philliplederer
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And its age? Can parts be found for the major components that tend to fail on this model? Thanks> Phil
Can anyone identify the probable model number of this Kitchenaid DW?
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jakeseacrest
Well-known member
Maybe from 1985/86. I think the model is KDC21A
philliplederer
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Parts?
Thanks. Are parts available? I don't want to acquire a machine that I cannot fix.
Thanks. Are parts available? I don't want to acquire a machine that I cannot fix.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Parts: Yes and No
Phillip:
That KDS-21, imtroduced in '84, is old enough that not every part will be found on the shelf of your local appliance parts dealer.
However, between eBay and the resources of this group, it is almost always possible to find what is needed.
I own a 15-Series KitchenAid Superba that is nineteen years older than the machine you show, and while parts can be challenging, the machine is well worth the effort.
You cannot buy a dishwasher as good as the old KitchenAids today, no matter what you spend.
Hanging out here has one huge bonus - we have KitchenAid expert stevet as a member, who knows stuff about KitchenAids that KitchenAid itself forgot a long time ago. He is ever-helpful, and a damn nice guy.
It all really boils down to how important having a really capable vintage dishwasher is to you, as opposed to one of today's "eternal sprinkle" machines. To keep an old KitchenAid going, you will almost certainly need to become your own service tech, and you will need to become resourceful when it needs attention. But you will be rewarded with cleaner dishes, in less time, than is possible with the puny equipment being sold nowadays.
Phillip:
That KDS-21, imtroduced in '84, is old enough that not every part will be found on the shelf of your local appliance parts dealer.
However, between eBay and the resources of this group, it is almost always possible to find what is needed.
I own a 15-Series KitchenAid Superba that is nineteen years older than the machine you show, and while parts can be challenging, the machine is well worth the effort.
You cannot buy a dishwasher as good as the old KitchenAids today, no matter what you spend.
Hanging out here has one huge bonus - we have KitchenAid expert stevet as a member, who knows stuff about KitchenAids that KitchenAid itself forgot a long time ago. He is ever-helpful, and a damn nice guy.
It all really boils down to how important having a really capable vintage dishwasher is to you, as opposed to one of today's "eternal sprinkle" machines. To keep an old KitchenAid going, you will almost certainly need to become your own service tech, and you will need to become resourceful when it needs attention. But you will be rewarded with cleaner dishes, in less time, than is possible with the puny equipment being sold nowadays.
It depends on the part. Not much goes wrong with these machines. The "check valve" is probably the most vulnerable component, and the machine will still operate with a bad one. It's just a dime-sized rubber flap in a plastic housing. GE still produces a part that can be used as a replacement for it.
stevet
Well-known member
GE part number for the check valve
Ralph,
Can you post the number for the check valve that GE uses? Believe it or not, I have a few of the K/A check valves but they have been hanging around for so long, the little stoppers have stopped working and I am sure there are other members who may need to replace theirs as well so it would be good to review the replacement part number.
Thanks
Steve
Ralph,
Can you post the number for the check valve that GE uses? Believe it or not, I have a few of the K/A check valves but they have been hanging around for so long, the little stoppers have stopped working and I am sure there are other members who may need to replace theirs as well so it would be good to review the replacement part number.
Thanks
Steve
KA KD 21 and 22 Check Valve Flapper
The GE Pt# is WD1X1486 and while the DW will still run without this part it will not wash well in the top rack with a bad CV, and top rack washing is already a little weak in KA KD 18-22 dishwashers. There just is not much water pressure do to the convoluted plumbing to get water to the top rack wash arm, I have been threatening to add an axillary water pump to the line going to the top rack of my KDSS-20 for years now.
Phil being that your KA DW is a portable it may be in great shape and not need much work for a long time, we see many portables that were not used much, condition is everything.
KA DWs were very well built and fairly easy to work on, but were more complex than any other DW and as a result there are lots of things that will eventually go wrong. We pulled out a KDS-22 this past Thursday and it was so tired that I just put it on the scrap pile, I could not see one part that was worth saving.
The good news is that KA made so many DWs that it is usually not difficult to find either good used or even new parts to keep them running.
John L.
The GE Pt# is WD1X1486 and while the DW will still run without this part it will not wash well in the top rack with a bad CV, and top rack washing is already a little weak in KA KD 18-22 dishwashers. There just is not much water pressure do to the convoluted plumbing to get water to the top rack wash arm, I have been threatening to add an axillary water pump to the line going to the top rack of my KDSS-20 for years now.
Phil being that your KA DW is a portable it may be in great shape and not need much work for a long time, we see many portables that were not used much, condition is everything.
KA DWs were very well built and fairly easy to work on, but were more complex than any other DW and as a result there are lots of things that will eventually go wrong. We pulled out a KDS-22 this past Thursday and it was so tired that I just put it on the scrap pile, I could not see one part that was worth saving.
The good news is that KA made so many DWs that it is usually not difficult to find either good used or even new parts to keep them running.
John L.
