What's new

American changer

Detbjr

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2021
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Hi I’ve got an American changer ac2221. I’m trying to get it back to life. The hopper boxes are filthy and so is the orange plastic chain. Is that chain something that should be replaced periodically to get the changer to work right or it doesn’t matter?
 

Keno

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
746
Reaction score
478
Points
63
Posting pictures will help you getting better from the forum. There are several good videos on YouTube on cleaning, inspecting, and lubricating american changer hoppers
 

Greg Pack

Wash Weenie
Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
4,388
Reaction score
2,167
Points
113
Location
Hoover, Alabama
There's a Facebook group that might be helpful for you. It's ran by a guy that runs a changer repair business.

 

SudsMaster

New member
Joined
Apr 13, 2024
Messages
7
Reaction score
1
Points
3
You can check feedback about it or watch videos; it will surely help you.
 

buckeye3847

New member
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
27
Reaction score
7
Points
3
They sell new hoppers for $99-136 range at suzo-happ. You can replace the belts and clean the hopper, but if its been in service for a while, it might just be easier to get 2 new hoppers than chasing down issues with a worn out hopper. https://na.suzohapp.com/products/coin_hoppers/EV100-001B or https://na.suzohapp.com/products/coin_hoppers/EV100-011B. Both have serial or cctalk parallel interfaces for the new and old control boards. You can definitely try to do a proper cleaning first as well by taking apart the hopper and cleaning thoroughly.
 
Etowah

Detbjr

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2021
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Thanks for all the feedback. I took the hoppers apart and cleaned them. I loaded them up. They work once and then I get a 300 error code, which means empty hopper. If I turn the board off and on, the error code clears. Put a bill in then the error code comes back.

The coin contact strips in the Hoppers are good - if I empty the hoppers, I get the 300 code right away. Fill it, the 300 code goes away but then one bill cycle, the 300 code comes back. Power off and on, code clears, bill in, code back.

any idea what I should check next in this condition?

thanks!
 

Detbjr

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2021
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
Points
8
This is the board from the changer. I saw another thread that the money controls hoppers are the best. I just was trying to do some troubleshooting before buying a bunch of stuff lol
 

buckeye3847

New member
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
27
Reaction score
7
Points
3
This is the board from the changer. I saw another thread that the money controls hoppers are the best. I just was trying to do some troubleshooting before buying a bunch of stuff lol
I have that same board on my changer and use the suzo happ ones. Mine were a million years old original (the old black Mk4 ones). The money controls ones arent even made anymore, so the guys saying they are the best are able to rebuild/clean etc. and not everyone has time for that. The labor for a vendor to repair them is $150, and they charge twice that for a refurb, so buying a brand new one from suzo happ for $140 seems like a no-brainer. It comes with a parallel cable and can be switched from front to back load depending on what you have. You can then try to rebuild your MK4 with a new plastic chain if you want to take it apart but it could be gears, motor etc. thats going... but if you can, use that as your spare for next time one of them go out..
 

Detbjr

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2021
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Thanks. I ordered 2 new ones from Suzo happ. I saw comments on another thread that the suzo happs were junk. But I figured I could do the new suzo happ and then send the mk4 out for rebuild. I think there might be an electrical problem somewhere as the issue is intermittent. American Changer never responded to my emails either.
 
Etowah

Keno

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
746
Reaction score
478
Points
63
Did you call the tech support line, they have been good about helping out with my issues
 

Detbjr

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2021
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
Points
8
I didn’t call I just emailed the pics of the circuit boards with a description of the error and what’s going on.
 

Keno

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
746
Reaction score
478
Points
63
I would try to call on Tues, they closed Mon. I just called yesterday and they were able to help with one of our changers.
 

Detbjr

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2021
Messages
44
Reaction score
5
Points
8
Thanks. I’ll definitely do that if the suzo happ hoppers (say that fast 3 times!) don’t work. I have the old mk4 hoppers ready to send out for rebuild as spares. I’m trying to see how much the changer gets used. Lots to learn here!
 
Top