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cuffs054

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Down at the resort/campground where I have a cabin there are two Whirlpool DD washers and dryers. The previous owners took off with the keys to the washer "coin slide mechanism". The washers aren't in real bad shape but need some TLC and I need to figure out of how to bypass the coin slots so they can be used by the management to wash towels sheets etc. I would love to have a "wash in" there but it probably would be less than exciting for most. Can anyone offer ideas on how to "break" into the coin slots and get the washers running?
 
A picture of the machine you're referring to along with the model# and serial# would be a big help in getting the answer you need to solve your problem.
 
I would think that contacting the division of WP that handles the commercial washer sales would put you in touch with the people who could sell you the key. There is a way to modify the slide mechanism so that it will slide in completely and start the cycle without money, but you would have to be able to get into the box to do that. Otherwise, the lock on the box on the side near the washer lid will open up the panel that would allow for manual operation. You might want to check and see if you need a key to open the cabinet of the machine for repair while you are at it.
 
Most of the keys are the same, so I would contact Whirpool/Maytag, and give the model of the push & slide mechanism, and the washer model.
I know this because my friend works in a Laundrette, and they use just the one key to open all the push mechanism from all machines (there Extra Large capacity machine is the only one that needs a different key, as it contains the more modern single slot, which accepts 20 p & £1 coins as opposed to a push & slide).
You can insert blockers, so that you don't have to insert coins, these blockers stay in place, and if all money slots have a blocker in, pushing it in will start the washer, no coins needed! I think a key is needed to insert the blockers though?
For instance, There 10 slot mechanisms - they Blocked out 2x50p coins slot (2 available), plus one 20p coin clot, and one £1 coin slot, they also blocked out the 1 10p coin slot, as what laundrette uses them these days!!! They charge £2.60 so they left open 3x20p (of the 4 available) slots, 2 x£1 (of the 3 available). They don't deal with 50p coins any more. The larger machines, have 4x£1 slots instead of the 10p slot (at £4.80), and as mentioned above the larger machine is £5.60, but that doesn't have the mechanism.
 
You have to drill out the timer box lock unless you can get the key. There are dozens of different locks and key codes used on these machines and WP usually did not supply the locks so they may be of little help.

It is not that difficult to drill out the timer box locks. We did this job on 8 KM DD washers at a condo building here in Washington DC the other yaer where they were having problems with break-ins to the coin boxes. As a result we got in and you can then easily render the coin slide assembly to operate without coins.

Drilling the lock on the coin box is an entirely different matter, it is a much tougher lock, but you don't need to do this to operate the washer.

John L.
 

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