passatdoc
Well-known member
Some friends of mine own a pair of KitchenAid machines (FL and gas dryer), appear to be re-badged WP/Bauknechts, and they purchased them at a nice close-out price at Costco. This was shortly before KA dropped their residential line of washers.
The couple have three kids, now off to college, but when they bought the KAs six years ago, all three were still home, with a resultant 2-3 loads of washer every day. So the machine has seen a lot of use.
Recently one of the interior baffles broke off, and they immediately noticed a problem with spins not balancing correctly. Their first reaction was, "well, we got six good years out of the machine, KA is out of the washer business, so I guess we'll have to buy a new washer, but it's ok if it doesn't match the existing dryer".
I was at their home for supper when this discussion came up, so I said "No, wait, let's get the model number and see if RepairClinic.com has the part. Maybe we can replace it ourselves, or at least if you call a repair person, you'll already have located the part."
We found the part (pack of three baffles for around $35, shipped) and I offered to come over and help. Turns out they attach via compression fitting (no screws or hardware) and they did it themselves, intuitively. RepairClinic.com has YouTube videos to walk you through replacement of many of their parts, but this one proved to be so simple that no video was needed, they figured it out themselves before I even had time to come over to help. From planning to spend $1000-1200 to $35 was a nice surprise for them. They were otherwise happy with the machines, which still work well.
In six years of heavy use, the washer has had only one repair (besides this one) and that was a clogged tube between dispenser and tub, from using too much detergent and using liquid to boot----I had warned them to use 2 tbsp of an HE powder (e.g. Tide or Gain) but they wouldn't listen and stuck to their old TL customs. Now they know, however.
The couple have three kids, now off to college, but when they bought the KAs six years ago, all three were still home, with a resultant 2-3 loads of washer every day. So the machine has seen a lot of use.
Recently one of the interior baffles broke off, and they immediately noticed a problem with spins not balancing correctly. Their first reaction was, "well, we got six good years out of the machine, KA is out of the washer business, so I guess we'll have to buy a new washer, but it's ok if it doesn't match the existing dryer".
I was at their home for supper when this discussion came up, so I said "No, wait, let's get the model number and see if RepairClinic.com has the part. Maybe we can replace it ourselves, or at least if you call a repair person, you'll already have located the part."
We found the part (pack of three baffles for around $35, shipped) and I offered to come over and help. Turns out they attach via compression fitting (no screws or hardware) and they did it themselves, intuitively. RepairClinic.com has YouTube videos to walk you through replacement of many of their parts, but this one proved to be so simple that no video was needed, they figured it out themselves before I even had time to come over to help. From planning to spend $1000-1200 to $35 was a nice surprise for them. They were otherwise happy with the machines, which still work well.
In six years of heavy use, the washer has had only one repair (besides this one) and that was a clogged tube between dispenser and tub, from using too much detergent and using liquid to boot----I had warned them to use 2 tbsp of an HE powder (e.g. Tide or Gain) but they wouldn't listen and stuck to their old TL customs. Now they know, however.
