I hate my Rowe BC 150 machines

[skidrow]

Does anyone know of a change machine that does not require the monthly maintenance like my 2 Rowe Bc150 machines, I am tired of it. What I am talking about is the fact that once a month I have to take out the coin hopper and then take it apart, and then clean the dirt buildup in the coin path. If I do not do this, at about 1 month almost like clock work the machines start giving coins out very slowly due to the coins are falling out of the track due to the buildup, and eventually short people change and then the out of service light comes on, then of course will not give anymore change until I show up to fix it. I am done with them, but am not aware of any other change machine method of distributing the coin, because these are the only machines I have. Can anyone recommend a change machine that does not need so much attention, once a month is to much, I think. Correct me if I am wrong about the amount of attention they need.

[KJD]

I have a Standard and in the last 18 months I have never touched a thing except for taking a little artist paint brush and dusting off the little electronic eyes in the validator two or three times.

[Anonymous]

I had a Rowe changer and had the same problem. It was far too much maintenance!!! I bought an American and haven't had any problems for over two years. I even like it better than Standard.

[Ken]

I have Standard SC 500,600 model,Standard EC model,American changer none of them need a lot hoppers upkeep. American changer's hopper need to clean once a year,Standard changer's SC hopper is great,EC's hopper is ok after the improvment 2,3 years ago.
I had Rowe before,they are great machines,hopper need to clean all the time,Rowe is only one use the bucket system,the good:not many Rowe's changer JOCKPOT,bad:need to clean.All other changers use the direct payout system.
BC150 is a old machine,do you have them update?If you do,keep them,if you don't ,you may want to buy other changer or have it update.
I will buy changer with a good audit system.

[skidrow]

Ken
These machines are about 5 yrs old, what updates do you mean.

[Ken]

I could be wrong,I thought Rowe Bc 1500 is the newrer model,Bc 150 is older model only take old bills.
I sold all my Rowe a few years ago,have not clean those S track for a long time.
If you want a cheap changer Standard EC200,American AC 1001,1002 with Mars 2600 or better bill accepter,no Coinco.
If you want a changer has a good audit system,Standard system 600,SC62.
Both companys' hoppers don't need to clean often unless stuff get stock in.
I had almost all changers ever made in my stores,some are not even in business now, but I only keep Standard and American changer right now.

[Andy]

I have had several Hamilton machines and other than what I consider routine maintainence I have not had a problem that could be blamed on the machine or design. I wasn't too happy about the lack of a validator update for the hvx model in order to accept the new currency.

I must say that the fact that I can drive to Hamilton's facility outside of Toledo in 30 minutes weighed heavily on my decision.

[Bob C]

I've got a Rowe Bc1200, and " knock on wood" have dispensed about $75k since new and haven't a lick of problems. Never even cleaned the hoppers. They are a little bit slower on the dispense, but not enough that I need to clean it anytime soon. Maybe some rainy day when I have nothing else to do. Yeah right!!!

Bob C

[Anonymous]

I have bc1200 and bc1400 , every year I take the hopper a part and clean out the trackwith a screwdriver. Make sure the coin agitaor is in good condition. If it is worn it will not lift the quarters.

[David]

If you want a cheap changer Standard EC200,American AC 1001,1002 with Mars 2600 or better bill accepter,no Coinco.


No Cashcode either! It uses a rubber wheel that wears out and jams. Then it runs all day trying to unjam the bill and burns the validator motor up. About $200 for replace it.

[Winston]

I have 2 Standard machines: 600 and 500E. Also an American 1002. The American dispensed $125k before the hopper went out. Then it got to $224k and the main logic board failed. The CoinCo acceptor still works. Other than a failed power supply on the Standard 600 changer, I have not had any significant problems with the 2 Standard changers.

[laundryboy]

Why no coinco validator? What is the issue with these?

[Anonymous]

the coinco has issues with stringing. Go to www.autocareforum.com and do a search on coinco.

