5 replies to this topic

[RobCamaro]

I have a 501E on location that has all water in it. I am using the 16oz Poland Spring vend bottles. Even though I am using the vend bottles I still get jams if I stack more then half way. Can someone tell me the proper way to set up columns. I have them 2 deep and using can shims I believe. Is there a special shim I should be using?  Should there be a rod in the tube?

 

Thanks

Rob

[AZVendor]

Rob,

 

There are two possible setups for a machine with 16 or 16.9 oz water.  First of all you need to be using a ribbed water bottle which I believe Poland Springs is. 

 

For a wide column:

 

Setup 1: 4 - 3/32" tall waffle shims on each side of the column, red adjustable motor cam in the #3 hole, rear spacer in hole #13 counting from the front.

Setup 2: 4 - 3/32" tall waffle shims on each side of the column, 2 - 3/32" short shims on each side, red cam in hole #3, rear spacer in hole #18.

 

For a narrow column:

 

Setup 1: Can stop shim on the right (has a bottom lip of 3/8" to 1/2"). If your shim has a 1/4" lip is is a bottle shim which is also thinner on the side, Rod/spring in hole B of rotor, brown motor cam in hole #3 and rear spacer in hole #13.

 

Setup 2: Can stop shim on the right, 2 - rod/spring: one with a red tube in hole A and one with white tube in hole C of rotor, motor cam in hole #5, rear spacer in hole #18.

 

Holes in the ends of the rotors are named by position starting with the hole closest to the edge of the rotor being the A hole, middle hole is the B hole and the third hole from the edge is the C hole.  In all cases the caps go toward the back of the machine.  If your bottles are not horizontally ribbed from top to bottom, then they are probably too soft and will shrink when they get cold causing jams.

 

If you need any parts for the machine, I do have them in stock and can ship them to you.

[RobCamaro]

Thank you. Im guessing setup 1 is for 16oz?

[AZVendor]

The setups I listed will have to be experimented with as the bottles have possibly changed over the years since the setups were prescribed and tested at the factory.  Because of this either setup method could work with 16 oz or 16.9 oz, you'll just have to try them.  The easiest to try first is with no tubes and only one rod/spring.  Do you have the proper can shims in your narrow columns as I described (no bottle shims) and a rod/spring assy. in the middle hole front and back in the rotor with no tubes?  If this is the setup you have and the bottles still have trouble, then you will need the other setup as described:  2 rod/spring assys. with one red tube in position A and one white tube in position C. 

 

Let me know the particulars.

[pauldow]

Doesn't Poland Spring use those thin plastic "environmental" bottles? I'm no expert, but I would think that you would be lucky to get reliable dispensing even stacked half full. Those things crush pretty easily, especially when cold.

[AZVendor]

Generally, the bottles that are used for Poland Springs, Zephyrhills, Arrowhead, Ozarka and Deerpark, have horizontal ribs molded into the 16 oz. bottle, top to bottom, to stiffen the bottle.  This makes them vendible, though I suppose there are non-vendible versions of these brands as well that should not be used in vending machines.  It all depends on the design of the bottle.