What do you think? new pics added.

[rugrunner]

Found this a few miles from here (haven"t seen it yet) for 50$. She said it was made by ideal but she couldn't find a model #. Looks like the 55 on the "when to part out" thread to me.??

She said the compressor ran but didn't seem to cool and it had been sitting in a garage for a long time as it belonged to her now deceased father in law.

I had decided before seeing this that an Ideal 55 (or similar) would be the machine I would next like to own so it's funny I saw this one so close to me so quickly.

Good thing I already have 2 large storage sheds that wife never goes into for my work tools...

[Kilroy]

It's an ideal 55, also known as a slider
it's missing the inside rack, the bottles hung  in between the rail, and youi slid the bottle to the release area.
coin mech is there, it looks like the 7 up logo is a decal, if it was embossed it would be that much coller ( my opinion)
 If it runs,  grab it.   the raack is repopped and availabole from Funtronics or Soda Jerk works, or some people  leave the rack out and  use it as a cooler.  It has the coin mech, which is usually misisng, and it's not embossed, so you can change the coller to make it any flavor you want

[MoonDawg]

          It's missing the divider shelf separating the top compartment from the lower.
This shelf also holds the reciever nut that is necessary to keep the side door closed.
          If it doesn't cool it's either because the fanmotor is not working or it lost it's
freon. If it has a leak in the line it may become a problem if the damage is inside the
walls of the liner.
          Cap catcher alone is worth $50.00 though, I'd buy that machine for parts,
you may need them when you find your next slider.

[rugrunner]

Thanks guys for the info, I am picking it up next week (when the wife is at work LOL).

[Sodak Bob]

I agree with Glen,   Get it for parts for sure.   I ended up parting out the slider I had - too much water damage. Sliders are pretty common, but they all seem to be missing something...

[MoonDawg]

        One more bit of information about old soda machines priced right.............

  don't be surprised if it's not there next week 

[rugrunner]

I think it will still be there. Her ad on craiglist expired with no takers for 100 so I told her since it wasn't running I"d offer $50. She wanted $75 I thanked her for her time and she said okay, $50 was fine.

But you"re definitely right that if you see a deal take it or forget it. If it's really a deal it will be gone fast. If it's still there next week it might not be a deal after all.

[David D]

doesn't look like it's embossed from the picture, but the coin mech and cap catcher alone are over $50.  I'd say go for it.

[RC kid]

Dinner with drinks, and of course the tip, would cost you more then $75.00.

Good luck

[cokemachinesandmore]

hey rc i want to dine where you eat. 75.00 is cheap  lol

[rugrunner]

So I went and picked up the 55 today. It was in worse shape then I hoped for but for $50 it will be a good learning experience. So far I have noticed there is no key for the mech, there is only a partial lock on the door, the shelf and vending apparatus is missing, the bottom bar that the compressor sits on is bent up, and the front 7 up logo is embossed onto the machine.

Haven't tried to plug it in yet as it was on it side on the way home and I have always been told not to turn on any refrigerated  appliance for 24 hours after tipping like this. Is that true?

Any new comments or suggestions on where to start would be great! Thanks all!

[MoonDawg]

         Start with a hammer! 

         A couple of good whacks to that rear cross member otta' fix it right up.

[SIGNGUY]

You still did good.. that cap catcher on the front is worth your purchase price... the coin mech worth 100-150.

Like Moondawg said, take a hammer after that cross member, hammer it back into place.. make sure the wiring is not too brittle nad the fans spin freely and plug it in.. see what happens...

Nice purchase.

[rugrunner]

moon- as Harrison Ford said in Witness" I'm hell at whacking!" 

Thanks for the feedback guys, I'll let you know what happens when I plug it in.

[RC kid]

Congrats on the purchase of your coin mech and cap catcher. Maybe you can do something with the rest of the parts.

No, seriously, you did good. I am sure another machine will turn up and the parts from this one will complete it.

Good luck

[rugrunner]

Okay, I took signguy's advice and somewhat bent the bottom back and checked the fan and plugged it in.

The fan spins great. The compressor makes a shallow tick followed after 1.5 seconds by a slightly deeper sounding tick. Six seconds or so later it repeats. I let it go for a few minutes and nothing changed.

Any clues?  Thanks!

[collecture]

Sounds like the compressor is not firing up.
Clean up the contacts and rewire it.

[rugrunner]

Thanks!

Is there a starting gizmo (like my posts need to say Newbie under my name...) I need to worry about like the newer machines?

[loman4ec]

I would buy a 3-in-1 starter from either a local HVAC company or through Funtronics. Make sure it is for the correct horsepower of your compressor. It says on the tag on the compressor tag. That is your best bet to getting your compressor to fire up.

[rugrunner]

Thanks loman. Is this a part that is already there that I will be replacing or something I will be adding?

If so where?

I warned y'all I was a newb didn't I?? 

[BrianB]

A 3 in 1 starter is an add-on to what is currently there. It's basically there to give an old, somewhat tired compressor a jump start of sorts to get it running when it cycles on.

[loman4ec]

I'm sorry about not being more specific. On the side of the compressor there is a removable cap that houses the start relay and the thermal overload switch. This is what the 3-in-1 replaces. It is very easy to add. It does not look original but they work great! The old starter just unplugs from the compressor and you plug the new one in and then splice into the wiring harness. It couldn't be easier and it comes with directions. If this doesn't work then the compressor is shot.

[rugrunner]

okay, thanks! That helps alot as I know nothing about this and have never worked on anything of this nature before.