Just picked up a KDC-59

[barcoboy]

The university that I work for every year has a huge garage sale, and I always volunteer one day to help them set up. This year, a KDC-59C came rolling in, so I decided to pick it up for $25. It looks like someone was using it as a built in, as the butcher block top was missing, and the unicoupler was gone and replaced with a washing machine fill hose. The power plug also had only one out of three prongs present. Inside though it looks pretty good... only one little spot of surface rust in the base of the sump. Underneath is pretty clean and has no signs of rust. Motor wasn't seized, and when I powered it up, it spun right up to life. Drain valve kicks in, and I can hear the fill valve(s) energizing. Dry blower also works and isn't noisy. Dumped a pail of hot water into it and let it sit for 15 minutes-no leaks. Started it up and it ran fine and still no leaks. Timer advanced to drain and the water pumped out. Not sure about the detergent dispenser-will have to take the front panel off and check it.

Now, the reason I had picked up this dishwasher is because I wanted to strip some parts off of it for my KDS-58. I was going to use the top rack because of the larger spray arm and china guard, but I see it isn't height adjustable nor has fold down tines. Are the china guards/upper spray arms easily transplanted between racks, or is it better to leave them alone? I also think the door hinges are in good shape, so was going to use them if they are compatible. Was also going to pull the motor and pump out and keep them as a spare (at least the motor-don't think the pump is compatible), as well as the drain valve, detergent dispenser, etc. and then offer the rest to anyone here, for individual parts or everything left over. Just wondering what exactly I should/can keep from it for my 18? I'd love to get a built-in 18 someday and then keep my portable 58 for parts, but in the meantime maybe I should keep the 19 intact and hang on to it until I find an 18 to replace it with?

 

[barcoboy]

I know there is no heated dry with this model, but is the 19 a model that pauses while heating the water at the beginning of a wash? The heater is working as I left the dishwasher run after a pumpout with no water in it for a few minutes, and when I opened the door, I could smell the element had been on.

That is another question... I know that some heating elements aren't supposed to be run without being surrounded by water (eg: kettle, hot water heater), but can the heating elements in these dishwashers be run dry, and if not, is there any protection against that happening (eg: you lose water pressure in the middle of a cycle)?

 

[barcoboy]

Well I tried to swap the upper wash arms and china guards between the 18 and 19 racks, but discovered that the clips for the 18 rack's adjustable tines fit in the same spot as where the 19 china guard wants to clip on, so I put everything back and installed the 19 rack into the 18. I guess I can live without adjustable height and the flex divider tines in exchange for the larger spray arm. The 19 rack itself is in better shape too, as I had one tine on the 18 broken off because of rust, and a couple of other rust spots starting to form, but the 19 rack is completely rust free.

 

[barcoboy]

Still wondering what I should do with this... anybody have any advise or answers to my questions above-it would be very much appreciated.

 

[cyclemonitor]

My solution would be

Why not eliminate the china guard on the rack of preference..and replace the
upper arm with a plastic one. The lower end models after WP took over...became plastic without guards....all the new machines use plastic without protection.
I can appreciate wanting to keep it original...just my 2 cents worth of advice.

 

[barcoboy]

Thanks cyclemonitor for your input. The 19's upper rack with the bigger wash arm works well in my 18, so even though it doesn't have the adjustable height and flex-divider tines like the upper rack in the 18 did, I think I can live without them.

But I'm still not sure if I feel right scavenging a working 19 for parts for my 18, as from what I can see there is nothing really wrong with it, other than it's missing some stuff to be used as a portable. I'm thinking I should just wait for another built-in 18 to come along, keep my current 58 as a parts machine for the 18, and then give away or sell the 19 to someone else.