My first machine, need a bit of help

Firstly, I'd like to say how excited I am about my first machine.  I reecently won it on ebay, and will hopefully pick it up this weekend.  That said, I may need a bit of help figuring some stuff out with it. I will probably ask more once I actually see the machine, but I do know that I will be needing 4 shelves and probably a new wiring harness. Where might I be able to get these? I believe it is a CS-64C. Also, would it be possible to get a new key for the lock (the original is missing) or should I just get a new lock for it?
Can't wait to get my machine!

[Ltransam]

Hello, Ditane

 Welcome to the group '>  You should be able to get most of your stuff from Steve at Fun-Tronics or Steve at The Soda -Jerks Works.There listed as part supplyers on the home page.
Also the people here allways have stuff for swap or sale.I'd replace the hole lock & key assy with new one.

With this group pictures of your machine is a must   So when you pick it up Please post Pictures  

             Again Welcome to the group!!!     Ltransam

[Kevin C]

Hello

I have purchased 6 wiring harness's form the Soda-Jerk. Good quality stuff.

Kevin

[BrianB]

Welcom to SMC, Ditane! Conragts on the purchase of your first, note I said "first", machine!! It's good to have you aboard. When you mentioned the wiring harness are you talking only about the compressor wiring or the entire machine wiring? Just curious.

Like the others mentioned, Steve Ebner at Funtronics is awesome. In fact, all of the banner ads on this website lead to other great websites with really reputable people behind them. If you have any other questions/concerns, let us know! '>

Ok, cool. Thanks for the info. Of course I will post pics whenever I can get them.  And the thing about the "first" machine, I can see what you mean. Even though I already have one that I have paid for (still not picked up) I found myself looking on ebay at more of them, although I don't have anywhere to put another one as it is.
I may check out the swap area here to see about some of the parts.  And I'm not sure if it is just the compressor wiring or the entire thing, I will try to find out once I actually get the machine.
Thanks

[BryanH]

Hey Ditane - welcome aboard.  Time to start picking out your next machine...  too hard just having one.  

I have also purchased wiring harnesses from sodajerks. They're very high quality.  I also have a used harness that I could sell to you.  Not as new but not as expensive.  For any other parts, like your shelves, you should scan the Swap Meet Area on these boards.

[BrianB]

More than likely it will just be the compressor wiring. I think that harness costs around $35.00 from Soda Jerk Works. Like Bryan said, it's very high quality and well worth the cash spent on it. Good luck!

Good to see another new person just getting into their first machine like me.  

I'm sure I'll be asking more questions here at first than answering them.  But anything from a "new guy" perspective that I find out, I'll be sure to pass along.

Mark

I picked up my machine today! I was so excited.  It is actually in fairly good condition, except the wiring and the coin mech.  I need to mess with the coin mech and clean it up (as well as the rest of the machine) And the wiring was scary.  Everything from the wall plug to where the wiring harness splits off into the many different things was completely destroyed with dry rot. One of my roomates uncles was down, and he is apparently really good with that kind of thing, and he went to looking at it. Before I knew what was happening he was snipping wires. At first I was a bit discouraged, but then we made a Wally-World run and got some parts. When we returned he messed with the wires a bit and got it all working, sort of.  All of the cooling system seems to be working great, but the coin-mech and lights don't seem to work at the moment.  And with the coin mech out, I can't get it to vend.  I figure the lights just need replacing.  The coin mech seems to have two problems that I am hoping a good cleaning will fix.  At first the dime would just fall through (it has a national rejector coin mech, and it seems to only be able to be for a dime, but if that is wrong, could you point me in the right direction) anyway.... Then I found the little "switch" that the dime would trigger, to activate the vending solinoid and figured out how to manually trigger it. And   it would vend.  Then when we went to close it up from all of the other work, it stopped working completely (the coin mech and vending mechanism, not the cooling) , and I can no longer even manually trigger anything.  Would a good cleaning help this part out? Also, what would be the best way to clean the machine, any cleaning things to avoid to keep my machine from getting hurt.
Anyway, any tips would be appreciate, and sorry for the rambling, but I am tired yet excited.  Here are 3 pictures taken by the person I bought the machine from, I don't at the moment have access to a camera to take my own.
Picture one

Picture two

Picture three

[BrianB]

Looks like you scored a pretty sweet machine! Sounds like you've got a line on what you need to get done to make this one a winner. For more tips on your coin mech. prob's, you should check out the archived info in the "Coin Mechanism" section.

If that doesn't help, just give a holler!

[MoonDawg]

Nice machine!   Easy fix !
      First, replace that coin mech. with a newer version (approx. $35 - $50), or convert the machine to freeplay (see coin mech. posts)
      If that doesn't fix it, invite your roommate's uncle over again, then show him the new wiring harness you just bought.


       Kidding  '>  You will be able to change the harness yourself.........just stick with this group

[BryanH]

Nice machine... for cleaning tips just search on cleaning.  Depending on how much restoration you plan, you should also scan the posts in the restoration forum.  Lots of time saving tips in both areas.

These machines are pretty robust.  First step is a good power wash (after it's unplugged).  From there its chemicals and elbow grease.    Have fun and make sure you post pics once it's sparkling.

[BrianB]

We LOVE chemicals...... '>  '>

[Eric]

Wow! Great First machine! Very clean... especially the inside!
Now you're hooked!.... there's no turning back now.... you'll need
another one to keep this one company!

Congrats!
Eric

Great first machine!
I have that exact same model in my gameroom.
See the photo of Dr. Galaga and me when he visited my house.
Good to have you here.

Quote

If that doesn't fix it, invite your roommate's uncle over again, then show him the new wiring harness you just bought.

Actually, we didn't get a new wiring harness, his uncle just fixed it all up with a extension cord (which he of course cut up) and some wiring caps.

While looking around a couple of places online, I think there may be someone parting out either a CSS-64 or USS-64. If they still have the shelves, would shelves from those models fit my CS-64?

Also how would I tell if I had power going to the front of my machine?  I think that is part of my problem with the machine. I had power going to it for a little while, then it stopped when I went to close everything up.

I have seen on ebay where someone sells restoration manuals. Has anyone had any experience with those and if so how are they? Is there anywhere that I might get a copy of the original manual for the machine?

Sorry for all of the questions, I am just excited about my machine, and have no experience with them until now.  But it is great to have such a helpful group of people who are experts at this avaliable for us novices. I may come up with yet more questions, but I will try to post them in the appropriate forum (if avaliable)

Thanks for all of your help!