Burping my 88 kenmore portable DW

[searsbest]

Ok, guys..starting my first thread here on AW....YAY! So, I have a 1988 Kenmore (WP) Portable Dishwasher (Daily Driver) every once in a while it fills, pump runs but no water circulation, I open the door it literally Burps, close the door it runs fine...like it's air bound...pump and motor run strong. It will wash the chrome off of a bumper (not that bumpers are chrome anymore)....any ideas???

 

[combo52]

1988 WP POWER-CLEAN DW

Welcome to the club Scott. One of my 1987 WPs did this trick many years ago, the main pump chamber is air-locking. I am not sure what to do about it as I replaced the complete pump and motor to get the new quieter one with the tuning weight that eliminates the motor vibration. You may be able to take it apart there are two check balls that could cause the problem or it may be a bad separator chamber. I have seen this problem so rarely that I never really had to figure out a clever cure for it. Let me know if you want to get into it more John.

 

[bajaespuma]

Sorry, can't help it.

It's always a good idea, periodically, to check those two balls.

 

[toploader55]

Welcome

Eddie here on the Cape.

Nice to see another member in Mass.

 

[searsbest]

Thanks for the Welcome! I did a little investigating, I don't think I'm ready to rip it apart, as I said before other than this ocassional Hiccup It runs great (I do have spare module I pulled out a working machine that a friend of mine was getting rid of) I took the very top cap off of the module and found the the cap over the separator was filthy! yuck! can't believe I was washing my dishes in that!
but I guess after 23 years of continuous operation there may be a little filth build up LOL! everything else seemed pretty clean...we'll start here and see what happens

 

[searsbest]

Good ol' girl

1988 KM portable

 

[searsbest]

Money Shot

 

[yogitunes]

I have that exact model at Mom's.....ULTRAWASH.....great machine.......bought in 1988.......never an issue, ever........it sits next to her sink, permanently hooked up.......its a convertible!

 

[combo52]

1988 WP POWER-CLEAN DW

Scott thanks for the pictures, you should replace the detergent dispenser lid the rubber gasket is more than half gone. That may be the cause of the gunk buildup also be sure that you are putting some detergent in the open cup also . Not using detergent in the pre-wash cup on many dishwashers will cause nasty build-ups, this is the problem with the new tablets and detergent pouches that people are using now. If you you these products you should really put some regular DW det in the open cup.

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

Thank for the posting - this is a really great machine!
Can you take a more closeup of the console?
Thanks,
Peter

 

[searsbest]

console pics

 

[searsbest]

Cycles

 

[searsbest]

Survey says......

I ran her last night after Dinner I did actaully hear a noise I hadn't heard in some time....What I believe may be the check balls as it pumps out...maybe the gunk was the issue after all..I have known about the detergent cup... Funny I only think to replace it when I fill it. Hope this solves the Problem) The machine has been with me since 1999 when I picked it up curbside and the only thing I have ever repaired was the high Limit water heat thermostat which the previous owner had jumped out after it failed.... Thanks for your help guys...I will be posting some more pics of my other toys in the days to come

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore!

Thanks for the posts - really Great dishwasher!
Peter

 

[washerlover]

Does the "dirty" and "clean" indicator set itself or is it turned manually? Very nice looking machine!

 

[searsbest]

Dirty /clean indicator...

It's just a suction cup, I think I bought it at the supermarket, you have to turn it manually... would be cool if it turned itself though.