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I'm curious if anyone has used a company they had good luck with to rebuild the draft arms on an old soda fountain? I have sent mine out to a particular company and received them back looking like they were untouched for 375.00 prepaid. I would not like to mention the company name at this time because I'm in contact with the owner and hoping he does the right thing. I feel uneasy about sending the draft arms back to him again so In the meantime I would like to find someone else who can work on these. This will give me an option if I decide not to send them to the same place. I have posted a picture below of the gaskets they told me they replaced. What are your thoughts. Would you send it back or demand a refund and send it elsewhere??

Those look like the same washers as inside a sink faucet. I would personally start at home depot and see if they match up.

I was thinking the same thing they look like standard flat washers.  You can buy a pack for a couple dollars.  What else were they supposed to do to it.

You got burnt ! You need to get a quote and detail of the work to be done before they touch it. Like , new screws,washers and polished.

I would definitely keep at them for a refund and if it does not work out then I would post what company it was on here and report them to the BBB to see they get a response.  If they did not do what they were supposed to do in the first place then they should refund it in my book.

You guys are correct that side is very basic. The main reason I sent it in for a rebuild was the other side draft arm. It looks much more complicated then this one pictured. This side pictured is the one that I could easily take apart to ensure the job was done properly when I got it back. Now that I see the easiest of the two weren't  repaired I doubted the hard one was even touched. There's no way in my mind the washers pictured were replaced. They are stained green from what looks like years of water running through them. Am I imagining that?

They didn't replace the washers as it would have be kind of hard, most old soda fountain draft arms have leather washers.
If you put a rubber washer in there it will eventually swell up from the soda water and block the flow.

Draft arms are really not able to be reconditioned other than replacing the washers, what happens is the body of the arm becomes pitted from the contact with soda water and leaks, new washers won't do much good.
You can purchase new arms like the one on the right, the one on the left is a different story, I'm not sure if anyone has reproduced that version.

That's a very nice soda fountain you have there, are the draft arms functional? Is the original carbonator underneath?

Thanks for the compliment. You are correct about the washers they told me all the leather washers had to be made by hand and that was the reason for the expense. I should have gotten something in writing as was previously mentioned. I didn't hook up the carbonator or anything yet. My first plan was to make sure I wasn't going to flood my basement with 70 year old faulty valves. This was the reason why I sent it out. I wanted to ensure proper functioning before moving forward. My issue with this hole thing is I sent it out to be what I thought was rebuilt with a good cleaning.  I don't mind paying up for specialty work I get the fact that it takes time to make the leather washers. I just now feel taken they were never even replaced and he's telling me they were and clearly from the pictures they weren't.

Now I really feel like I got shafted.  :veryangry: I just took the other side draft arm apart. Guess what I found?? Nothing was touched not even the cobwebs! I am so pissed.

       A set of leather punches and a piece of cowhide..........it  can't be that difficult to make washers!

Seth

Sorry to hear you got screwed .

I would contact the company and e-mail them the pictures and ask of a full refund !!!

Leonard

I did do that Leonard and the only thing he keeps saying is send it back and we'll check it and correct it. I'm just not sure what to do. I'm just a little skeptical of there business practices. Here's a little backround. 5 years ago I had sent them a dole dispenser to be restored and they told me it would take a month and they ended up having it for a year. After asking if it was done for months I got several excuses of why it was taking so long. I got excuses like the guy we had painting is no longer doing it so we had to find another. So after threatening and telling them to send it back they did. They told me the guy that they had paint it wasn't as good as the other and they weren't happy with the way it looked. So they sent it back as it was and it looked like someone spray painted it and did the letters with white out. They didn't charge me because they thought it looked bad. I wasn't exactly happy but at least I had got my item and was back to square one with only a shipping charge. OK so most will say shame on me for sending the draft arm to them after that experience. Well here was my logic. They are a soda fountain repair company that's been in business for years and fountains are what they do. So now years later I realize people work on certain items and figured maybe the dispenser was not there thing. So I went against my better judgment figuring they would do a good job on the draft arms because that was there specialty. So now with all that said you can see my dilemma whether I send it back or not. If he gave me a refund I would send it to someone else for sure. If he doesn't I'm not sure I should send back to someone I don't trust.

I have a very good friend that is a master of leather goods.  I'm sure he could make the leather washers for very minimal cost.

Let me know if you need his contact information.



http://vimeo.com/59107548
http://www.vermilyeapelle.com

Jared

      I say send it back. He knows what you want now and has as much to lose as you do.

You're 0 and 2 with them.   Luck holds out only for so long

Tough call, 0 for 2 I would have a hard time sending him anything!

Did you pay via credit card?  If so, lots of credit card companies will warranty items.

Go to someone else. Alan H gave us all lots of excuses and opportunities for 2nd chances.

Look where it got us. 

Try someone new that has been referred.

Good luck...We all feel for you Seth!

I wouldn't send anything back to that company. If they didn't do anything with them and hammered you $350.00 what are they going to do if they get them back? You might not see them again or be asked for more money. Just my .02

try this place
americansodafountain.com
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericansodafountain.com%2F&ei=gETNU9rsNoazyATooAI&usg=AFQjCNFIDZiHFi3f4ZJNmuXiSfwswDDYrg

Thanks for the input guys. Sorry for taking so long to respond but I wanted to see if I could handle this issue with the business owner before I posted again. After corresponding with Phil Schy of American Soda Fountain in Chicago I have gotten no where. He refuses to give a refund even after looking at the pictures I took of the cobwebs inside the gaskets they "replaced". He keeps stating "send it back if your unhappy". I explained this is the second bad experience I had with his company and I would not be taking the chance sending them to him again. He has given no apology for overlooking or just straight out not doing the job he explained they would do. I should have known something was fishy when the billing person from American Soda Fountain Co called to tell me the rebuild would cost 375.00 and they only accepted bank checks or money orders. I asked why is that and she explained "because we're sick of not getting paid". I think to myself now, I can see why. So with that being said I warn all of you to avoid being scammed by American Soda Fountain Co of Chicago. Phil is a very helpful smooth talker and tells you everything you want to hear in the beginning and in the end doesn't do the job and scams you out of your money.  :veryangry:

Sorry this happened to you.

Thanks. All I can do at this point is warn others. I have posted 4 bad reviews online and emailed him copies of all of them. I plan to do tons more because I figure this is one easy way to cost him business and stop others from being scammed.

Shame... He should of reimbursed... after seeing the images and seeing nothing was done.... guess he doesn't do any of the work himself or over see the work done...
What kind of shop are they running?... Maybe with your reviews he'll reconsider... good luck and thanks for posting and giving us a heads up.

Still no refund from the crooks at American Soda Fountain in Chicago. I am relentless and want to tell you all again to avoid doing business with these people. Phil Schy is a thief! Took my money and did nothing to these draft arms.
I just posted this video for the world to see. Please spread the word to avoid them!!!  :veryangry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7J_NNzVttI