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I am reassembling my Vendo 81D and the gates are not returning to their original position after a bottle is vended.  I think it is because the gate levers are getting stuck on the captive bar.  Any assistance would be appreciated.

Need a bigger pic than that Kenny!

hopefully these are larger pics

       That's a very common problem and I encounter it with every stack I re-assemble.

        First lubricate the 2 channels that the captive links travel through. If that doesn't do it, increase the spring tension that returns the links to home position.
        Also many times the stack will begin working fine in the horizontal position but set it verticle and it sticks again, so check it before installing.

Its probably all that Chrome.. .wow.. Never seen anyone Chrome the inner workings of the bottle stack! looks great.

I agree with Glen,, get some white litium grease or similar in there.. yes you'll mess it up a bit but it's gotta function ..lube the sides where those "H" looking spacers travel and work it , then make sure you have a nice tight return spring as well.. that should correct it..

Good luck!

Thanks for the help guys!
Those parts are not chromed just polished.
Thanks for the compliment.  I can't wait to finish and post the final assembly pics.  By then I will master the picture sizes for posting here.

I had a similar problem, and by removing, cleaning and lubricating the mechanical pieces at the bottom of the bottle stack, (near the bottom of the stack) piece goes front to back, and is connected by a spring, that piece needs to move freely when you operate the crank handle. Clean and lube that piece, that should help.

Interesting, every bottle stack I've worked on had those parts galvanized,, never seen them made out of stainless? is that out of an 81?just curious.
Looks great, hope you can get it working with the suggestions here.

Yes they are out of an 81.  Now I am concerned.  I think I made a big mistake. I think I remember them being galvanized and had them polished. Now there is no corrosion protection.  Any suggestions on how to fix this?  zinc-plate? powder-coat?

yes if you removed all the galvanizing, you could be in for some issues, down the road.. not immediate other than some surface rust..
the way they polished up, though, almost makes them look like stainless steel, and then of course you won't have an issue?

otherwise , i would look into getting them zinc, as powder coating will put a thickness on them that could prohibit the operations..

Thanks.  I will get them zinc plated.
Do you know what the material is of that long bar that runs in the channel under the links? Should I zinc plate that as well or is it stainless?
Thanks for saving my ass on this. (oops can I say ass here?)

        It's steel too. Since these parts will never be seen you may just want to spray a little paint on them now.

Thanks.
What about the channel the parts ride in? Is that steel also or is it stainless steel?

      In 81's some are steel, others are stainless. If you're not sure.....see if a magnet sticks to it.

I had similar issues and a new spring and some cleaning of all the moving parts did the trick.

Thanks to everyone!  I have the vending mechanism working!
1) I greased the sides of the channel with White lithium grease
2) shortened the master link spring and
3) released some tension on the lock slide spring

Thanks Again!

I have this same problem.  Can this problem be fixed without taking the stack out? I really don't feel like unloading the machine and dismantling.  It gets stuck when pulling out a drink, the gate won't pop back down.  However, inserting another coin (mine is set on 25c) will pop the gate back in place.  It's just annoying when my wife yells that she can't get a drink and I have to get up to get one for her.  But it does show me that she has been messing with the machine because I make sure the gate pops back down after I get a coke.