Vendo 44 vend mechanism

[collecture]

I was trying to figure out why the vend mechanism wouldn't turn on my 44 (hoping that nothing was missing). Took a look at my VMC-44 manual and figured out that it is complete and there is an Allen head adjustment screw for the release spring, which I'm sure will solve my problem.
I was thinking of taking the assembly apart, giving it a good cleaning and relubricating it, but it is not entirely necessary as it is pretty clean and I could simply lubricate it.

If I did disassemble it, is there anything for me to be careful with (ie. springs flying, etc.)? Tips for disassembling or reassembling it? Would anyone suggest not doing it??

Thanks!

[collecture]

Well I figured it out. One end of the Clutch Spring had come out of its' hole in the Spring Release.
Readjusted and lubricated the Spring Release and it works smoothly. No need to disassemble for the moment.
Just need to give the coin mech a good going over and fix the dented door 

[Jim]

Tom,

Do you have a photo of the repair area or spring for reference...?
Glad you were able to fix the problem!

[collecture]

I'll get a photo for you later today.
Basically there is a notch in the Spring Release for one end of the Clutch Release Spring to fit into. Mine had come loose. After repositioning it, I was able to use the set screw to set the Spring Release Arm to the correct position.

Someone here posted a while back that they really had no use for manuals, but in this case the parts diagrams and adjustment tips provided in a manual proved to be very helpful. I would not have been able to figure it out otherwise.

[collecture]

Here you go -
My vend mechanism on the 44 would only turn from 12 o'clock to about 1 o'clock and then stop cold. I looked at the manual and saw there was an adjustment for the Spring Release.
You can remove 3 screws on front by the Coupler and half of the Vend Mech assembly will slide out. Remove 13 screws on the back of the stack and the rest of the Vend Mech assembly comes out with part of the back.

I tried the adjustment screw and just could not figure out how it worked as it did not do anything. Turns out one end of my Clutch Spring had come out of it's hole in the Spring Release (See first pic - shown in correct position). After I put it back where it belonged, it was a simple to adjust the arm on the Spring Release with the set screw shown in 2nd pic.

I am going to try to scan in the manual soon and submit it. Easier to understand the adjustment screw via the diagrams.

[vendo39]

Tom,

Thanks for posting these pictures.  I was trying to get mine to work last night without success and then I remembered this post.  I can tell I'm missing that silver wire spring already.


Also, does anyone know if the spring (circled in red below) is supposed to rotate freely around the shaft inside of it?  My will turn a few times and then bind up.  I don't know if I'm putting this together right as it never worked when I got it.

Thanks

Brian

[collecture]

Brian,
It should rotate. Without taking mine apart, I can't be of much help. The schematics on the VMC-44 manual should help with what else (if anything) might be missing (besides the noted spring). The missing spring may indeed be the culprit!
I really haven't spent a lot of time with mine, so I too am somewhat in the dark as to what does what.

[cokemachinesandmore]

This is indeed what makes this site GREAT, members always helping each other out!

[vendo39]

Yeah thanks for your help Tom - I did get it working last night!

The pictures you posted and the manual you sent were a great help.  I love having a scanned copy of the manual because I can blow up the pictures 200% so I can actually recognize the parts!  Having very large schematics makes it very easy to put something back together.

And just for future reference, the biggest mistake I was making was the lack of the proper lubrication. The 44 has some very tight tolerances and without eveything being properly lubed up, it will bind. I just didn't want to smear grease all over my shiney new parts but ya gotta!