Rowe BC-20: Inconsistent payout

TheShanMan

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Donor 2011, 2024
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I've got my change machine set up using 2 large coin hoppers with .984 tokens (mostly bi-metal) and it's set to drop 3 coins per hopper, so I should get 6 tokens for each vend.

What actually happens is I'll get 6 tokens maybe 60% of the time. Seems like about 25% of the time I get 8, and the remaining 15% might be more (I've seen 12) and are sometimes less (e.g. 2 or 3).

What are common causes for this? The sensor bulbs seem bright and I lubed all the parts for the coin dropping mechanism. However, I'm wondering if the coin dropping flaps aren't closing quickly enough for some reason.
 
That was helpful (although it's very difficult to wade through such long articles). Thanks!

Initially after a lot of diagnostic testing (i.e. repeatedly watching the buckets while I triggered the different vends), it became clear that the problem was a bucket door staying open too long. Initially I thought the problem had to be electrical because manually opening the door and releasing seemed to work properly (instant closures when I let go), but after doing some electrical diagnostics it became clear that although there seemed to be no mechanical problem, there was a slight sticking that was going on. Disassembled the thing in order to clean the gunky plunger (fine sandpaper) and inside of the solenoid. Reassembled and I got at least 30 perfect vends in a row! Woo-hoo!

So bottom line, someone apparently committed the cardinal solenoid sin: DO NOT LUBRICATE!

Since it's been like this from day one, I'm betting this problem is what caused the prior owner to pull the unit off the floor in the first place.
 
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