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Soda Machines, Coolers & Dispensers => Post 60's Machines & Coolers => Topic started by: Kevin C on October 19, 2004, 08:49:57 am



Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 19, 2004, 08:49:57 am
Hello

I just purchased a Vendo 63 on Ebay & picked up the machine last week. I started with the basic cleaning to remove the 30-40 years worth of crud in the bottom of the machine. I have been documenting the process with my digital camera. The Vendo 63 did cool when I picked it up. I have removed the cooling unit to allow for the cleaning & I am preparing to upgrade the electrical cord & possible change out the two blower motors. I hope to have the machine back up & in operation by Thanksgiving.

The biggest issue right now appears to be the lower pan inside the cabinet. The condensation drain was clogged & there is a great deal of rust. I am thinking of making a replacement pan to fit on top of the existing pan. Anyone have any success finding an original replacment.

I plan on using the hose to finish cleaning the crud out tonight.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on October 19, 2004, 11:50:25 am
Sounds like a great project, can't wait to see the results. I just recently purchased a Vendo Square Top 56 with hopes of restoring it. It's in working condition, but needs TLC. The  previous owner set it to free vend all the time but I am not sure how to set it back to use the coin mech. The coin mech accepts money and I hear a click so I think it is working. However the bottles pull free all of the time so the locking lever never works. I believe the gate locks have been tampered with, won't know until I take it apart, but right now I enjoying cold soda until I start the restoration.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: loman4ec on October 19, 2004, 12:41:22 pm
Thecount
I just finished a restoration on a vendo 56 square top. I can't answer your vending problem since that is aboiut the only thing I didn't tare into on the machine. But I just wanted to let you know to feel free to ask me anything you get stuck on. Either ask me here or email me at jdloman2000@yahoo.com.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 20, 2004, 08:22:30 am
Hello

I will start posting a few of the pictures of the clean up.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 21, 2004, 07:21:34 pm
Hello

Here is the Vendo 63

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 21, 2004, 07:25:13 pm
Hello

Trying again.  Vendo 63 Photo

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 21, 2004, 07:29:31 pm
Hello

Here is the inside the machine with the 30 plus years of crud.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 21, 2004, 07:31:45 pm
Hello

The bottom of the machine with the mouse nest & curd.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 21, 2004, 07:42:50 pm
Hello

Here is the picture of  the tag. Any ideas on the age of the machine.

The manufacture number 4KK 069171

The serial number reads     326915H

Right now I have the machine apart in the garage under going a major cleaning. I have removed the cooling system & replaced both of the fan motors. I own an Air conditioning company and for everyones information I picked up the fan motors at the local CC Dickson supply house for $19.50 each. So there is no need for anyone to buy the motors at auction or on-line. I am working on the galvinized lower panel inside the cooling compartment. It appears that the condensation drain line clogged & caused the rust.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 28, 2004, 08:42:14 pm
Hello

Here is a picture of the bottom of the machine cleaned up.

So now I will start working on the interior lower galvinized pan that is rusted.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Jim on October 29, 2004, 07:05:15 am
Looks good!
The condensor compartment cleaned up nice!


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 31, 2004, 05:38:21 pm
Hello

Here is a picture of the old condensing coil shroud. The condensing coil is the lower coil near the compressor. The shroud forces the outside air that is pulled in by the fan motor to move across the coil from the front of the machine towards the back of the machine. On the inside of my door there is a section of cardboard covering about a third of the vented/open area that forces the outside air to enter the case in the area of the condensing coil.

Now do get confused with the the evaporator coil.  The evaporator coil inside the refrigerated compartment that holds the drinks.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on October 31, 2004, 05:41:44 pm
Hello

Here is the new shroud that I made out of heavy cardboard from an old calender. I traced, cut out, folded, test fitted & then painted.

The wiring harness from the soda-jerks arrived so I can now start progress towards getting my machine into operation.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Jim on October 31, 2004, 06:00:06 pm
Kevin,

For the future, you can visit your local craft store and purchase black craft board and fabricate the shroud(s) from this material... It's almost identical to the non-textured(smooth) cardboard shrouds.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on November 04, 2004, 08:51:55 am
Hello

Here is the before of the lower coil.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on November 04, 2004, 08:56:23 am
Hello

Here is the lower coil after cleaning, with the new shroud & painting black to match the orginal look.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on November 15, 2004, 10:52:15 am
Hello

Any ideas on locating the proper condensation drain pan for my Vendo 63? Well until I find the proper pan I will just get one from an old refrigerator.

