Early KitchenAid KDS-21: The Holy Grail Has Finally Been Found

[phillymatt53]

I just took a pair of R/F201 Sub-Zeros out of service, built in 1979 and still working well enough to use. How many other 45 year old fridges are still sitting in the kitchen? The final nail in the coffin was not being able to find a gasket for the freezer's door, even generic. Funny thing, I put a KDS-21 in a rental property in Maryland when it was new, cost me all of $400... Never occurred to me that I'd live long enough for one to become a classic!

My basic 14cf top freezer GE fridge is still working perfectly since 1985, so it's now 40 years old.

 

[jakeseacrest]

I do love the looks of the 21 series, but I'm so fussy that I couldn't abide by the single final rinse. Around 2011, I did get a KDC-20 portable. I initially had some issues, but a Finish Powerball broken in half in each dispenser fixed about 90% of the problems. I sold it when I moved in 2016. Now I realize that most of the problems stemmed from the banning of phosphates around the same time. If I come across another 20 series portable, I'll pick it up.

 

[thatwasherguy]

Hello- first time poster! I have a KitchenAid Custom 21 DW that we have been using for over 9 years. We recently returned from 3 months away and the machine makes a loud grinding noise during the wash cycle. It sounds like the motor needs replacing. Any advice on where to get a motor assembly? They all appear to be out of stock on the usual parts sites. Is replacing the motor do-able for someone who is quite handy but has never repaired a DW before? I'm located in the Philadelphia area. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum! I would advise using EBay for any parts you may need. I’ve been amazed at what I’ve been able to find for my machines there. In fact, I’ve actually already bought several of the parts for my KDS-21 project through there. If EBay doesn’t have them, the shoppers square forum here is a fantastic resource. I recently bought a discontinued pump that I couldn’t find on eBay off of another member for one of my washers. I can’t speak to the ease of removing the motor from this machine, as I haven’t gotten that far along on my machine yet. However, I’ve taken apart the door and control panel, and everything there is very service oriented, so I can’t imagine it being overly difficult. Let us know what you find!

I just took a pair of R/F201 Sub-Zeros out of service, built in 1979 and still working well enough to use. How many other 45 year old fridges are still sitting in the kitchen? The final nail in the coffin was not being able to find a gasket for the freezer's door, even generic. Funny thing, I put a KDS-21 in a rental property in Maryland when it was new, cost me all of $400... Never occurred to me that I'd live long enough for one to become a classic!

My granny had an early 70’s Montgomery Ward chest freezer up until she moved in 2017. If the new owners didn’t junk it, it’s probably still working. My next door neighbors also have a Montgomery Ward freezer in their basement, an upright model from about 1981. It’s still going strong (and they now know who to call if they ever got rid of it). My great aunt had a late 60’s B.F. Goodrich upright freezer up until she died last year. As of my last visit in 2023, it was still working. As for refrigerators, I can think of a bunch working vintage units outside of my own; a 1953 G.E. two door at a local business, my neighbor across the street’s 1993 Amana top freezer, and my aunt’s 1994 Whirlpool side by side, my uncle’s 1995 magic chef top freezer, a 80’s G.E. top freezer at a pizza restaurant in Frankfort, and a early 90’s Frigidaire top freezer at a family friend’s business office, to name a few. I totally agree about appliances that seem modern becoming vintage. I remember when direct drives were being sold in big box stores, and when our 2006 Frigidaire stove was cutting edge technology. It’s funny to look at that stove and realize that it’s almost 20 years old.

My basic 14cf top freezer GE fridge is still working perfectly since 1985, so it's now 40 years old.

I’m not surprised. I’ve been pleased with the build quality of anything G.E. from that era that I’ve come across.

I do love the looks of the 21 series, but I'm so fussy that I couldn't abide by the single final rinse. Around 2011, I did get a KDC-20 portable. I initially had some issues, but a Finish Powerball broken in half in each dispenser fixed about 90% of the problems. I sold it when I moved in 2016. Now I realize that most of the problems stemmed from the banning of phosphates around the same time. If I come across another 20 series portable, I'll pick it up.

