Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Bleeding soda lines

This is topic Bleeding soda lines in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by David E. Nedrow (Member # 4981) on 05-25-2011, 01:24 PM:

One of our bib's was emptied a couple of weeks ago, and when I replaced it, I noticed there is a large "embolism" at the highest point in the line coming from the pump to the dispenser.

I can't clear the line by pumping soda, as the amount of syrup that is pulled is never enough to fill the top of the line, thereby pushing the air through the system.

I don't think it's a problem, but it's "one of those things" for me.

Does anyone have any direction on bleeding the line(s)?

-David

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 05-25-2011, 01:54 PM:

If your soda lines are bleeding you need to call an exorcist, not a technician! [evil]

I would think that the way to "exorcise" the air out of the lines would be to lower the spot in the lines so that the air can escape. Otherwise, you'll have to disconnect them and manually reprime the system.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-25-2011, 10:18 PM:

sounds like the syrup pump, or in the switching devices went bad - in any case, call up your soda supplier since they have maintance crew to handle issues in this area .. it's their equipment, not yours.

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 05-25-2011, 11:06 PM:

Iv seen this on coke and pepsi. Normaly not a problem unless you have a lot of sodas that are improperly mixed(too much water not enough syrup due to the air) then I would leave it be. Otherwise call the soda co. They will come out for free and fix it.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 05-26-2011, 12:22 AM:

Free service calls? That must depend on where you are.

Around here, I get charged $50 for a service call. It's their equipment so they don't charge me for parts but I pay $50 to have them come here.

They will come once per year for free to do "preventive maintenance", which basically means that they dust off the vents and wash the valves. Anything that comes up after that, cough up $50.

A couple of years ago I checked with "the competition" and they told me that they charge $50 for service calls too.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 05-26-2011, 10:53 AM:

Especially in soda companies: everything is negotiable. I have customers who got free ice machines along with free repairs when they switched to "the other" cola company or back. A few negotiate a 2 year contract with no increases allowed on product. Louis

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-26-2011, 11:40 AM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
I have customers who got free ice machines along with free repairs when they switched to "the other" cola company or back.

Yes, but then you are forcing "the other" cola onto your guests. I understand I am in the minority that many people will take whatever is being forced upon them, but I generally avoid establishments that serves Pepsi and I know I am not alone in that. It gives me headaches.

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 05-26-2011, 02:57 PM:

If you have a good relationship with your local rep and you have a decent volume usage you should be able to negotiate on getting free service calls. But I guess this would also depend on if you are out in the middle of nowhere.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-26-2011, 05:59 PM:

We've always gotten free service calls, despite being out here in Podunk Land 80 miles from the Pepsi warehouse. I suspect this is regional. We've had Pepsi since 1980 and never had a reason to switch, so we've had no negotiations.

(Don't worry Brad, if you ever make it to this part of the country, we'll put some Coke in the fridge.)

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-26-2011, 06:03 PM:

You serve Pepsi and will allow me to bring in a fountain Coke product from the gas station since you don't serve the soda I drink? Now THAT's an awesome theater! [thumbsup]

I'm going to have to visit you now.

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 05-27-2011, 11:34 PM:

We are Coke all the way and about 100km from the service centre. We have 3 monthly service calls and 4 hour timeframe when (not often) things turn to custard.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 05-28-2011, 09:44 AM:

One other gimmick to try is that one theater I used to lease out managed to squeeze several thousand six-packs from the Coke distributor for a promotion where they would be handed out one per family on the way out of the theater. That's a version of the same type of promotion we've done with shopping malls in return for exclusive placement of soda vending machines.

Posted by David E. Nedrow (Member # 4981) on 06-02-2011, 02:48 PM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
Especially in soda companies: everything is negotiable. I have customers who got free ice machines

We own our equipment, so repairs are on our side. But, this morning I talked to our Dr. Pepper-Snapple sales rep and he is going to send out a 52" wide, 7' cooler with sliding doors. No charge, as we'll be selling a selection of their bottled product. We have RC, Diet Rite, 7-Up, etc. on the fountain, but people are always after energy drinks, diet un-colas, etc.

And, they don't have a problem with us using half of it for beer. Yay!

David

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-05-2011, 05:40 AM:

My point is: YOU do not need to pay for acquiring or servicing equipment that is made to sell/market someone else's product. They will do that FOR you, just to get in the door. Louis

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-05-2011, 11:54 AM:

Think about the last 100 years with film equipment Louis. [Razz]

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 06-05-2011, 01:23 PM:

Hmm, we are an incredibly low volume site and our service calls have always been free. Please don't give our dealer any ideas.

As for forcing the other product on them. Pepsi was forced on us years ago when an out of state bottler took over the local Coca Cola Bottler and decided to jettison all of the small accounts. They would not even return phone calls. After I switched to Pepsi, I had the Coke fountain in my lobby for weeks trying to get them to pick it up. I finally called and said it is going to the dump if it is not gone by tomorrow (this was pre-ebay).

Pepsi's been good to us and it would take some serious grovelling for me to even consider going back to Coke. We get the occasional whine from an audience member, but hey, some whine that we don't have Bud Lite.

I don't drink Coke or Pepsi (or Bud Lite), so it just comes down to the service.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 06-05-2011, 02:18 PM:

When I first set up my theatre I sent a letter to both Coke and Pepsi saying, "I'm setting up a new theatre, please tell me what you can do for me here."

Two days after I sent the letters I had the Pepsi salesman knocking on my door.

FIVE YEARS later, the Coke salesman showed up.