Dyson Coin Trap

Since we’ve been upgraded to the new-style of coin trap on our Dyson CR-01 washing machine we’ve noticed that it clogs more than the previous design. This is good (ish): it’s supposed to clog, that’s the idea, by clogging at a point that is accessible it reduces the likelihood that larger particles of gunk and hair can get through and compromise the pump or the exit tubes, but regardless of this, it’s still a bit of a pain when it happens. You walk past the machine expecting your washing to be ready but instead there’s a message saying “Not emptying: Check coin trap …”

The standard solution is to “pop” out the drain valve and allow it to slowly empty the water from the machine, into several bowls, which must be ferried to the sink. This is great insofar as it ensures there’s never a serious blockage, but it’s time consuming (it can take up to 15 minutes for a full machine to drain away), and invariably a bit of water gets spilled. Once empty, the coin trap can be opened and the gunk can be cleared.

Recently after washing some particularly grubby and loose-thread doormats we experienced repeated clogging as the bits worked their way out, so the process of fixing these blockages could have taken several hours in total.

There is an alternative non-standard solution, but it’s not something I’d recommend if you’re not a strapping young lad with rolled up sleeves and perhaps a smudge of engine oil on your cheek – there are all kinds of potential hazards, including damage to your machine, your home, or your person.

Switch off the machine at the plug, roll it forward on it’s little wheels so it’s about 20cm in front of it’s normal location, then tilt it backwards by about 30 degrees. All the water drops to the back of the machine, and the coin trap can be opened and cleaned without needing to be drained.

It takes us about 15 minutes to drain the machine, but just 1 minute to switch off the plug, roll it out and tip it back, and there is the added bonus that the machine remembers what it was doing so the wash can be continued once the machine is plugged back in (rather than needing to be restarted).

13 Comments

Peter A says:

19/01/2007 at 10:16

Why not suggest the internally-tiltable trap to Dyson? Could be patentable. That way, you could tilt the trap, the water would pour away leaving the coins etc. to lift out.

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Rich says:

19/01/2007 at 10:38

A great idea, and I think this counts as prior art to stop any counter patent, but it’s probably not workable because of the internal component arrangement.

The path to coin trap is gravity fed; the water pump is joined onto the back of the trap (so the path from it is pump driven) – consequently a movable or tilting trap would probably require (a) a movable pump or a hose-link so the trap could be detached and (b) the ability to raise the coin trap above the level of the water within the drum so as to avoid the gravity feed, which is what is achieved by tilting the whole machine.

Another fairly simple solution might be a valve above the trap which engages whilst the machine is paused; perhaps fitted to the corrugated rubber hose that connects the drum and trap. This would allow the coin trap to be emptied with minimal water outflow and avoid any tipping.

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Peter A says:

19/01/2007 at 12:41

If it’s pumped, then a higher-level mesh at the top of the trap would catch all the coins and gunk and then the water could be pumped out at the end of the wash cycle along with the rest of the water. If there’s water left because it hasn’t been pumped out, then the mesh will be sat above it and can be removed without the water leaking out. That also has the advantage that it has fewer pivot points than a tilting mechanism.

The downside is that you will get less exercise in your utility room.

PS: I only just noticed the police box. Nice touch! Thanks.

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Rich says:

20/01/2007 at 22:43

The mesh idea would work if there was more space, but the (very large) size of the drum and the existing trap design seem to make it impossible. Here’s what the coin trap looks like internally (note, this machine was disassembled by a qualified Dyson engineer (Steve, in fact – Hi Steve)).

The drum normally sits above the trap and there’s a small corrugated pipe that connects the two. The photos show no apparent valve anywhere prior to the trap/pump, so just adding a mesh to the trap itself wouldn’t work, because whilst there’s water in the drum the trap remains full.

If the connecting corrugated pipe could be improved and have a valve added to it, then the coin trap could be flushed with the loss of less than 500ml of water, whilst the machine was still full (i.e. mid-way through a particularly grubby woolen wash when the first rinse clogs up the filter).

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David Denton says:

03/08/2007 at 21:04

Help!! my daughter has a dyson washer that she has mislaid the instructions for and the display shows the message not emptying check coin trap, how do I get the coin trap out to check it, I assume it’s the bit at the lower front left hand side of the machine which despite trying to turn, pull, push and wrench off does not want to budge, so anyone who can give me some instruction would be a very helpful.
thanks, in anticipation David Denton.

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dany says:

26/10/2007 at 14:56

hi david do you see the red clip at the top of the coin trap pull it up and then turn anti clockwise.
ok hope it helps

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teresa says:

17/04/2008 at 15:35

hi dany,i read your comment, very very hard to turn but have done it at last after reading your advice, you have saved me a lot of money, thank you very much

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cathrina o sullivan says:

05/09/2008 at 12:45

hi i have a dyson washing machine ,can you buy cointraps seperate as ours is leaking ? if so where can we buy ? if not what can i do ? and is it a standard one or do they vary ? thankyou

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Lawson Willett says:

06/03/2010 at 13:26

hi all,

My CR01 has been wokring fine for a number of years not and we have always empties the coin trap when told to, this has always fixed the machine but….. this time i have run 3 cycles and all of them have not been able to drain the water in the drum. I have check the waste hoses and the coin trap. whats next….

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- Rich says:
  
  06/03/2010 at 13:53
  
  The first thing that I wonder is if you’ve had your coin trap upgraded. Ours was clogged up behind the trap (not something that’s easily user servicable). You might also try getting your finger into the trap and up the inlet that feeds it – things can get lodged in the flexible hose that links the drum to the trap.
  
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ann says:

07/04/2010 at 11:55

I CANNOT PUT THE NEW TYPE COIN TRAP FRONT BACK.

THE OLD ONE WAS ‘ONE AND A HALF’ TURNS BUT TRYING THIS WITH THE NEW FRONT DOESN’T WORK.

I AM WORRIED I’LL BREAK THE THREAD AND ANYWAY IT’S TOO HARD TO TURN.

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- Rich says:
  
  07/04/2010 at 14:53
  
  If it’s hard to turn it might be because the thread has become dirty. Check both the yellow and clear perspex parts of the thread for dirt, and clean them with a toothbrush if necessary. To make the turning simpler, place the cap over the whole and then turn it the wrong way until it clicks – this is your cue to know that the threads are properly aligned – you can then screw it in the right way, and it should work.
  
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paul warrington says:

10/08/2010 at 18:03

THESES COIN TRAP THING’S SUCH A PAIN I TRIED FOR AGE’S TO OPEN THE COIN TRAP. I HAVE WATER IN THE MACHINE AND IT JUST TRICKE’S OUT SO SLOW I T WOULD TAKE A MONTH TO DRAIN WOT IA I DOING WRONG….PLEASE HELP……MANY THANK’S

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