Bought a Kitchenaid KDS 20 . . . Racks Still Available?

[ibuzzard]

I am actually picking it up tomorrow, an eBay purchase. One rack has a small spot beginning to rust. Can you still buy new racks? If not, will any other models interchange? Any other items I should just replace as a matter of course for preventative maintenance?

It won't be installed immediately, will await the mini kitchen remodel that is still a year or two away, but, it will have to be as perfect as is possible to pacify my wife who is pessimistic about vintage appliances, in any case, so I want to help it out any way I can. Gonna pick it up at 6:30 tomorrow morning!

I will continue looking for its' portable equivalent , as the current DW is dying, and we do not have cabinetry for a built-in

 

[ibuzzard]

Sorry bout the double post...

...can anyone remove the duplicate? Thanks.

 

[ea56]

If you can't find replacement rack you can fix the rusted area with Rerack. You can find it on ebay and at Home Depot or Lowes. It may help carry you through until you can find a replacement rack.

 

[ibuzzard]

Ea56, ...Thanks.

Will hit up the local HD when we get home on Sunday.

Again, being an idiot, I apologize for double posting.

 

[moparwash]

I have racks available..

They are from a 23rd series....KA experts...will they fit his 20 series?

 

[rp2813]

I think the 23 series racks will fit in a 20, but you may notice there's a little less substance to them.  I know I mixed interior and exterior parts between a 22 series (ISE clone) and a 20, and I used the larger 23 series utensil basket with my 22/ISE.

 

If it's just minor rust that needs repair, you can also try to find blue plastisol repair.  The only shades I was able to find in the Re-Rack brand were white and gray.  I ended up with Maytag brand that a local parts shop still carried, which is blue, but it's a deeper blue than the original plastisol shade used on the racks.

 

 

 

[toploader55]

Here ya go...

 

These will fit 18-20 series.

 

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/app/5230732457.html

 

[ibuzzard]

toploader55, Thanks for the link!...

...just shot him an email. Steve.

 

[moparwash]

I have racks available..

Here are the pics...just a few spots that need touch up with re-rack...just asking what I paid for them which is $20 plus shipping

Jerry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 10/24/2015-07:50]

 

[ibuzzard]

Dishwasher Picked Up . . .

. . . It is in excellent shape, looking forward to getting it home ( we are visiting friends in SoCal) so I can begin fine cleaning and evaluating what needs to be done to make it near perfect.

The racks from the C.L. ad were sold, unfortunately, had an email fom the owner on my way down to Corona this a.m., but I am grateful for the heads-up.

Moparwash, thank you for the offer, the ones in the new washer are actually a bit better than the ones in the photos, having only one small spot between the two racks combined!

I will try to make it flawless, if possible, so I can take all excuses for opposition away from my wife! I have the time to do this, as kitchen remodel is in the future, but anything needing replacement, I will try to locate new, if available, or NOS, or excellent used replacements.

I will order all the literature available for it, but, are there any areas in particular to watch for? Cheers, Steve.

 

[rp2813]

Steve

Certain mechanical parts are NLA, but I don't know off hand which ones they are.   Other parts are still available through Hobart.

 

You can use the Searchalator to find discussions that cover various parts people have had to locate in the past, but you'll probably have a lot of sifting to do.

 

SteveT is the resident Hobart/KA expert here, so if you find there's something in particular you'd like to have as a spare, he'll know what you'll have to do to find it.

 

A parts donor machine is always a good idea . . .

 

Ralph

 

 

 

[ibuzzard]

Thanks, Ralph.

I will try to contact Steve and ask him which parts he'd recommend I collect for spares. I will also begin reading old threads.

After only being a member for a short time, my shop is beginning to fill up with vintage appliances for the future kitchen/laundry remodel. Beside the KDS 20, I've a 1947 GE fridge ( used as a second), a 1952 O' Keefe and Merrit stove, and a vintage natural gas heater I would like to restore. And I may keep my eye peeled for a backup parts DW!

 

[delaneymeegan]

If you don't find an exact match, you may need to find ANY rack that is similar in width and carefully modify the racks by bending the wire in a way that will fit. That's the nice thing about wire made products, they can be easily bent and reshaped.

Be sure to seal any breaks in the plastisol.

If you go the repair route, be sure to use steel wool to remove all rust and loose plastisol, then wipe down with paint thinner to clean the surface thoroughly. Then apply the new plastisol and let dry.

I don't want to believe that such a new(er) DW doesn't have replacement parts available.

Best of luck in restoring these and solving the rack issue.

 

[beekeyknee]

If the racks aren't too bad you can take a Drimel tool with the little silver colored steal brush, grind down through the vinyl coating until you get to the rust, keep grinding until you get all the rust off (down to steal), then mix up some JB Weld or get some Sugru and cover the bare steal. The color won't match but it will stop the rust. It works.

 

[ibuzzard]

beekeyknee...

...will try to pick up a Dremel tool and a small wire brush on the way back into town today. Never thought about top coating with JB Weld before coating with Plastisol. I had, though, envisioned rust working away below a newly applied thin coating of vinyl if I didn't get every bit of rust. Cutting away old coating, and removing rust with the Dremel tool sounds like the ticket.

Well, going to tear into some homemade biscuits and gravy, then start our 350 mile drive home. Thanks!

 

[stevet]

Looky! Looky!

Okay, I guess I will just have to breakdown and offer this to you or anyone else who may want a very good condition lower rack for their 19-22 Kitchenaid Dishwasher.
It will fit the 23 series as well but lacks the lift out plate section on the left side.

I have had this sitting in the attic and it's time to liquidate the stock room!

If anyone is interested, I would like to get $75.00 OBO and buyer pays the shipping.

It includes the silverware basket as well. Email me and let's see where this goes.

 

[neptunebob]

I don't have a rack but I have a question...

With all these racks corroding, why has any manufacturer ever come up with the idea of using stainless steel and/or solid plastic racks? Would it be too expensive? Or is it a way to get consumers to keep buying new dishwashers? Seems like this problem should have been solved decades ago.

 

[delaneymeegan]

All your points are correct Neptune Bob.

Commercial Dishwasher racks are solid plastic. With all the exposure and use a commercial dishwasher gets daily, can we imagine how quickly these metal coated racks would last.

 

[ibuzzard]

STEVET...

Sending you an email. Steve.