John,
I read that you ran into a small glitch with the 'backing plate' on the coin mech. What are you referring to?
What I thought about these SD/LD mechs and see is it is a 44 mech and the coin chute is too tall - is that what you are talking about? Did the bezel hit the duckbill chute and prevent the coin door from closing?
the mech is the one that came with it, and I didn't spend time resourcing a Change giver mech so went with this one.. The small glitch was not the duckbill chute, that actually still fit fine, it was the backing plate that mounts onto the coin mech did not have the beveled edge on the left side (facing) so the coin door would not close, I didn't realize there where two or three different style backing plates and had to order one up from Janet and Rod at FUNTRONICS (plug) they hooked me up with the correct one and just had to get it painted, so that delayed me by a week on the resto.. not big deal and machine is in transit to the new owner as we speak today!
On to another 81 B and a Vendo 39, as well as 3 gas pumps I'm restoring right now.. and oh not to mention a stoner JR that is the paint shop, and a Dole Jr Fountain dispenser... that's about it...