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I'm a total novice.  Any help would be appreciated.

I've got my USS-8-64 back together after a few months of restoration.  However, there seems to be a problem somewhere between the coin mech and the bottle stack.  I've tried 2 different coin mechs.  The original one that came with the machine takes dimes (nothing else), but doesn't trigger the switch/solenoid to dispense product, and it doesn't make change.  The "newer" coin mech doesn't take any coins at all.  I've tried "teaching" the new coin mech based off of a manual I found online, but haven't had any success.  Coins just drop straight through.

I've pulled the stack out and looked at the microswitch and solenoid, but don't see anything obviously wrong (not that I'd really know what to look for).  I can manually flip the switch and get the bottles to dispense, but that's it.

any ideas to where I should start troubleshooting?  My initial thought was that I just got stuck with two bad coin mechs, but again I'm not versed enough in these to know.

tap... tap... Is this thing on?

        Is your new mech. accepting coins into the coin box or rejecting them into the coin return?

rejecting them into the coin return.

When you plug the coin mech in, do the CREMs (solenoids behind the slug rejector) pull in?  I have had problems with the microswitches going bad, do you have a multimeter that you can test it with?  At rest it will be it will be Normally Open or Closed (i can't remember which) and then it will go to the opposite when pressed.  If that's bad, it will cause the coins to reject.  I'll writeup some better troubleshooting advice when I have some time tonight.

thanks for the help.  I don't know about the CREMs (would it make a clicking noise or would I have to look for this?).  I'll have to check.  I look forward to your troubleshooting advice.

If you pull the slug rejector out of the top of the coin mech, you'll see two electronic components with finger like attachments on them.  With the mech unplugged, they will be out, and when you plug it in, they should pull back in.

Got it.  I'll check tonight after work.

just checked and I'm not finding anything like you described (again, I'm sure it's right in front of me and I just don't know what I'm looking at).  I took a few pictures of what I have.   

Hm... a Mars mechanism...that's as foreign to me as...Mars.  What's the other mech that you have, is it a Coinco?

Here is what I have found. I have two separate machines that did the same thing. Both of mine were Coinco acceptors. All coins of any denomination would fall right through to the coin return. I bought another machine when I was cleaning it up I found someone had put duct tape over the slug rejector hole for the quarter. This kept the pin pulled back. I tried it on my other machines and now it accepts any coins I put in it. When the machine get enough money it will vend and if needed give change. I suspect that the slug coils are bad and not pulling back. Since these are for Family use I really don't care, I better not find my family using slugs or  :censored: Hope this helps good luck.

Duct tape fixes everything.  I'll try this and see if it works.  I'll also post a picture of my other coin mech.

here's the original coin mech that came with the machine.  It takes dimes and nothing else.  It does not dispense product.

That's a Coinco S75-9800A, if you pull the slug rejector off on that one, do the CREMs pull in when you apply power to the machine?

Yes, the CREMs pull in when the power is on (out when off).

What are the microswitches behind the slug rejector set on (i.e. price)?  Sounds like the switch at the bottom of the stack is working if the CREMs pull in, but the solenoid is still suspect.

It was set to 50 cents, but I changed it to 5 cents. Same result.

Do you have the capability to measure the voltage on the solenoid at the bottom of the stack?  You can use a multi-meter, 120V test light, or wire a light bulb onto the two terminals.  You should see it energize when the machine sets to vend.  Since the coin mechs are still suspect, have you tried wiring it for free-vend?  There's a good tutorial at the top of the Tutorials section, and you can do it for under $5.

I don't, but I know someone who can help me with that.  I'll ask him to help me out and I'll let you know.  thanks again for all of your help.

If you want, PM me your address and I'll send you a push button tester that plugs into the Jones plug.  It's just a coin mech cable I cut off an old mech with the free-play switch wired in.

The push button tester worked great.  Thanks Tom.

I guess that means I've got a bad coin mechanism (2 actually).

Good to hear that part is working...the other area I was wondering is the vending switch that's supposed to be at the bottom of the stack.  Not all machines have them, are there 2-3 extra wires hanging around in that area?

Hmmm. I didn't see any extra wires down there. There were the three that went to the micro switch and two to the solenoid.

I've been checking ebay. Is $45-$50 a fair price for a working coin mech?

Here's the manual for the Mars coin changer, I'm pretty sure that's a TRC6800 model that you have.  I'd read through that and see if you can get that one up and running.

http://www.meitechnical.com/mei-files/files/access-public/documentation/technical-documents/trc6xxx_operational_service_guide.pdf

Yeah. I found that a few weeks ago. I went thru the manual and tried relearning the coins and didn't have any luck. I'll go thru again just to see if there's anything else I can try.

On the Coinco mech, have you tried manually moving the coin switches to see if it'll vend?  You can see three slots (one is behind a cover) on the front of the coin mech just above the nickel tubes.  You can push the wires down with a toothpick or something small enough to fit in there.  Those can get out of adjustment and I know that it only accepts dimes now, but it could be the issue.

Also, have you tried cleaning the slug rejector with soap and water?  Give it a good scrubbing, open up the two flaps and clean out the coin paths.  Then let it dry completely and put it back on the mech. 

I'll give those a try.  Thanks.  I literally have no idea what I'm doing, so I really appreciate the suggestions and the detailed instructions.

Tom... I tried manually moving the switches and nothing happened.  I've also noticed that the switch at the bottom of the mech (that I'm assuming empties the coin tubes when triggered) doesn't do anything when hit. 

Must be pretty much done for...hopefully I'll get those other two broken mechs early this week, I'll keep you updated.  I have a few more in storage, but they are tied up until I close on the new house in a week or so. 

No problem. And thank you very much.