D-425C Coke Machine Questions

Fibonacci

New member
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Messages
1,986
Reaction score
3
Location
Moscow, Idaho
Anyone know where to find a manual for a D-425C? I can't seem to find any info for it online, but that is clearly the part number on the sticker on/in my machine.

It has been sitting for a few years because it didn't work, but when I opened it up, I found a butt connector that had one of the wires pulled out of it. I plan on resoldering that, but would like to pick up a manual/schematic for it as well.

I am a bit confused as it has 4 flavor lines, plus one water line in, but I don't see a CO2 hookup. The syrup tanks have CO2 bungs on them, but I don't see how those would carbonate it properly.

Any info would be great!

IMG_0395.jpg


IMG_0392.jpg


IMG_0393.jpg


IMG_0396.jpg
 
Well, I'm not familiar with that particular model so beware my information- First, looking at the picture I see two things that I havent seen together. 1 you appear to have tank connectors on the end of the hoses, and 2 you appear to have carbonator/water/syrup dispenser heads.

Normally when using tanks you do not need that kind of dispenser head because the water and syrup is already mixed in the tank. All you do is hook the co2 to the tanks to carbonate and push the soda out a tap- like a draft beer tap. By the way this isn't nearly as good tasting as the alternative.

When using carbonator/water/syrup dispenser heads, you use seperate syrup, water and co2 sources that mix together at the dispenser head. Much more complex, but much better tasting.

Perhaps, this is just some hybrid that uses tanks (those are not bag in box syrup connectors).

Finally, even tho they are kinda neat- thay are a PAIN to keep clean and diet syrup in a tank has a pretty short life. If your tasty soda starts to stink, well... it's bad.

And no- no help on the manual- sooooorry....
 
Yeah, I have been VERY confused. The info that I have found says that this should be a pre-mix type, which kind of sucks, but the tanks themselves say "POST-MIX ONLY" on them. I am about to the point of just tearing it apart and seeing how the hosing is hooked up.

It is entirely possible that I was sold a piece that someone cobbled together out of parts to look good enough to sell.

Is there a decent reference for general fountain repair? It would be handy to have a reference for "normal" setups.

Also, any idea what the proper pressure is for a pre-mix tank?
 
Looking at your pics again, I see a reference to water pressure on the label. You wouldn't need a water source for pre mixed tanks...

Anyway, sorry- even though I have two of these, I have no reference material- but...

Mine and possibly yours was made by Lancer for the beverage companies. Lancer's on the net- maybe they can help.

I do know this- buying one of these new can be a challenge (at least it used to be), as Lancer wouldn't sell direct. We actually had to go through Coke to get ours. So they may be reluctant to support you? Who knows. Since yours is older, they may not show documentation for it.

Its been a while since I operated mine, but I cranked the co2 tank on and it rose to 60 psi on the guage. I honestly can't remember if thats correct, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have changed by just sitting there.
 
Are these valves specific to this industry? I seem to have gotten everything working in the machine. The cooler comes on and works, the solenoids at the heads work, all the switches seem to be correct.

I think the next thing to do is put water in one of the tanks and pressurize it to see if it comes out. To do that, I need the mating valve, and I have never seen that kind before.

Is there an equivalent to Victory Glass for soda machines? I assume that all of the pre-mix types that use tanks would use the same valves, but that might not be a good assumption.
 
You're talking about the co2 regulator? If so- it's a gauge set that handles 2000psi on the input and then regulates it down to a few hundred on the output side. You have to have a regulator and a co2 tank.

We used to get our tanks filled at our local fire extinguisher company- it was way cheaper than the bottlers. They will probably charge you to test your tank the first time they fill it.

If you get it up and running remember to turn the co2 off after every use- those systems commonly leak co2 (slowly) here and there.
 
No, I have a regulator. I mean the valve on the top fo the syrup tanks that the CO2 line plugs into. It looks like the same kind of valve as the syrup port as well.

I see that BevCoInc.com carries a large selection of them, but I can't tell the difference between the types.

I will take a picture tonight.
 
oh- ok, I understand now. Yes they are similar, except that one has two locking lugs and the other three.

The older they are, the more prone to leakage. Soak them in hot water and the add a little bleach to kill anything growing.
 
Okay, it looks like they have pre-mix regulators, but I would expect that to be fine, given that I am carbonating the syrup.

I think I need:

1x CO2 tank
1x CO2 regulator (they have one that is single pressure/5 product, so I assume it has a manifold on it)
4x Universal disconnect gas connector
4x Syrup

Clean hoses (or clean/sterilize the ones I have)

From what I can see, it looks like I can just buy a box of syrup and pour it into the tanks, then charge it with the CO2. Would you agree?

