La crosse model 56 pepsi machine

[Monkey Boy]

Seasons greetings to all I'm new here, and hope to learn enough information so that I can restore my old La Crosse model 56 Pepsi Machine...... So I can fill it with beer and pop out in my garage. Anyone know where I can find a place dedicated to these? I bought the machine for $75.00 and it's all there. It's faded and has a few dents on the back, and a small one in the front. I picked the change box lock, and got it open. The other lock didn't cooperate so I drilled it out.... Probably should stopped in here before doing that. It drilled out fine but will I be able to replace lock?  I plugged it in and the fan works but the one on the compressor isn't fairing so well. Haven't dug into it far enough yet to tell whats all wrong. I've removed the door, shelves, and othe misc. items. I'm going to disassemble what I can and send it to be painted. The plastic Pepsi sign is in good condition, but I touched the back side and some of the white rubbed off......I never have much luck searching for information on the internet so can anyone direct me the right direction with this? SOoooo far I haven't had much luck so I could really use a LOT of information......Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays

[johnieG]

Welcome to the website, first thing I can tell you is you got to post a picture, it helps a lot in identifing your machines model, & condition, plus, it help those who don't know what your particular machine looks like to assit you...LaCrosse machines are pretty neat, but there are many differences between a LC64-ILL & an LC100-ILL,   are you sure it's a "56"? double check the model no. on the ID tag...

Yea, and don't touch the back of any painted lightup sign (oops!) the silk-screen paint on these type of signs is usually dry-rotted from being so close to the lamp (UV ages the paint & makes it "dusty") to salvage the sign, you'll need a piece of thin white plastic cut to fit (but not touching) the back of the sign, this will help hid the spot were you rubbed through the paint)...there are many suppliers for the "classic" 50's round-cornered machines, but parts for the 60's square-cornered
60's machines like LaCrosse's are hard to come by, so if it's rough enough, you'll be looking for a new machine, or a parts "doner" of the same model (that's why we need pictures)hint hint...hope you'll stick around, I just sold a LaCrosse LVC64-ILL on Ebay, here's a picture to give you an idea of what it looks like...

[Monkey Boy]

http://www.soda-machines.com/machines/index.html    I don't have a digital camera so the picture from our site will have to do....It's just like this one except with your Pepsi color scheme. I wish my sign was nice and colorful as yours, but mine just says Pepsi in big black letters. I wish some one had a sign in better condition to look at. As mentioned there is a powdery white substance on the inside that I kind of rubbed a little of it off.  From what I remember it has what looks like tiny bubbles in this area. Black "Pepsi" script in the center..... The mystery part of the sign is the area around the letters what ever was on there has since flaked off. It appeared to be white or silver. Anyway most of it has flaked off. The machine is all there, but the cooling mechanism needs work, and the cabinet requires paint. I hope to get the correct paint codes from someone also. Over the Christmas break I hope to do more work on it and will have more questions. One that I can think of is where do you get one of those special screw drivers for the oddball screws? I made one but it isn't perfect..... Although I'll probably go back with stainless phillips heads.

[Monkey Boy]

I forgot to mention it also has a rack for empty bottles.  It was screwed into the side of the machine. It's an interesting addition but it needs attention as well. I just want it to look good when it's finished and not tacky. Doe's anyone have a picture of how they were installed? I would like to do it like it was original. It also has a card above coin slot that that says 10 cents made of colored paper... like a business card. Is this correct? As mentioned I'm going to have loads of questions.

[BrianB]

Welcome aboard Monkey boy! You've come to the right place to find help in starting your new found hobby!

This site has the best and most concise info on soda pop machines on the web hands down.

The empty bottle rack basically mounts on the side of the machine, usually on the same side as the bottle door. Typically uses four machine screws and it's up to you how high you want to mount it. I usually see them mounted to where the highest point (the outside of the highest bottle holder) is level with the top of the machine. If that's not feasible, mount it to where it's comfortable to get at.

The oddball screws are known as Clutchhead screws. The slot on the head looks like an hourglass and are pretty much impossible to find new anymore. You can find the driver for it in a lot of commercially available tool sets. Almost all of the cheap-o tool sets as weel as Craftsman have them. Most folks go with either stainless phillips or zinc phillips.

