A departure from Ida's...

[hoover1060]

easy as pie!

Hey Greg,
I am sure once I get this one installed, swapping out dishwashers will be easy, and who knows what may come along next?
I got the replacement gaskst from repair clinic, and the rack repair things from Whirlpool.

Fred I've got a 14+ hour day at work today, but I'll check in with you at some point.
Must get busy now, today is the dreaded "Last day to sign" for July!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Does anyone have a service manual for the 20 series? I would love a copy.
Bobby in Boston

 

[steved]

I might...

Bobby I have the full set from the KD-10 series, including some duplicates.... I will check SteveD

 

[bajaespuma]

KD-17 Series Service Manual

Jeff, if you want a copy of the service manual email me your address and I'll send it to you. I'm at [email protected].

 

[abcomatic]

Hi Jeff, I love your new machine! The black looks wonderful and it will look great (swell) lol in your kitchen. I hope you and everyone there are fine. Gary

 

[hoover1060]

Thanks Gary!

Installation day is tomorrow hopefully, just depends on how long I have to work. I can't wait to get this machine in and running!

 

[hoover1060]

Valedictory wash...

The Kenmore ran its last load(for a while) tonight. Here it is, captured for posterity...

 

[Unimatic1140]

YAY, kiss the Kenmore DW Goodbye Jeff!

 

[fnelson487]

Hey Jeff

I just thought of something. Take a picture of the KDS-17A uninstalled without the towel over it to show the steel reinforcing bars that run up an down both sides of the machine. They stopped that somewhere along the line before the 23. You could literally run over those machines with a steamroller and not make a dent. That and triple porcelean over steel wash chamber. No wonder they are still running 30 years later! Notice and appreciate the difference in construction as you take the old one out and put the new (old) one in. It will give you an appreciation of the quality that used to go into those machines. Enjoy!

Fred

 

[fnelson487]

Here's My KDS-17

In daily service. It was, I believe, the one that inspired Jeff to go on the hunt for his. I love the stainless steel brackets on both sides of the door. It gives it such a lovely finished look.

 

[bajaespuma]

The inevitable slide?

I so agree about the side brackets. It was a thoughtful detail that befitted the flagship model of the brand. I'll never forget helping my Father install our KitchenAid dishwasher in 1972...I was so impressed with how well and solidly built the thing was.I think KitchenAid achieved design perfection in its KD-17 series much in the way Maytag had achieved it in their 906-106 models.
Once they started monkeying around with a third spray arm and knocked their racking strategy off-center (like Maytag knocking its control dial off-center) they started a slow spiral downwards into the Whirlpool.

 

[deeptub]

Steel Frame

The steel frame that extended to the top of the tank was eliminated on the 21 series (1984), presumably because by that point a full insulation blanket for the tank trumped the ability to hold up a counter.

Interestingly, the "short frame" design of the 21-23 models is still much heavier and much more rigid than any of its contemporairies and most modern machines. If you raise one leveling leg of a 21-23, the machine will rock back and forth, not settle out-of-square like most new machines seem to.

T.

 

[hoover1060]

Hey Fred...

How about a pic of the front of your KDS17? It looks FAB in your kitchen.
I'm just about to leave work, I'll get a pic of the KDS17A and the old kenmore next to each other for comparison

 

[fnelson487]

OK - Here's The Front

I found this with the brushed chrome (I think - because it also had a stainless steel option) front. I was lucky. I would like to also find the frame holder for this unit which allows you to put any panel in you like including matching the wood cabinetry. Check out post 144943 in Connecticut above. That's a custom panel holder. Thanks Ken, turquoise is one of my favorites - also my mom's - she had a complete turquoise kitchen - minus the dishwasher. The only problem with this installation is that there is a brace in the back of this unit to hold up the granite countertop which causes the unit to stick out a bit. I am going to take this unit out and take off the ledge behind the dishwasher so that it is flush with the cabinets, the way it was supposed to be.

 

[fnelson487]

Here she is today

After cleaning up a load of dishes after making cole slaw. Perfect for a hot day in July in Chicago with a heat index of over 100!

 

[fnelson487]

Here's Her Sister

A KDS-57 Convertible Portable in the laundry room off the kitchen used for overflow. In brand new condition. This is my back-up machine, in case anything happens to the original!

 

[fnelson487]

And the Old Aunt

A KDI-14P built in to the laundry room next to the kitchen. Used often for pots and pans. No waiting for dishwashing in this house.

 

[hoover1060]

In she goes...

With both of my parents here "helping" this is definately not dull!
Here's the KDS17 going in...for a while I wasn't sure if the Kenmore would come out!

Note the metal frame construction. This thing is built like a tank!

Thanks for the pics of your machines too Fred!

 

[hoover1060]

here is where we are now

Its in place and anchored down.
The electric is hooked up.
I need to drill a new hole in the cabinet to run the water line and drain hose thru, as one of the frame members blocks the former one.
My dad's gone to the store to get a large drill bit...
It shouldn't be long now!

 

[gansky1]

It looks beautiful already!!