Door light for vmc110?

[BryanH]

The VMC has a nice large light recessed into the door.  It's got to be flourescent as the machine has a started and transformer inside the coin door and the machine itself doesn't have a light up sign (yet).  I can't figure out how to get to the bulb... without taking the liner off the door.  The clip over the plasic lens (about half way up its length) looks like it's secured under the liner and the lens doesn't appear to have enough play to slip out on its own.

There has to be a trick as I can't see the maintenance folks (when the machines were in service) spending an hour or so removing the liner to replace a tube.

Is there anyway to check the starter and transformer first - make sure they work before tackling the tube?

[johnieG]

Have you tryed the "push to start" switch located top dead center over the bottle door yet? Push & hold the switch until you see the ends of thelamp glow, then relase it, this may be all it is.  to replace the lamp. Open the main door, the center clip (that holds the glass cover over the lamp) is held down by the screw adjacent to it on the liner side, just loosen the screw & carefully pry up on the "tail" end of the clip (nearest you as you are on the liner side on the door) it will slid out from behind the screw as it has a "U" shaped slot on that end only, carefully bend the clip out to a 90 deg. angle (it's stainless steel & quite flexible, now with one hand (fingers) on the glass, side the glass UP in it's channel to expose the bottom of the glass cover, with the other hand, grab the bottom of the exposed glass-cover & tip it out of the channel, DON"T DROP IT! now you will see the lamp, rubber gloves will help you get a grip on the lamp to twist it about 90-degrees to release it from it's socket's, to test the look at the lamps ends, if they are just blackend, then it's probably safe to assume the lamp just burnt out, if the look clean (white, no blackening) the ballast may be shorted, check old bulbs filaments at each end, they should give you a reading of a couple of OHMS on a VOM set to low ohms range, if the buld checks good (both ends) try reseating it into the sockets & push & hold the starter/switch until you see the lamp glow at the ends & release it, it may just be unlite, as these door lamps usually have a "push to start" switch as opposed to a starter like the lightup sign above.

[MoonDawg]

Remove a screw holding the stainless band and remove one side.  Push on the top and bottom of the glass against the springs and slide the panel up or down until one end comes out.
     A blown ballast will blow a lightbulb. A ballast costs the same as the bulb.  Therefore it's cheaper to buy both now, than just a bulb and then find you need to back and get the pair tomorrow

[BryanH]

Thanks guys - came out slick as a whistle.  The bulb and starter were blown. Think I have a loose connection somewhere as it goes out once in awhile but tapping / banging the door gets it going again.

[sodaworks]

Hello BryanH,
  If it's like the round tops the starter is built into the ballast. '>

HELP: I need to replace my bulb in my V81, followed the instructions but can't seemed to get the glass loose. Any thoughts, don't want to break the glass.