The single final rinse is the only thing I really don’t like about the 21 series machines. I’ve been contemplating taking a timer meant for a KDS-20, and installing it in my 21 with a relay to allow it to work with the reversing motor, but I probably won’t bother. I’ll probably just do what Tom suggested, and add a small bucket of water to it whenever it goes into the post wash purge. Good luck with your search for another 20 series!

Thanks,
Thatwasherguy.

 

[combo52]

The pump and motor assembly just lift out of KD 18 and later KitchenAid dishwashers, they’re easy to service. They’re still plenty of parts around if you need them.

I have a pair of top-of-the-line KitchenAid refrigerator in freezer from 1987. Only part ever replaced was the lightbulb on the refrigerator.

There are companies that make replacement door gaskets if you need one of course the only reason a door gasket goes bad is because people don’t keep them clean and they spill sticky stuff and when they open the door, tears the gasket overtime.

John L

 

[phillymatt53]

If I'm correct, my KDC-19 has a rinse before and after the main wash.
And at the end does a Sani Heat final rinse.

Start - Fill - Pause
Water heater -Sani heat
Pre-wash - drain
Fill - prewash drain
Fill - main wash - drain
Fill - rinse - drain
Pause - fill - Sani Heat
Final rinse - drain
Fan drier - then Off.

 

[phillymatt53]

The pump and motor assembly just lift out of KD 18 and later KitchenAid dishwashers, they’re easy to service. They’re still plenty of parts around if you need them.

I have a pair of top-of-the-line KitchenAid refrigerator in freezer from 1987. Only part ever replaced was the lightbulb on the refrigerator.

There are companies that make replacement door gaskets if you need one of course the only reason a door gasket goes bad is because people don’t keep them clean and they spill sticky stuff and when they open the door, tears the gasket overtime.

John L

Yep!
The only thing I ever replaced on my 1985 GE fridge was the lightbulb 20 years ago.

 

[combo52]

Hi Matt 1985 GE frost free refrigerator would’ve had a new compressor at some point, when those came out it had an ill faded rotary compressor. They all got replaced within 10 years. Did you own the refrigerator when that happened?

What’s the model number of your refrigerator?

John L

 

[combo52]

Hi Matt 1985 GE frost free refrigerator would’ve had a new compressor at some point, when those came out it had an ill fated rotary compressor. They all got replaced within 10 years. Did you own the refrigerator when that happened?

What’s the model number of your refrigerator?

John

 

[phillymatt53]

Hi Matt 1985 GE frost free refrigerator would’ve had a new compressor at some point, when those came out it had an ill fated rotary compressor. They all got replaced within 10 years. Did you own the refrigerator when that happened?

What’s the model number of your refrigerator?

John

I mis-quoted the info on my earlier post, I thought it was a 14cf model, it's not.
The fridge was in the house when I moved in back in 2005.
When I initially cleaned and inspected it back then, it looked like it was all original, including the dust buildup in the back.
It purrs like a kitten, nice and quiet.
The label stuck on the freezer door states it's model # TBX18Z, and it's an 18.2 cf rating.

 

[combo52]

Hi Matt, that makes more sense. There are virtually zero GE frost free refrigerators running from the mid 80s till about 1990.

That’s not the full model number of your refrigerator. You have to look at the serial number tag that’s just the sales number.

John

 

[pstehle]

I was working in the service business back then. The trouble started out with the great big side-by-sides with the "colostomy" dispensers in the door, then worked it's way down through nearly all the models built at the time. Something about the Japanese made rotary compressors they had to use to meet EPA standards, and having an oil compatibility issue. They made ato th fine dust that clogged the cap tube where it connected to the filter/drier.

 

[nah261]

Take it apart down to the drain impeller, there's probably just an item caught in that area making a racket.

Thanks for the suggestion- is there a video or diagram somewhere that can show me how to do this?

Thanks!