I plan on getting it back together this week and loaded with adult beaverages for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Plus I have to go pick up my second Vendo 63 this week. Once you buy one of these things then all your friends want one.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: glassbottlesrule on November 15, 2004, 05:04:59 pm
Watch it, these things are addictive.  Just wanted one"for the basement"  Six months after the first machine I've aquired four others and seems like more are coming out of the woodwork every day.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on November 15, 2004, 10:27:26 pm
I second that thought. I can't drive down a country road without noticing someone with two Coke select-o-matics laying outside in someone's yard. By-the-way, still trying to catch up with the owner on what he plans to do with them.

Thanks for taking time to load the pictures and explain a little about the cooling system. I think that 63 was in pretty good shape.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Pat Pixley on November 15, 2004, 11:59:03 pm
good work on that shroud And a good looking machine
There right these thing are addictive. I bought my first one in 1996 and have not looked back.  Keep up the good
work.

Pat
 :D


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Pat Pixley on November 16, 2004, 12:03:58 am
Hey to clean up that copper line , Go out and get your
self some Copper Brite it works great. Here is there
Web site  www.copperbrite.com

Pat  :D


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on November 17, 2004, 10:15:57 pm
Hello

Tonight was the first full operational test of the Vendo 63 after the extensive cleaning, fan motor, replacement, new thermostat & rust repair.

Here is a the picture of the lower condensor/compressor area with the fully clean coil. You can see my brownie pan I am using for an condensation pan.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on November 17, 2004, 10:24:14 pm
Hello

Here is the picture of the evaporator lower cabinet. You can see my added condesation pan that I made & placed under the evaporator. The thermostat works fine with the first temp test running the inside temp down to about 28 before I reset the t-stat. I now have to running in the garage for an overnight test.

I did detemine that the vending part of the machine does not work properly. It appears the vend silenoid  does not engage. Any ideas? Plus the coin Vari-price 50 does not work quite as advertised.  Well just more fun in the garage for me.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on November 20, 2004, 05:33:52 pm
Hello

I had the first full operational test of my Vendo 63. I loaded it with adult drinks & during the big game (Clemson-USC) all the boys decided that they wanted a machine. It looks like my dream of owning a coke machine may turn out to be a great hobby.

Kevin  :D






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on December 01, 2004, 08:45:05 pm
Hello

I ordered & installed a new vend solenoid and after sparking it a few times during installation/testing it works fine. I did install a different coin changer. So for now machine one the Vendo 63 is set up to vend 12 oz longneck beers for 25 cents. Machine two is going a little slower.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Jim on December 01, 2004, 09:09:49 pm
Aaahhh, the lessons we learn the first time around...
Don't play with LIVE wires! This isn't a welding class!

With electricity, if the conditions are right, you might not get a chance to make the same mistake twice!

Please be careful and ALWAYS lean toward safety first! :)






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on December 09, 2004, 09:20:59 am
white vinegar cleans copper or brass quite well :D


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Big W on January 01, 2005, 11:14:54 pm
If you are still looking for a drain pan you can order one out of the Vendors Exchange International catalog or website Look Here





Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on January 30, 2005, 07:27:23 pm
nm


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on January 30, 2005, 08:34:15 pm
nm ?


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Jim on January 30, 2005, 11:33:39 pm
I'll assume --> nm --> Never Mind... ???


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on January 31, 2005, 07:27:26 am
Oh, now I get it. Thanks. :)
(I thought maybe he was telling us he was off to Neiman Marcus. Just kidding.)






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on January 31, 2005, 11:06:12 am
NM

No message just wanted to bump it back to the top of the list.

Not Mine
Never More


Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Jim on January 31, 2005, 11:50:48 am
Or you can just say "bump" --> meaning bump this thread to the top.

Most people that have been associated with bulletin boards have seen this technique before... I'm sure a few new visitors will catch on quickly!


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on January 31, 2005, 10:14:41 pm
Hey Kevin C,
How will you fix the galvinized?  Can you give a play by play.
Patrick


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Paul M. on February 01, 2005, 01:08:50 am
I'd like to know what you used to clean the insides with.  Mine is not in as good a condition as yours, but your photos of the cleaned metal look really nice.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 01, 2005, 09:12:28 am
Hello

Please identfy the areas you are talking about & I will relook at the pictures & tell you what I did.

