says 4.5 cents to run.

Timed a compressor run, and it was about 8 minutes on, almost 21 minutes off, 8 minutes on etc.

How is that for performance?

[vendo81d]

That sounds about normal.

[johnieG]

for sjt1803 who sent me a PM. for some reason I couldn't attach it to the PM reply....

[kdog]

So i ran the fridge full for a 2nd 24 hours after it was already cooled. Running costs ran 3.93 cents per hour, 94.67 cents per day, $86.05 per quarter, and $344.27 per year.

So yeah, originally I honestly was afraid the running costs were going to be a lot more than they actually are. I know old fridges are notoriously inefficient compared to modern fridges, but as long as I stick $7-10 a week into a jar, I can absorb the running costs and not have to worry about a higher bill, therefore enjoying an ice cold Coca Cola guilt free.