Just got a CSS-64

[Skeleton Man]

Hi guys,

You may recall my topic on the V63 for $800 ? well about a week later I found a cavalier CSS-64 (or CSS-8-64 as the tag says) for a best offer of $50!

I just picked up the machine this morning - 45 mins each way and $20 gas.. peanuts compared to shipping! Was small enough to fit in the back of a friend's van, so that made it easier (otherwise gas money would've tripled for a full size pickup!)

It supposedly works and the mech has been updated to take $1 coins.. haven't tried it yet as I wanted to let it stand a while.. (was in storage, so nowhere to plugin).

It's complete apart from 4 missing shelves..  anybody have these or know of repops ?

Other than that it has a few flaws (besides paint/rust):

1) It's french! (probably orginated in Quebec)
2) No key for coin door lock (unlocked)
3) Main door latch is broken (missing the handle, the latch itself still works)
4) Door glass is shattered
5) Main door or the body is warped slightly - door doesn't close tightly
6) Door lining and seals are cracked/ripped

On the upside:
1) Bottle opener, coin bezel, coin return, and cap catcher are all there
2) Paper decals inside are in fair shape (legible, but not perfect)
3) Coin mech and associated wiring are all there (unlike my previous machine)

Do you think it's worth restoring this machine to its former glory ?  I might not go the whole hog (can't afford $500 for a new compressor and $300 to ship it), but at least I can clean it up some.

Chris

[GreginNM]

Nice score, Chris!  I would think it's worth restoring, especially since you aren't into it very much yet.  Most of what it needs is easily obtained and not too expensive.  That way, you will have a nice machine for around the house to use!

[Pat Pixley]

Hey Chris, look ok sound like it needs a few items the big thing is if the compressor works,
 if it does not work then I would say no .  On the list of things wrong
2-6 those are items that can be found on ebay or even here but your going to be spending some what  big cash on a few item (door liner $$ , Shipping $ & main door if warped$$) that adds up The main door could be out of kilter from the main door gasket being shot and people slamming it shut and that could be the broke latch
.
 Lets see what the compressor say when you fire it up I hope it does work .

[Skeleton Man]

Fired it up today and lights, camera, action! The sign lit up, the compressor kicked in, and it vends. It kept spitting my coins back out at first, until I discovered it was already ready to vend (once I opened the vend gate, I heard it click and reset, and all was good).

It's just an S75-9800 mech (dunno if it's A or B model), and supposedly it's been upgraded to take CDN $1 coins but I think that's BS because I tried and it won't even fit through the slug rejector! (sticks in the opening, have to hit coin return)

Cools nicely, I didn't take a reading but the coils all frost up and the inside of the machine feels cold (you can feel the cool air).

I emailed Joey (coke and stuff) and he may have the shelves I need for a really good price, I just have to get back to him with photos (didn't realise the shelves varied with each model).

Chris

[Skeleton Man]

Update.. I found out I have a CSS-8-64J, the label inside the coin door has the letter after it, but the plate on the outside of the machine just says CSS-8-64.

Still needing door glass for machine..  two panes of glass (each 1/8"
thick) with a 1/4 inch thick foam gasket between the two. Measures 37" tall x 5 7/16" wide.

I discovered that correct change and ready to vend ("enjoy coke") lights were missing, and the bottle door light was blown, but luckily it looks like they're just standard night light bulbs (like .25 each) instead of some hard to find bulb for $5.00 each.

I'm impressed that the sign still lights up, even looks like the original starter (it's a little glass bulb, instead of the plastic cylinder I'm used to seeing).

I looked on soda jerk works for parts, but they don't seem to have a huge variety of stuff. There's another one I heard of that has a printed catalog and puts out the official price guide for coke machines - was reading an online copy somewhere, but it was probably old..  where do I get this guide ? (does anyone know what I'm talking about)

I didn't get pictures yet (none worth seeing anyway, just dark low res ones taken with my phone), but there doesn't appear to be a lot of rust, other than around the bottom of the evaporator coils - just lots of dirt and dust and crap (pressure washer should fix that).

Double checked the main door seal and it's actually in better shape than I thought, it's just the plastic door liner that's cracked. If I replace that I'll need a new loading/wiring diagram decal..  anybody reproduce these ?

Chris

[bubba]

Chris.. did you ask Joey about the bottle door as well? He may have a complete one instead of messing with replacing the glass.

Funtronics also has a big parts store as well as a big catalog. That is probably the one you are talking about.

[Skeleton Man]

Funtronics! that's the one    Do they have a website ?

I'll ask Joey about door glass too then.

Chris

[collecture]

Fun-Tronics is phone order only - (301) 371-5246
You can view the catalog somewhere (I think www.antiquevend.com), but Steve is always adding items so it is best to call.

[Skeleton Man]

Maybe Fun-Tronics will have the glass then. I asked Joey and he suggested home depot or lowes, he doesn't have a door glass. Would this be where I get hammertone paint too ?

Hammertone is the silver stuff everybody uses for liner, shelves, etc right ? Does it just come in a spraybomb ?

Also need some advice on cleaning the compressor, tubing, and coils. I know a pressure washer will remove the dirt and grime, but how do I get it all shiny again ? I don't care if I have to remove fan motors, wiring, etc.. as long as I don't have to cut or remove the tubes (it works right now I don't want to have to re-seal and refill with R12).

What about painting the outside ? Would I be wise to take it to a professional ? I don't own a compressor and I've never painted anything before.

I've never restored a machine before so I need all the help I can get. It's complete apart from a few shelves and the door glass and fully operational (vends and cools).

Chris

[collecture]

Is there enough of the bottle door glass to measure or is the whole thing gone?
If not, maybe somebody here can give you a measurement - you just need to go to any glass shop with the measurements and they can cut it to size and they will even put the cut corner or hole on it fairly inexpensively.
As far as the liner, I heard from Steve Ebner (Fun-Tronics) that you can go to an automotive shop like PepBoys and get the rubber bumper repair kit (like the 80's cars) for the plastic liners. He said it takes a little work, but you can repair most cracks. I don't think it can do anything for the shattered screw holes though. I'm sure you can call him and ask about it as he is always willing to share information - great guy!.
Fun-Tronics sells a bomb can of Hammertone paint, but I am pretty sure you can buy a bomb of it at Home Depot.
I'll try to post a paint code number later.