Big Hopper Installation Manual

The Big Hopper kit from Meheen Manufacturing is designed to greatly increase the crown storage and feeding capacity of Merlin 6-head bottling machines from 1999 to present. The Big Hopper has many times the crown capacity of the standard hopper and features a removable front panel to allow for easy removal of crowns at the end of the run or to use in its standard form. This manual will take you through the simple process of installing your Big Hopper kit. Tools needed. Power drill with 1/8 drill bit. Screw driver R2, square drive. Parts included in the kit. 1) Plastic back plate. 2) Side plates, left and right. 1) Removable front plate. 4) 1-1/2 square drive screws 6) 1 square drive screws.

Installation begins by removing the 3 screws securing the standard hopper back plate shown below.

Then remove the two screws from the standard hopper closest to the end plate in preparation for installation of new side plates.

Using the 1-1/2 long screws supplied with your kit install the new side plates left and right. Do not completely tighten these screws yet.

Now it is time to install the back plate bottom screws removed earlier. NOTE: The back plate has multiple holes for screws along the bottom. In most cases you should be able to reuse the existing holes you removed screws from earlier, however in some cases these holes may not line up correctly. In this case hold the back plate in its proper position with edges flush. Use your drill with 1/8 drill bit drill new holes in the bottom plate to accommodate new screw locations.

Once the bottom screws in the back plate are secured, you can tighten the bottom screws in the side plates. Holding the back plate flush with the back edge of the side plates, use your 1/8 drill to drill the remaining side plate holes into the back plate and install the 1 screws supplied with your kit. Your Big Hopper is now installed. The only thing left is to install the removable front plate into the slots in the side plates as shown below.

Enjoy the extra capacity and versatility of your new Big Hopper. Meheen Mfg. Inc. 325 N. Oregon Ave. Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 547-7029 Email: meheen@owt.com