After much research and a lot bugging people over the phone,I finaly got this thing figured out. You have two typs of fountains. pre-mix and post mix.
The pre mix machines have the silver tanks that you hook up. It gets its name from the fact that the syrup watter and co2 come to you pre-mixed in the silver tanks. You hook it up and co2 from the big tank push's it out.
You know that you have a pre-mix fountain if there is no place in the back to hook up a watter line.If your local soda factary does not want to fill your tanks,do not be discoraged. (I was told buy 2 different people this could not be done and my machine was useless.) However after much persestance I found out that you could fill your tanks yourself. All you have to do is buy 2 litter bottles and pure them into the tanks. It takes nine 2 litter bottals.
Now you need your co2. If you have the tank you take it to your local welding shop, (yes welding shop) and exchange it for a new tank. This is not expenseve. However make sure you have the proper gauges.
After you hook everthing up this is what happens,the co2 push's the syrup out of the silver tanks and out the fuintain head and into your cup.
if you need parts such as vinal syrup hose or the crimps and crimping tool, their is a man on ebay that sells a starter kit that has all of that. Also Grainger hardwhere sells it .
Now for the post mix. the post mix comes in the bag and box system.You can purchuse these at sams club cheaper than going to the factery.You have to ask them at the frount desk it is not kept on the floor. If you need the pumps you can get them off of ebay or at grainger hardwhere.
with the post mix it is harder to get set up but cheaper in the long run.You have to have syrup pump to suck out the syrup from the bag , it combines with the watter and co2 in the fountain head. then goes into your cup.
Their are a lot of web site to explain the post mix set up, but sadly none on the pre-mix.
If you would like to contact me I can be reached at,
dapper_handyman@netzero.comhope this helps.