GE Powershower

[Meg43dea]

Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine a discussion group like this. I adopted my GE portable powershower in 2000 (top loading, circa 1967) as a college girl living with 4 girls and no dishwasher. I love it and have this strange attachment to it. Anyway, it stopped working this week and I was looking for some advice.

The machine will take water in, but it will not initiate the wash cycle or pump water out. I am assuming that it has something to do with the pump...

Is this easily reparable? I am not at all mechanically inclined.

I found a picture of it online and am attaching it.

 

[kenmore1978]

diagnostics

After it takes the water in, does the timer dial continue to advance but nothing happens? If not, try SLOWLY turning the timer dial by hand to see if other actions are initiated. If the other actons start when the dial is manually advanced, but the dial won't turn onit's own, than the timer is bad. Not a big deal, even for the "mechanically challenged"

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Meagan,

It sounds like there it is either a problem with the Timer or the drive Motor. The Drive motor is turned on by the timer during wash or drain. There is a chance that one of the two electrical leads going into the motor has fallen off or become loose. When you turn the knob after it has filled up do you hear the drain solenoid making a "snapping or clunk" like sounds?

Also as Kenmore 1978 said it is important to see if the timer knob is turning slowly on its own. Can you start the dishwasher, let it fill up and wait 10 minutes and see if the dial is moving.

 

[westytoploader]

By 1967, did GE portable dishwashers still use impellers or switch to the spray arms? I'm thinking the latter, but you can't be too sure...

--Austin

 

[agiflow]

They had already switched to spray arms by 67.

 

[MikeS]

I used to have one of those

Sorry I can't give you any repair advice, but I must tell you about the Mobile Maid I once owned.
When my sister and I bought a home about 20 years ago, the kitchen was from the 60's and had no dishwasher. One night we went to an estate auction, and they had a coppertone Mobile Maid (about '67 or '68) for bid. I bought the thing for $25!
After setting it up, loading it and putting in the Cascade, I turned it on. Eureka! It washed, rinsed, dried and drained in the sink, just like it was supposed to. And the dishes came out great.
We sold the house a few years later, and left the GE for the next owner. Loved those top loaders--just like doing the laundry, with that familiar old Cascade chlorine-like odor.

 

[cehalstead]

Cascade smell

If anyone craves the smell of classic Cascade, go to BigLots or Dollar General and buy the store brands of dishwasher detergent. It still has bleach in it, and smells like classic Cascade......

 

[Meg43dea]

thanks

Thanks for the advice. I am out of town right now, but will try your suggestions when I get home tonight, or in the morning.

P.S. - this one was $12.00

 

[Meg43dea]

Diagnosis

Hello,

I plugged it in and waited 10 minutes. The timer does not move on its own. In addition, it is making the "snap" like sounds, as if it is trying to go to the next cycle but cannot.

Where would the electrical lead be? How would I get a new timer if this is what is wrong?

Thank you in advance!

Meagan

 

[kenmore1978]

timer

Sounds like the timer. Post the model and serial number, and let's see what we can do for you.