For testing, I was planning on putting colored water into one of the tanks, charging it up, and testing each of the nozzles with that so I don't waste syrup on testing.

Also, it looks like you can buy brix cups for various ratios, but I don't see a reference for what ratio different kinds of soda should be. Any ideas on that?

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.
 
Well... maybe. Let me squeeze my brain here and try to separate the apples from the oranges- so to speak.

With pre mix product you have:

1 or more product tanks that contain syrup and water mix.
(No water is added at the tap, and there is no need for brix measurements.)
1 co2 tank w/ regulator that attaches to the product tank(s). If you have more than one tank you need the manifold.
(No co2 is added at the dispenser)
1 fountain head, with 1 or more taps, that chills the product and dispenses it.
(without chilling the product will foam like crazy when dispensed)

With a post mix product you have:

1 or more product tanks or boxes that contain syrup only.

1 co2 tank w/ regulator that attaches to the fountain head- single connection, no manifold.

1 water source that attaches to the fountain head.

1 fountain head, with 1 or more dispenser heads that mix the syrup, and carbonated water right at the shnozzel, that chills the water / co2 mixture.

Soooo- the question reamins what kind of dispenser is it- pre or post? With the exception of the tank connectors it appears to be post. Your list may need to be changed accordingly.

Sorry, when I sold my vending company all my post mix stuff including my brix went with the sale :( so I can't tell you the mix ratio. However I would assume it wouldn't have changed since its last use. That may Maybe it's good to go in that respect. Anyway you'd almost certainly want to tweak it to suit your tastes.

You should do a youtube demo when you figure it out :)

Hope that helps.
 
I believe that I have a post-mix setup.

1. I have tanks labelled post mix only. The hoses come off of them and go directly to one side of each nozzle.

2. I have a water hose that goes to a tank with a chiller and a compressor (appears to up the pressure on the water outlet to a constant value)

3. The outlet from the water tank goes to the other side of each nozzle.

4. The nozzles each have two solenoids, one marked syrup, one marked water. The syrup one also has an adjustment screw.

My largest confusion is that I do not have any CO2 inlet other than the CO2 bung on the syrup tanks. I assume that means I am carbonating the syrup there, and mixing it with the chilled water at the nozzle, and dispensing it.

From the research I have done, it seems like this would mess up the amount of carbonation in the final drink, but perhaps that is just a matter of setting the CO2 pressure correctly. The tanks do specify a CO2 pressure, but I do not remember it off the top of my head.

The parts list for the Lancer CED500 looks just like the guts of my machine, and its manual makes reference to "BIB" or "FIGAL" connections. As I understand, the BIB is bag-in-box and the FIGAL is the tanks, but the manual does not say anything about the carbonation and/or CO2 connections.

The only carbonator they sell carbonates water.
 
Huh, well I've never heard of carbonating syrup only. Normally in post mix they carbonate the water- and I thought the water was supposed to be chilled in order for the co2 to mix in properly.

You might be able to get assistance from the parts supplier.

Well, there is always trial and error.
 
Lancer was about the opposite of helpful, but I think I found the missing piece to the puzzle.

I think:

I am missing the carbonator. The water should be carbonated when it goes into the chiller. The CO2 pressure on the tanks only serves to push the syrup out into the machine where it is chilled and combined with the water.

Does that sound right? If so, it makes sense why there is a different connector on the water line and why the Lancer manual doesn't say anything about the carbonation. It also makes sense why the Lancer manual says the same machine can be hooked up to FIGAL or BIB, because that is just the syrup source.

Seem reasonable?
 
Lancer was about the opposite of helpful, but I think I found the missing piece to the puzzle.

I think:

I am missing the carbonator. The water should be carbonated when it goes into the chiller. The CO2 pressure on the tanks only serves to push the syrup out into the machine where it is chilled and combined with the water.

Does that sound right? If so, it makes sense why there is a different connector on the water line and why the Lancer manual doesn't say anything about the carbonation. It also makes sense why the Lancer manual says the same machine can be hooked up to FIGAL or BIB, because that is just the syrup source.

Seem reasonable?

Well, quite possibly.

Since my experience with BIB is limited to vending machine type applications- I'm not sure where the carbonator is located in your type setup. In a vending machine it is (obviously) included and it is submerged in the ice bath.

Since my experience with traditional fountain heads is limited to PreMix units- I never had to worry about a carbonator.

I know most BIB type units use syrup pumps to move the syrup to the head. These pumps are powered by the co2, but do not mix with the syrup at that point. The co2 flows through the pump and then on to the carbonator I believe.

I think I'm more confused than you now ;)

Anyway, I saw that link in another post- very good info there. I can tell you are determined- you'll get it!
 
Back
Top Bottom