Dixie Narco 501t not dispensing properly

[SmithBay]

I'm not sure what columns are doing this but I know one in particular is doing this because it actually happened to me.  I always vend each flavor when I restock to make sure everything is working properly.  9 times out of 10 they all work fine.  But then the other night I put $0.75 in and select Pepsi, which is in a single column, and nothing happened.  I tried to get my change back and it wouldn't return my change.  I figured that's because the machine thinks it already gave me my drink.  I put another $0.75 in and it gave me 2 Pepsi.  I did it 3 more times and it worked normal.  I've heard this happening to other people.  So something's off.  What's going on?

[AZVendor]

You didn't say if this is in a wide or narrow column.  It could be narrow and you could have a twisted rotor.  First of all you need a can shim in that column that has a 1/2" wide lip hanging under the rotor.  Then you need to turn the rotor with test vends until the rotor faces up.  Empty the column so you can view the left edge of the rotor and see if it's perfectly parallel to the left side wall of the column.  If it's not then your rotor is twisted and must be replaced.  Another possible issue is if you have a wide rotor in this column (there is a narrow can-only rotor and a wider rotor that will work with bottles) then you need a rod installed into the rotor with it lodged into the middle holes in the front and rear of the rotor.  This is to make sure that cans will be pushed out of the rotor for vending.  A narrow rotor will have a 1/4" gap between the left edge and the side wall and a wide rotor will almost be touching the side wall.

[SmithBay]

I meant narrow column when I said single column.  Below are pictures of what it looks like.  I saw somewhere that the back spacer could be my problem.  I looked last night and realized they are adjustable.  I took photos and loaded them here as well.  I noticed they don't all seem to be in the same place between all columns.  Shouldn't they be all in the same place if I have cans in all of them?  How do I know where they should be at.  Please educate me on the terminology.  What is the rotor?  And how do I know what needs to be pointed up when I turn the rotors.

[AZVendor]

When the rear spacer is properly adjusted it is in the same hole top, bottom, right and left.  This position needs to leave one finger of space between the front can and the depressed sold out paddle with cans pushed back against the rear spacer.  Once you get one column where it should be then just duplicate the others.  The rotor is the rotating part in the bottom of the column that holds and drops the cans.

[SmithBay]

OK I took all the cans out and it looks like I have cans only rotors in the narrow columns with 1/4" gap between edge of rotor and side wall.  It appears to be parallel and straight.  So I don't think it is twisted.  The back spacer was too far back and from what I can tell it was the only one back further than the rest of them.  It's hard to tell exactly how many holes they are from the back to ensure exact holes on all 4 points.  Anyway, I moved it up to match the rest as best I could and allowed finger depth gap between bottom of cans in the front and depressed sold out paddle.  I test vended while I watched the action from underneath.  That's when I noticed how the first can (front end of machine) fell.  The can flipped forward 180 degrees before hitting the tray.  My theory is when the back spacer was too far back, every now and then a can in that spot would be too far back as well, therefore getting stuck there just barely hanging on, ready to flip forward.  Does that make sense?  If that was the case, then the back spacer relocation should have fixed this.