[Ken]

I spoke to American changer's tech in Clean 03,Coinco service center manganer in IL in Aril 04 ,both companys know THE STRINGING PROBLEMS!but Coinco didn't have any fix for it!Both companys are not telling their customs about this problems!
It is pain to update some American changer from Coinco to Mars since the cut out is too small to fit Mars,easy to update Standard EC,just need an adapter harness and Mars AE2600.

[Gary C]

I have an ac1001 that has despensed over 300k just had my first problem 2 weeks ago. Stacker motor went. $112.00 to fix that includes shipping. Not bad I thought. ac2001 400k no problems yet.

Gary

[pete f]

I've got a Rowe Bc1200, and " knock on wood" have dispensed about $75k since new and haven't a lick of problems. Never even cleaned the hoppers. They are a little bit slower on the dispense, but not enough that I need to clean it anytime soon. Maybe some rainy day when I have nothing else to do. Yeah right!!!

Bob C

You are about due to clean the tracks. The right way is to take the hopper apart, pull the coin shute and clean it with non grit cleaner. I always have to use a little plastic knife to dig out the crud on the curves. I clean mine every 6 months.

I like the features that prevent stringing in Rowes, but my standard with Mars acceptors has had almost nill hopper problems for years. I am not even sure what that problem was, becuase it was that long ago.

[skidrow]

Well, I went to Betson's today to buy new change machines, while I was there I spoke to the Rowe guru, and he said when I clean the machine I should blow out the chain part of the hopper, and blow out the whole machine, then the dirt will not build up so quickly, and maybe I will only have to clean hopper every 6 months or so. I am going to try this and I hope it works, because if it does not, they are history.
To Be Continued!!

[Follow]

Skidrow.. have you try adjusting your hopper chain, maybe it is too tide, losen it up, it will work fine.. no need to clean as much as you mention..that's what I did after two years of pain..(live and learn..LOL..)
here is the link for you to study how to take care of your change machine..(manual for problem codes-look at how to clean, adjust chain hopper)

good luck

http://www.business.com/bdcframe.asp?ticker=&src=http%3A//rd.business.com/index.asp%3Fbdcs%3D%26bdcz%3Ds.l.l.ml.e%26bdcr%3D4 %26bdcu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Eroweinternati onal%252Ecom%252F%26bdct%3D%26bdcf%3D728872e4-041e-11d4-8f5e-00d0b7473557%26bdcp%3D%26bdcx%3D%26bdcpcg%3D%26par tner%3Dbdc%26query%3Dbill+changer&back=http%3A//www.business.com/search/rslt_default.asp%3Fr4%3Dt%26query%3Dbill+changer&path=/directory/food_and_beverage/vending/machines/
Tell them you saw their link on Coinwash.com

[laundryboy]

That is interesting.

I have an American Changer, rear load, accessed from the dryer area. NEVER had an issue with cleaning the machine. It has been almost two years. Similar setup at another store for over a year, again, no problems. After all this talk, I must just be lucky. Think I'll clean it next week!

Hope they continue to work.

[Ken]

You need to American changer's hopper's contact plate,the lower part has 2 or 3 copper plates,you need to clean them with very fine sandpaper.The Coin exit need to clean with dry air.
If the changer work,I won't open the hopper,it is pain to put together.This hopper is easy to clean without remove a screw.

[skidrow]

I cleaned out the entire machine, scraped the groves in the s turns with a jewelers flat head screw driver, I always have taken the hopper apart to clean with the back of the wire brush, to scrap the buildup, then wire brush it. Also have adjusted the chains a long time ago. Now only time will tell, but I am not that confident this will last. Has anyone shoped around, and know who would have the best prices on standard or american change machines.

[DirtyLaundry]

I don't think that you are supposed to clean the coin tracks with any kind of metal object. I believe that they are coated with something like on the non stick cookware - where you have to use plastic. Anyway, I've had Rowes for over 20 years, and the only thing I've had to do to the hoppers is clean them. Rowe makes 2 different lines of changers. Their top of the line, and an economy line. I operate both of them, and can honestly say that "you get what you pay for."

[MSKLAUNDRY.]

Never use anything abrasive to clean the tracks of the hopper. It has a Teflon coating.