Converting 8 select U-Turns to two 4 selects

[OU8SUMCANDY]

I'm curious if anyone has ever converted an 8 select U-Turn to two separate 4 selects?  I called up U-Turn and asked them about it and surprisingly (to me) they don't make a retrofit kit to accomplish this.  Anyway, from what I can tell, it looks like I just need to keep watching Ebay for stands, tops, etc., but I'd rather get a lot converted at once.  I've got 96 machines and would like to convert about 75 of them so that I'll have about 171 machines total (not counting any other machines I buy).  I just bought a 4 select U-Turn on Ebay for $41 and I'm anxious to get it placed and see how the revenue from it compares to my 8's.  

[PerformaVending]

JLM did this once with a couple of his Eliminators, and it was a struggle to say the least. You need to cut down and then re-thread the center rod, or replace the center rod of the Terminator/Eliminator with the standard U-Turn rod. You'll need to get more lids and stands, and if you want your U-Turns to "turn" you'll need (barring some major 'redneck-engineering') official U-Turn stands. The used market is out there, but the prices are all over the place- and rarely in the buyers favor.

 

Whatever you wind up doing, good luck!

[jstanotherperson]

just a bit of advice put the nuts on the threaded rods before cutting. grind the cut end and remove the nut to help make the threads work

[rodney69]

I'm curious if anyone has ever converted an 8 select U-Turn to two separate 4 selects? I called up U-Turn and asked them about it and surprisingly (to me) they don't make a retrofit kit to accomplish this. Anyway, from what I can tell, it looks like I just need to keep watching Ebay for stands, tops, etc., but I'd rather get a lot converted at once. I've got 96 machines and would like to convert about 75 of them so that I'll have about 171 machines total (not counting any other machines I buy). I just bought a 4 select U-Turn on Ebay for $41 and I'm anxious to get it placed and see how the revenue from it compares to my 8's.

All you have too do is take the rod out of the 8 select, keep the nut behind where you want to cut, then cut the rod to 17 7/8"-18", then run the nut off to clean the thread.

The cut end will go into the bottom section so it's easier on the lock threads.

Then put the circle clip and plastic canister support on, then the tall canisters and lid.

You'll make about the same profit with the 4 select. I actually make more profit since I have almost no loss any more, and I only carry 5 candies including gum.

This is for the terminator and tall canisters, not the short.

[OU8SUMCANDY]

All you have too do is take the rod out of the 8 select, keep the nut behind where you want to cut, then cut the rod to 17 7/8"-18", then run the nut off to clean the thread.

The cut end will go into the bottom section so it's easier on the lock threads.

Then put the circle clip and plastic canister support on, then the tall canisters and lid.

You'll make about the same profit with the 4 select. I actually make more profit since I have almost no loss any more, and I only carry 5 candies including gum.

This is for the terminator and tall canisters, not the short.

 

 

Thanks, I kinda had this part figured out in my head but I appreciate you sharing the exact measurement and the trick about the nut.  Have you ever tried to get the spare parts necessary to make another 4 select with the short canisters?  That's what intrigues me the most, especially if I can do it for less than $50.

JLM did this once with a couple of his Eliminators, and it was a struggle to say the least. You need to cut down and then re-thread the center rod, or replace the center rod of the Terminator/Eliminator with the standard U-Turn rod. You'll need to get more lids and stands, and if you want your U-Turns to "turn" you'll need (barring some major 'redneck-engineering') official U-Turn stands. The used market is out there, but the prices are all over the place- and rarely in the buyers favor.

 

Whatever you wind up doing, good luck!

 

I agree the prices are all over the place! LOL

 

Also, you need to get an award for being the most helpful, thorough, and positive member on this forum :-)

[PerformaVending]

I agree the prices are all over the place! LOL

 

Also, you need to get an award for being the most helpful, thorough, and positive member on this forum :-)

 

I learned from the best!

 

If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll wind up like me in no time. Vending operators help each other- always have, always will.

[jameyh]

it's easy to make a 4 selection out of an 8. it's difficult to make two separate 4 selection machines because the upper base has a hole for the rod to run through. the lower base has a threaded spot to screw the rod into. I tried a few different ideas putting some threads in the hole of the upper base but it never worked well enough for me to feel confident enough to out it on location. If you can weld, it would probably be something you could do.

[OU8SUMCANDY]

it's easy to make a 4 selection out of an 8. it's difficult to make two separate 4 selection machines because the upper base has a hole for the rod to run through. the lower base has a threaded spot to screw the rod into. I tried a few different ideas putting some threads in the hole of the upper base but it never worked well enough for me to feel confident enough to out it on location. If you can weld, it would probably be something you could do.

 

I haven't taken one apart just yet, but what about using a nut and big washer on either side of the hole?

[jameyh]

I tried that but there wasn't enough room on the bottom of the base between the base and the stand. that was using a regular size nut. you may be able to find something smaller that would work. let me know if you figure anything out that works. I'd like to make some myself.

[jstanotherperson]

maybe tack weld a t-nut 

 

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