Cavalier 72 questions

[KRyan]

I bought a pretty beat up Cavalier 72, or at least that's what I think it is. I've checked out some pics of others, and I think I'm right. Now to the hard part. It's been partially gutted - no bottle stack or bottle shelves. The coin mech is still there, as well as the coin door and locks. I think someone, either later in it's life, or perhaps while it was still in commercial service changed the whole refrigeration unit. The unit I have now works, but it's either from a later model 72, or a later unit was installed while by someone else, perhaps while it was still in commercial service. It does not have the big round fan on the evaporator. The unit I have now looks much like the unit I have in my Vendo 63.

I have heard that you can get newer, cheaper, square top machines and cut down the bottle stacks to fit the 72. I'm reluctant to do this because I 1) don't really want to wreck another machine to save mine, 2) don't know how to do it, and 3) If I bring home another Coke machine with the prospect of "I can make something good out of this," I'll be sleeping on the back porch with the neighborhood stray cat for company.

The questions I have for the time being are:

1) Did later 72's have "later style" refrig units?
2) Are their old bottle stacks around?
3) If not, what bottle stacks can be converted, and how can I find out how to do it?
4) what did the drip tray look like in this machine. The only other pic I saw that showed one had an old Mason jar in the little square bracket near the compressor, and I can't imagine that's right.
5) do any of you have any tips as to how I can positively identify this machine? I can send pics if you'd like.

6) There is a Cavalier 96 bottle stack available, and I have heard that these can be altered to fit a 72. Is that true? The guy also has the bottle trays. Will they fit as well?


Kevin

[MoonDawg]

        A 96 stack should be able to be shortened although the mounting bracket is on top, so it would have to be removed and relocated to the lower position. I have sucessfully done this before but had a 72 stack to compare it with. Can you borrow a 72 stack for a day?  The shelves will also work fine.

       Some square corner Cavaliers have the compressor with the round evaporator.     

[KRyan]

I may actually be able to at least look at a 72 stack. It's actually the Cavalier 72 pictured the "just got it this week" thread under this same forum. I won't be able to take it our of the machine, but you are saying they can be shortened, huh? I have never messed with a bottle stack. Are they modular, with the one at the top and the one at the bottom being unique, but the ones in the middle are all the same? That make sense to me from a manufacturing/serviceability standpoint, but is that really how they are? I really should probably break down and get a book!

[MoonDawg]

        The Cavalier 64 pic. above would also fit your machine except it's not tall enough, it has only 8 bottle gates, your machine needs 9. The 96 has 11 gates, so you need to cut the top 2 off.
        Do you see that bracket that is welded on the top with 2 bolts through it? Those are the only bolts holding it in place, and it simply lines up with 2 pins at the bottom. You will need to first cut that bracket off, remove 2 top sections from the 96 rack, then rivet or bolt or weld that bracket back on to hold the top in place.
        Also, don't think you will find a book that will help you any more than just visual comparison.

        Just thought of something........... for now, you could even use a Cavalier 64 bottle stack, lift it high enough to install those 2 bolts, and just support the bottom somehow. The only problem would be you don't have the bottom bottle gate or shelf.

[KRyan]

Ok, so it only looks like I could buy the 96 stack and modify it. The only thing is is that he wants $79 for the stack and $18 for the shelves, so it would cost me $285 for a "crap shoot" that may or may not work.

What I'm saying here is I'm on the back porch the the neighborhood stray cat again if this doesn't play out. Are you sure that that a 96 can get cut down to 72?

I'm thinking that $18 a tray is high, but the bottle stack at $123 is at least intriguing. What do you all think?