How to make a Large Door Coin Mech Free Vend and easily reverse it!

[collecture]

Thought I would post this for all - it is nice to be able to do when entertaining.

I bought my spring at ACE Hardware - it was #102 in the spring bin at my ACE, but that may not be the case for you. Anyway, get a spring with a long extension at one end like the one in the pictures below. You want the spring to have pretty good tension so it has enough strength to hold the nickel finger up.

1. Remove the rejector from the mech.
2. Loosen the mech mounting bolt above the 'Penny Lock Out Lever' and slip the long hook-end of the spring under mech mounting bolt and external tooth washer.
3. Tighten the bolt while holding the spring pointing down to the 4:30 to 5:00 o'clock position.
4. Make sure the spring is not interfering with any moving parts and adjust if necessary.
5. Connect the short end of the spring under the rear of the nickel finger as in the picture.

You're done!

When you want the machine to vend normally using coins, simply unhook the short end of the spring from the nickel finger leaving the long end attached under the bolt - verify the spring is still not obstructing moving parts and install the rejector back into the mech.

Picture # 1 is of the mech set for Free Vend
Picture # 2 is of the mech set for Coin Vend

[Creighton]

Very clever!!!
Thanks,
Creighton

[johnieG]

Great tip!

[bubba]

Very cool Tom.. thanks!

[collecture]

Thanks guys!
It is easy and offered the versatility I was looking for - I always liked the way the SD coin mechs could be set for free vend with the turn of a screw.
Figured it was a good tip - hope everybody gets some use from it!

[rogerz]

Thanks Tom Thats a clean way to do it, I'm going to use that!

rz

[Pizza Guy]

does this work on all coin op systems.  I have a Vendolator VF117?

Thnks

[collecture]

does this work on all coin op systems.  I have a Vendolator VF117?

No - this tip is for Large Door mechanical mechs only.
For electric mechs, you will need to do one of the following:

Modify the bottle stack as in this tip -
http://soda-machines.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,29/topic,6940.0/

or

electrically configure a free play button as in the following tip -
http://soda-machines.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,29/topic,871.0/

[collecture]

Just to update the thread.
This method ONLY works on a large door change-giver mech. I tried it on a stright sale LD mech and it lifted the dime finger up too much and it jammed against the coin block.
Another issue to problem solve! 

[vintagegamer]

electrically configure a free play button as in the following tip -
http://soda-machines.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,29/topic,871.0/

FYI this is a dead link.

[scalebowler]

FYI this is a dead link.

Here is the one that works. http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php/topic,871.0.html

[Jim]

Thanks for posting the correct link!

[collecture]

I was playing around with a non change-giver mech the other day and this procedure will work on the non-change-giver; however, you need to unattach the dime finger spring when you put the extension spring on the nickel finger. To make it a coin vend, unattach the extension spring and reattach the dime finger spring over the nickel finger bar.
What happens when you leave the dime finger spring attached is the dime finger doesn't fall down after the coin passes; therefore, it gets stuck against the top of the coin block bracket and it needs to pass under the top of the bracket.