An Electra Test Load

[turquoisedude]

OK, I admit it, I did use the KitchenAid Electra top-loader once so far, when I had a houseful of people a couple of weekends ago, but I did not think to take pictures. So, here's a documented test load done in this treasured find!
I don't have the manual for this one, so I kinda improvised from what I read in the KDD-67 manual. I took the racks out for transportation and I am wondering - could I have put the lower rack in backwards? Getting the back of the cutlery basket is a bit awkward...

 

[turquoisedude]

Good top rack capacity - this was a walk down memory lane for me... The old Viking portable I grew up with had the split upper rack. I like the way the rack spaces tilt in the KDC5; less chance of stuff on the top of the cups and stemware fits really snugly. One thing I did find the hard way, though... tall glasses in the front of the fixed rack section can block the section that lifts up with the lid!

 

[turquoisedude]

The front section of the upper rack gets kinda heavy - fortunately I discovered that you can 'lock' the lid into place. A friend of mine once got a good bump on the head by the old Viking, which did not have this feature!

 

[turquoisedude]

So, I hooked the KA up, and simply pressed the timer dial in to start the cycle. No 'purge' like the KDCP2, but there is a short prewash, a prerinse, the main wash, and two rinses. The heater must stay on continuously through the cycle because wow - did the cabinet get hot! The main wash discharge water read nearly 170 degrees... After the last rinse, there is a short pause, the drying fan kicks in for about a minute, then the machine drains again. Neat!! The drying fan then kicks in to complete the cycle in a total of 46 minutes.

 

[turquoisedude]

And the results....

Well, I would say...GREAT!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Despite no rinse agent, the glassware was nice and spot-free! This baby's a keeper alright!!
I did notice something of a groaning noise as the fill phases came to an end, though. Could that be due to the low water pressure I have at the house in Ogden??
Otherwise, I think I found a real treasure here!! Thanks, Eddie - couldn't have done it without ya!!

 

[toploader55]

Hi Paul

You're Welcome.

Enjoy. Eddie

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congrats, Paul

Thanks for the pics. Yes, you do have the lower rack reversed. For easier access and to make loading easier, I put the sliver basket against the front wall of the tank.

The only experience I had with one of these is based on the one I took to my mom in her independent and assisted living apts. Even with the relatively low temp hot water, it washed well. I had to run it when I went over and it would be full. My main complaint was with the lack of height in the lower rack. If you are washing plastics, they cannot be over the heating element for drying and given the assortment of things we washed, I had to be careful to tip plates forward so that the upper rack would clear them when closing the lid.

I really prefer my KD2P for loading flexibility and the double walled tub, but this is a good machine and does do some water heating.

 

[rollermatic]

glad to see you are

havin fun with that great old kitchenaid!

i fire mine up about once a month, just for the pure pleasure of doing a load of dishes in it! that 15 style pump and 4 way hydrosweep is unbeatable!

i watched the video here of a kd-15 in action last nite! nothing beats kitchenaid in it's day!

 

[jeb]

Dishes

My mother go the whole set of dishes (for a wedding present) pictured in the left corner - white with turquoise snowflakes. Fifty one years later she still uses them. JEB

 

[a440]

So nice!

Love your dishes!

I remember using a few of these KA's. Love feeling the wash swoosh of water hitting the sides and feeling the sides getting hotter and hotter.

Fun and very effective dishwasher.

Brent

 

[aldspinboy]

Great dishwasher Paul...But me thinks that you rinsed a couple of things an left maybe three items dirty even you told me ya did not...
yaa the rinse police guy's are on here... well what do you say..
Running away fast lol..

Darren k.

 

[turquoisedude]

OK I admit...

That the oval divided dish hadn't actually been used (it was a garage-sale find that I wanted to freshen up), but honest, me the queen-of-pre-rinse-before-putting-anything-in-the-56-GE, did not pre-rinse there rest of the dishes... You are now going to HAVE to come visit Ogden, Darren, so I can prove it to you... LOL