[Monkey Boy]

Thanks Brian B I went to Sears and found them... I had several days off during Christmas and didn't do much. I got the screwdriver tips on the last day. I took machine completely a part on the inside because of a couple of dents on the back side of machine. I pounded out the dents to some degree. Encountered mystery insulation that I treated as if it was the bad stuff. Probably was but I took precautions to some degree and discarded it. I approached a friend at work about painting the exterior and I'm looking for the paint codes for a Pepsi machine. Are these available here? Also how much do you think it will run to have the machine painted? Never done this before so I hope some one can put me in the ball park......
  I also have some questions about what to do with door trim. Its silver but not chrome looking..... Should I paint it with a satin finish silver? I fixed the wire harness and got the cooling fan to blow but the other fan under machine never kicked on. Should I see about having this fixed or buying a refurbished one? Whats the name of the place that sells these? Looking forward to filling this thing with ICE COLD REFRESHING BEER

[Monkey Boy]

Took a part the door today. I kept looking at this thing wondering how I could get inside. I finally noticed that on the back side the galvanized interior of the door that it only went to just under the seals at the edge of the door. Anyway it was attached by little nails. I pulled them with a pair of pliers and revealed the interior. The reason why I took it a part was because the decorative face of the door had about a half dollar size dent and one closer to bottom that wasn't quite as big. I hammered them out and it looks real good now. If anyone can help I still need Paint codes for a Pepsi machine the same colors as the one pictured above. Any advice you can give me about dealing with the compressor. Should I buy a new one, or should I say do they offer one? Oh and also the coin return needs to be rechromed who does this? Any recommendations? I also need to replace spring in glass door.... Or should I just add a magnet to keep it closed. Can't figure out how to get handle off of glass door. HELP....Thanks in advance '> Sorry if I ask to many questions.....

[BryanH]

MB - I'll take a crack at most of your questions:

There are several references to paint codes in the forums.  The ones I've captured for 50s/60s Pepsi are:
DuPont   95605   Light Blue   
DuPont   96581   Darker Light Blue   
I had my local Sherwin Williams auto dealer cross reference the 95605.  Nice color but it did come out lighter (YOu can see what it looked like in the restorations gallery) than Johnie's machine above.  No idea what the 96581 looks like.  Paint alone will be between $100 - $200 for high quality paint.  Labor will depend on how bad the machine is and how much prep you do yourself.

The trim around the door is generally something that needs to be trown out. Some people have found auto trim that is similar.  You'll have to search the forums to figure out who.  When I redid my VMC56, I just pulled the trim off and filled the holes.

Bezels like the coin return can be rechromed if you can't find a replacement... can be expensive unless you have lots of parts to justify the shops effort.

Need to take the door off to get the handle off.  Door is two interlocking pieces that sandwich the glass and gasket.  Take all the screws out of the side (inlunding the hinge) and pry the inside frame out of the outside.  Handle is screwed into the outisde frame from the inside.

[Monkey Boy]

Lots of Brian/Bryans here...I'm Brian Davis and I appreciate the help. Is it hard to get the double pain glass out? I poked at it a little yesterday, but didn't go very far. It looks like the coin return is rivited in. So I may have a problem getting that out so that it can be rechromed..... The trim around the outside of the machine isn't that bad. I may have to sand a few nicks out but other that that it should be fine. I am however having some trouble with the blue gasket  on inside of door.... I first tried to clean it with Windex. Why I don't know. I then went with that new cleaner with bleach in it. Not much better. I then tried a Scotch Brite pad and it still didn't help much. I had some luck with Carbueretor cleaner but didn't go far because of time.... Anyway the gasket is in real good shape just dirty, and moldy mildew covered..... I don't want to remove it if I don't have to. The only other thing I could do if Carb cleaner and elbow grease doesn't work is remove it an throw it into bleach....Anybody ever experience this?

[BryanH]

Hey Brian - It comes out pretty easy.  Use a flat screwdriver to lift inside edge (the hinge side) of the internal frame.  It's a snug fit but the frame protects the glass. In the pic below the external frame is on the left.  The internal frame is on the right and it's open side (the left) fits into the external frame under the the left side lip and then 'snaps' down on the right side.

Btw - I think your bottle door should have 3 panes of glass or plexi.  The gasket holds the middle pane and is then sandwiched between two other panes that are held by the door frame.

As for cleaning the door gasket...  Try "Simple Green".  Spray it and let it sit then gently scrub with a toothbrush.  If that doesn't get it clean enough for you then, unless someone here has a better trick, I think you'll need to take the gasket off and let it sit submerged in water and Simple Green (or other degreaser) for awhile the scrub then repeat until you are happy.  Last option is to completely replace the gasket.