Now if you look closely at the evaporator coil picture you will see the replacement insert pan that I made. The orginal condensation lower cabinet near the drain area was rusted through so I took the measurements and made a pan to fit, installed a brass ferrel in the drain hole to make sure the condensation drained correctly. This really worked well and I did the same thing in my V-56.

I hope this helps but keep asking & I will try to answer.

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Paul M. on February 01, 2005, 12:39:42 pm
Reference this picture that you posted, Kevin.  The lower area looks fantastic!  Like new paint.  I assume the bottle of cleaner in the photo was what you used.  That, and there is a later photo that you posted of the finished job.  That one looked pretty good in the galvanized areas.  What do you use that won't ruin the galvanization?  Or is it just shiny looking from the camera flash?


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Paul M. on February 01, 2005, 12:44:25 pm
Oops.  Try again...


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: joesquid on February 01, 2005, 04:06:28 pm
I'm curious also about what you used to clean the condensor.  The fins and coils look exceptionally clean.  What did you do to get between the fins?

Thanks!


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 01, 2005, 09:06:49 pm
Hello

Here is a copy & paste of my refrigeration cleaning from the refrigeration section of this forum.

Kevin


The best thing to do is to remove the refrigeration system & place it on a work table. It may take two people to pull it out & hold the upper/lower sections. Place on a table then you can inspect the whole opertion while it is running. I would then remove & replace the two fan motors, install a new T-stat & wiring harness. While the motors are out you should take the whole remaining sections outside, spray the coils with a heavy coating with a good cleaner, allow to soak for 20-30 minutes. Then pull out the garden hose & back spray (opposite of the air flow direction) with water.  A good cleaning like this along with new fan motors & T-stat will solve most all refrigeration problems. These sealed systems do no go bad unless they have been neglected.

When testing the system while it is on the table you should just look for frost on the edges of the upper coil. The system will not have the proper airflow to cool but you can test all parts of the system prior to reinstallation. If the refrigeration does not frost the upper coil you will need to get the system serviced by a local company or your home ac man doing some side work.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 01, 2005, 09:16:26 pm
Hello

Now as far as cleaning the lower cabinet I used some kind of cleaner I bought at Lowes. I sprayed, allowed the cleaner to sit, then started to scrub with a sponge & finally I sprayed with the garden hose. Once it was clean & dry I sprayed the inside of the lower cabinet with a white rust preventative paint. I have not plans of repainting the outside of the machine with spray paint & some people will think I may have detracted from the machine for spray painting the inside of the cabinet. For my personal beer machine I think it looks great. I would never try to spray paint the the outside of a machine that I had for sale. I am getting ready to sand & repaint my Vendo56. There is another thread on the 56. So there is no secret cleaner to make it look like that but a combination of cleaning & a white paint.

Sorry if I disappointed anyone!

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Paul M. on February 02, 2005, 12:19:34 am
Ok.  Thanks.  I must say, though, I am a little disappointed.  <toungue in cheek> I was hoping you had found a magic solution that worked miracles, even as unlikely as it is.  The photos make it look great!  Nice job!


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: BrianB on February 02, 2005, 09:42:16 am
I wouldn't call it a "magical" cleaning product but....I LOVE Simple Green! I was introduced to Simple Green while I was still on Active Duty with the Navy. Back when I joined in 1991 we were still using a generic "General Purpose" cleaner affectionately know as just "GP". Well......it wasn't very effective and had the potential to have some pretty bad side effects on people and the enviroment.

Well....around 1994 we were provided with our first 50 gallon drum of Simple Green. Being in the Navy you pretty much become a subject matter expert on cleaning and preservation. So Simple Green was met with some skeptisism. But after trying it, we fell in love with it. It literally was the best thing since sliced bread!!

I have used it to clean-up my soda machine and am currently using it in the restoration of my Stoner Junior Candy Machine and I also use it at work to clean up the equipment that I work on. In addition, It's non-toxic and enviroment freindly.

Short of dunking my entire machine in a solvent tank, this is my favorite product along with alot of fresh water and rags!


