Shelf D staging rotating strikes!

[tedk]

Shelf D on my National 147 is staging rotating strikes. Intermittently the shelf becomes unlatched. It has happened three times in the last three months. I had a call yesterday from the account that shelf D would not dispense product. The customer could not get their money back and had to make a selection from another shelf. I know from my product counts that it did dispense one item in the week before the shelf became unlatched.

I looked at the black plastic latches and the one on the right side seems to show some wear.as there is a white spot on the bottom of the latch where it snaps over the rail that doesn't appear on any of the other latches. Can anyone tell me why it unlatches itself? I wouldn't think there is enough torque in the motor to cause this. Is there a way to turn the latch over so the worn side is up?

Lastly can anyone tell me how to determine if it is on forced vend and how to change it. I don't have a manual.

Thanks, Ted

[MrEen]

I'd like to see the answer to this as well. Our resolution was to extend the front feet as much as possible while leaving the rear feet all the way up. While that did solve this issue for us, it created a new one where some items hung up on their shelf no matter how well we positioned them in their coils.

It seems to be a contact issue with the pins in the back of the shelf (it's the E shelf for me, most recently.) I've tried contact cleaner at both male and female ends, but nothing seems to help without tilting the machine back to let gravity force the pins into their sockets.

Scott

[Technivend]

If the machine is mechanically unlatching at the shelf clips then you will either need to replace the shelf clips or you can try swapping them from the right side to the left side as this will use the other latch point. If your tray is actually latched but you are getting a tray unlatched message then it is a contact issue at the rear of the tray.

The tray has no stops to hold it in except for these latches and it does have to make contact with some spring loaded receptacles in the rear. Beyond the tray reading unlatched it is also possible for it to move forward enough to block the whole machine.

[ANDERSONVENDING]

I don't have one of these machines, but will unscrewing the plug and adding a washer at each screw between the plug and the shelf?Hope this little trick works for you.

John

[tedk]

Thank you for the replies. I spoke with Crane and they said I can try cleaning the contacts with light sandpaper, steel wool or contact cleaner. I can also get the wall side contact and replace the old one. They also suggested swapping the latches side to side but I think the latch is symmetrical and that I can take the one off and flip it over and it should work. I'm also going to try the washer idea.

I'll keep you posted.

Ted

[Technivend]

You need to be sure the tray latches are working properly first or everything else you do can compund the problem. Check the contacts on the back of the tray. If the are straight up and Down and not at a 45 degree angle twist them so they are. The original 147s had a lot of upgrades to the tray setup. Scratch the contacts with sandpaper to help with the electrical contact.

Start with the latches though. They are a very common part to replace.

[snack dude]

Ive had this problem also and I have been working on my own machines for eight years and heres what has worked for me in the past. Unplug the machine and pull the D shelf out. Reach in to the contacts in the back and GENTLY with your fingers pull the contacts out a little. Technivend says 45 degrees and that sounds right. This will do two things. 1 The tray will make better contact and you wont get that annoying " choose another selection" 2 the tray will fit tighter and will not float as much and that makes it harder for it to become unlatched. And it did not cost you a thing.

Good Luck