Insinkerator dishwasher help

[mikepaquette]

I just got a 1988 Insinkerator TOL dishwasher in mint condition. I descovered the reason it was never used . The top right hand side of the door is a saftey switch, it works , BUT it is missing the male part of the switch. SO this dishwasher has never been used . Where do I find that part ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Mike

 

[redcarpetdrew]

A model number would help. The ISE dishwasher was pretty much a Kitchenaid D/W. In fact, >I think< Kitchenaid absorbed ISE. The rumor mill had it that people were buying the ISE's as they were getting the K/A design quality without the K/A price tag. You will probably find a K/A door swith actuator will do the job.

RCD

 

[stevet]

what's missing exactly?

There should be either a hard plastic, or rubber pointer on the right top of the tank body which actuates the switch thru the hole in the door. Is it missing? Let me know and I will tell you what to do next!

And no, K/A did not absorb ISE.. They are still ISE! And Yes, they did get the K/A quality or should we say design for the most part without the premium price but they were nice sleek looking machines.

I asked the ISE sales rep once why they stopped selling them and his response was that they could not buy them from Whirlpool cheaply enough to be competitive in the marketplace. The last machines were the 3000 series which had the Whirlpool power module pumps like the Kitchenaid 23 series machines.

There have been posts here showing what they looked like. Got a 3000 for my aunt and uncle and they still have it though it is seldom used these days. Gorgeous white on white machine.
Much quieter than their 21 series Superba Monterrey unit they have downstairs in the basement kitchen.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Thank you for the clarification, Stevet. I was factory service on them for a while and I wasn't sure why the ISE d/w disappeared. Always willing to learn something new every day...

RCD

 

[mikepaquette]

ISE DW

Its the rubber pointer part that is missing.

 

[stevet]

Easy Fix

Mike,
If you can't find a pointer, you can use a STAINLESS STEEL screw like a 10/32 size(or one that fits the hole) with 2 nuts on it. Put one nut on the screw up to the head of the screw and insert it from the rear of the tank top. Then put the other nut on the screw and then adjust the length of the screw so that it activates the switch when you close the door and latch it. The switch actually has a spring device to push the door open a bit so it cannot close by itself and run the machine with the door slightly ajar. You have to latch it to overcome the spring tension and activate the switch.If it sticks out about 5/8-3/4 of an inch it should be fine. Just check it and then lock it in place by tightening the back nut on the screw up against the tank and do the same with the front nut. This will last longer than the machine. So many of the rubber pointers fall off and the hard plastic ones break! They used to use a nice stainless pointer but that went away many years ago. If you really feel compelled to use the OEM part,then let me know. I should have some hanging around, but I can tell you I have had the screw and nut setup on one of my spares and it has worked fine for years. Hope this helps.