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on February 02, 2005, 09:49:07 am
Great info VMC117BMB. I've never heard f the stuff. I'll have to check it out. Thanks.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Paul M. on February 02, 2005, 12:24:15 pm
Yeah, Brian.  The Army doesn't use GP cleaner anymore, either.  But we're not using Simple Green where I work.  I'll give it a try.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: BryanH on February 02, 2005, 08:17:43 pm
For those of us not in the service - where should we look for Simple Green?


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kilroy on February 02, 2005, 08:24:02 pm
Remember, Google is your friend....


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Jim on February 02, 2005, 09:37:59 pm
Google is like an Internet Survival Guide on steroids! :D


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 02, 2005, 09:53:02 pm
Hello

Go buy it at Lowes  Home Depot

Kevin






Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Paul M. on February 02, 2005, 11:48:11 pm
Many auto parts stores carry it in the wheel cleaner section.  Walmart probably has it, too.





Title: Vendo 63
Post by: BrianB on February 03, 2005, 07:11:10 am
Sorry guys! I should have also included where you can buy the stuff! I guess you've mostly covered that by now. I've seen it everywhere from the local Ma & Pa hardware store all the way up to Sam's club. So, when I go to get my glass bottle fix, I kill two birds with one stone!

Another good cleaning solution I have have used to clean/remove surface rust chemically is a product called CLR (Calcium, Rust, Lime). I use it on bottle shelves and the machine liner. CLR is also available at most retail stores same as Simple Green.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 04, 2005, 04:02:48 pm
Hey

This Vendo 63 if now for sale if any of you guys would like to make a deal. It is located in Charleston, SC. I will prepare it for shipping if you need. Let me know because I have another machine on the way to my garage & I need to move one of the current three machines out.

Help a coke machine addict out of a jamb!

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on February 04, 2005, 04:28:01 pm
I would LOVE to buy it if you were in Minnesota, but can't afford to ship anything. Man I wish you guys all lived in Minnesota. :(


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 04, 2005, 04:58:30 pm
Hey Mark

Can I use Mark?

Shipping is not that much.  I am having a larger machine shipped for around $240. I could get you a quote from Charleston to Big Blue Country. Post you Zip code.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: jasmine64 on February 26, 2005, 09:59:27 am
Kevin,
Can you walk me through the removal, disconnecting and
painting the condensor and evaporator.

Dont want to break anything.


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 26, 2005, 05:40:17 pm
Hello

I can try. First unplug the machine.

The upper evaporator is screwed into the back of the cabinet with 2 or 4 screws & there may be 2 screws down through the bottom. So remove all the screws. Open the box on the bottom of the bottle rack & disconnect the vend switch. Next remove the cover that protects the electrical wires & the freon lines where they pass from the upper to the lower cabinet. The lower condensing coil & the compressor sit on a metal stand that allow the whole lower part to slide out in one section. This stand is held in place in the back of the cabinet by two metal guides that the stand slides under. This lower stand may have one nut/bolt sticking out on the right front. Remove the nut, pull the electrical plug cord through the back of the machine. Remove the condensation pan to get it out of the way.

Now it is best to have two people pull the entire upper & lower out at one time. Lift the lower compressor stand up over the hold bolt & pull the stand forward & at the same time have the second person lift the upper evaporator & pull it forward.  The only way you can really cause any problem is if you allow one of the freon lines to crimp itself. Pull the thing out & set on your work table. You will see that I use a box to support the upper evaporator while it sitting on a table.  Give both of the these coils a good cleaning with the hose, allow to dry, paint black, install two new fan motors, a new T-stat & a wiring harness would be a good idea. Then just reinstall the same way you took it out.

I hope this helps

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: on February 27, 2005, 12:57:12 am
Kevin,
Would it be a good idea to just a can of forced air to clean the coils to avoid water and maybe rust?
Or is that just the newbie in me talking?

If not, any areas to keep the water away from?


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: Kevin C on February 27, 2005, 10:30:27 am
Hello

Well of course you need to keep the water away from the electrical parts but I always replace the (fans, t-stat, wiring harness) so I would think the only real place to keep water away from would be the pecker head on the side the compressor.

Pecker Head-  knot on the side of the compressor where the electrical wires attach.

Kevin


Title: Vendo 63
Post by: MoonDawg on February 27, 2005, 12:26:14 pm
Pecker head.....New to me but I love it. LOL   :D