Handsome KDI-20 Back In Service

[rp2813]

I returned yesterday from spending a few days in Tucson with Nate and David.  I was only joking this past Friday night when I cast an oblique curse on Nate's Signature 2000 dishwasher as I placed one final item into it, but damned if that machine didn't proceed to fracture its motor fan and screech its way through completion of the remaining cycle sequences.  Destination:  curbside.

 

Long story short:  We had spotted the pictured KDI-20 earlier that same day at a local re-store.  After Replacement Plan A failed, Roger and I went back to the re-store this past Monday and $30 later the Imperial was on its way to the rescue.

 

This machine is super clean inside and out.  Someone had apparently run jars with labels through it and there was paper covering the mesh filter.  Easily dealt with, and after mitigating fill valve issues the Imperial was secured in its enclosure and provided with a load of nicely soiled items for its trial run.  It did a fine job.  This model did not come equipped with a rinse aid dispensing system, but the wiring is all there to operate one.  A KDS-20 dispenser is readily available to harvest for installation if desired.  In the meantime, there is a blank insert where the rinse aid filler cap is usually found.

 

I think this model has a very nice looking commercial grade control panel.  It would be stunning with stainless door and access panel inserts. 

 

The picture is blurry, but captures the details on the panel better than the shot I took using the flash.  From left to right the cycle selector buttons are:  Pots & Pans/Soak & Scrub, Heavy Wash, Low Energy Wash, Rinse & Hold, and No Heat Dry.  It's a sweet machine whose time to shine has come around once more.  Yay!

 

[autowasherfreak]

Nice KitchenAid!

 

[gansky1]

Very nice machine - now, how to keep Nate interested in it? Before long, a WCI underdog will catch his eye and you know what happens then... Bless his heart

I doubt your spell-casting powers are strong enough to damage the KitchenAid quite yet, but the Montgomery Ward Signature 2000 (LOL) is a good machine to practice on!

 

[rp2813]

You are so right, Greg!  We must hope that nothing on the curbs of Tucson catches his roving eyes or it will be deja-vu all over again.

 

I issued a challenge should I return during the holiday season, stating that I was resigned to the Imperial being gone by then.  I was assured that this wouldn't happen so long as the Imperial continues to perform.  Odds would seem to be stacked against another marginal machine showing up based on that statement, but we're all aware of the boy's weakness in this regard.

 

Sidebar:  The Wards machine sat on the curb unclaimed for two days.  Wanting to keep up appearances, on the third day Nate pulled it back onto the driveway.  I suggested that the cars we saw slow down and then speed away either saw the Signature brand or that the "2000" designation was an indicator of the machine's age.  My recommendation of pasting over the "2000" with "2012" fell flat.

 

[mitch]

Good deal!

Love seeing these! I cannot tell you how much I have been enjoying my Superba Monterey! One funny thing I have noticed is it will actually put pin holes in the disposable aluminum pans I use when grilling! I have had to toss 3 of these pans. That machine will move some water

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Does that mean I should refrain from telling him about any orphans that show up in The Pile behind our shop? I COULD dangle pics of dishwasher "bait" thinking he's safely in Tucson only to find him knocking on the back door to our shop in Reno before the image has even finished uploading... Hee hee hee!

Ralph, didn't you remember to gorilla glue the K/A into the space? He'd have to rip the cabinets out to put in anything he finds. Nate would never do th... Oh, yeah... He'd do it.

Never mind...

RCD

 

[rp2813]

The Pile

Andy, I think you can post all you want.  Logistics are on "our" side.  ;-)

 

BTW, this KDI-20 still had the two square black rubber shipping bumpers hanging on the rear of the lower rack.  I've never even seen those before.

 

[stevet]

never turning back???

I can appreciate a vintage machine as well as the next guy or gal but why would anyone want to take such a backwards step as to stepdown from a 20 series Kitchenaid, especially like that Imperial? It has capacity, good looks and a great washing system. And it heats the water for you and even can dry the dishes faster than any new machine out there.
Admittedly it is not a 21 thru 23 series which will outwash this machine, but he might be hard pressed to actually see the difference and IIRC, the Imperial may have 2 full final rinses.

Did WCI ever make any dishwasher worthy of being called one?

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Carefully, Steve! Those are fightin words to Nate...

Oooohhhh, that might start an argument. LOL! We might even get Phil riled up, too...

RCD

 

[rp2813]

Well, even though it squealed its way through the process, the Signature was Bob Loaded for its fateful final run and I must admit it got everything to sparkle.  But as with anything that carries a Signature badge, longevity was not its strong suit.

 

The Imperial is a good ten years older than the Signature and will probably last ten years longer.  Let's face it, though.  Not all of those ten years will be spent in the Marler kitchen.  Variety is the spice of life, after all.

[this post was last edited: 9/29/2012-01:05]

 

[jetcone]

Stevet

you're telling me my KDP-20 is not as good a machine?? It can't wash? It can't compare to my 14?? whats 21-23 got that my 20 doesn't.

'splain yourself Lucy!

 

[rp2813]

20 vs. 21-23

One thing I noticed while listening intently to the Imperial during the early stages of its maiden wash cycle was that the hydrosweep wash arm rotates quite a bit faster than on 21-23 machines.  I presume this has something to do with non-reversing motor vs. reversing.  And of course the obvious difference is the heating element in the sump on the 20 series and the related delay before washing action starts vs. the automatic and continuous water heating on the 21-23 models with the element positioned above the tub floor.

 

We'll have to wait for Steve's explanation to find out if either of these differences factor into the statement he made above.

 

[jetcone]

tap tap tap

...tap!!

 

[qsd-dan]

tap tap tap

Same goes for you ;>)

 

I'm still impatiently waiting for Rosalie to become available for purchase.

 

[combo52]

KA DW Cleaning Ability

There was little difference in the overall cleaning ability between the 18-23 series DWs, and in fact the 18-20s were a little better than the 21-22s. While it is true that the pump was redesigned and beefed up in the 21-22 and an extra fine filter and grinder were added these improvements were mostly negated by the reduction of water used and most of all the move to only one final rinse. The grinder in the 21-22 was nearly useless because the food bits could not get into the grinder due to the filter and lift out trap design, you were basically still left fishing food out of the DWs sump after a cycle when compared to D&Ms, GEs and WPs Power-Clean systems. MT also never made a DW with a decent food waste disposal system in any of their DWs as the pumps cover plate held back too much garbage to rot and smell in an area that was impossible to clean without removal of the pump cover.

 

[maytagbear]

Really now?

I never had a problem with odors from my Maytag WC400.....I did have to clean the coarse filter in the sump fairly often, but the MicroMesh filter system worked really well for us.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[jetcone]

Dan all I can say is

I'm working day and night to get it to market.

I'll let you know as soon as I do!

jet

 

[rp2813]

Filtering

I'll go on record here and report that in over 20 years of combined use, I've never had to fish anything out of the sump or coarse filter on my KDI-21 or ISE Classic Supreme (KDP-22 clone if KA had made one) or encountered any sort of accumulated goop in any portion of the filtering system.   I'm not inclined to rush out and buy some Lotto quick picks as a result.

 

[fester]

Hyperbole

Slow and steady wins the race. Old school and bomb proof trumps new fangled fancy featured every day! But then that's just me and I've been accused of being difficult on more than one occasion.

FEster