KDS-18 Repair Issue Query

[RudeRedDog]

All right one and all, I am new here and am glad to be here and am in need of assistance.

I am not happy to admit it (being male and all) but I am needing help!! I try to be fairly self sufficient, but when I know not much about something I ask for help.

The help I need is with a 'NEW' and rather 'SCARY' noise my prized and loved KDS-18 dishwasher is making when it runs.

It is really hard to explain the sound except to assess that is happens when the pump/motor is running. Which is most of the time in the appliance involved.

I am not sure what specific part to replace nor the best way to approach the investigation and I am not too keen on letting a repair 'technician' work on the device, unless the tech is older - say 40+ years - and has worked on these type models successfully. I do not want an amateur to touch it or tear into it then say that they cannot fix it. Maybe I'm being overly reactionary or dramatic, but I do not want to pay through the nose just for some tech to come out and 'attempt' to service this wonderful machine. I want to know it will work again.

I can do some repairs my self, as I am currently waiting for a few parts for my old 1978 Model 880.130*1 Litton (made by Amana) built in wall oven. I also have done a few repairs on my old Jenn-Air downdraft cooktop - the one with the cartridges. I love the old type units.

Is there any one who might be able to point me in the correct direction if I send them a file or some files (a video with sound from my phone or some pictures or both) so they can look at it and listen to the noise that fills me with a tick-tock-tick-tock dread? I kid you not, my dishwasher is am awesome unit, even if it is a little bit noisy...so what I say. I still think the loud Harley-Davidson sound is super.

Pardon the long winded message, but I am usually verbose and extra creative at this time of night (12:09am PDT).

Any help/direction would be appreciated, even if it just to hang your head in sorrow and whisper: 'The poor bugger doesn't know the dire straits he is in.'

Looking forward to the great conversation and perspective any of you may bring to this malady of mine.

Best Regards,
RudeRedDog

 

[toploader55]

Welcome

To AW.

If you can be more specific on the noise, there are a few experts here including our resident Hobart Guy... stevet. Welcome Aboard.

 

[combo52]

Noisey KA KDS-18

Yes we need a better description of the sound, A somewhat common problem with this vintage KA DW was a loose cooling fan on top of the main motor. You can get your finger in there and see if it is loose, if it is you have to remove and disassemble the complete pump and motor to get at it and then you can either replace the motor or epoxy the fan back on the shaft. You can also just ignore the sound as the DW will probably run many more years with a loose fan. There are many other things that can make a strange noise associated with the motors operation the most common is bad motor bearings, Good Luck.

 

[RudeRedDog]

KDS noise

Okay. I will take a video of the machine in action with the sound and then upload it somewhere then post a link to the clip. Would that be helpful?

The best way to describe it in my mind is the same-ish sound a bolt makes when it is still in the hole but the thing it is connected to vibrates so the bolt is rattling or better yet chattering in time with the motor spinning.

Hope that helps.

 

[RudeRedDog]

Video of my KDS-18 running and making the noise

Hello all, I have recorded - rather poorly I must confess - a video of my KDS-18 running and the sound that it makes, which is what caused me to become concerned.

I would have gotten to this sooner, but I had to install a new terminal block & bake element on my 1978 Litton/Amana built-in wall oven and have been kind of sidetracked with this process over the last 3-4 days.

So, the link will take you to YouTube, where I have uploaded the video. It is not a public video and is only intended for use by those on this forum. After the solution has been implemented, I will be deleting the video.

FYI - the link and my user name here is RudeRedDog, but on YouTube as with many Google things, your real name seems to be the requirement. So when you see Clifford Phillips, that is me. Which is why I use RedDog....go figure.

Glad I found this site.

Long live the KiD*(s) of the Hobart.

 

[combo52]

Noisey KA KDS-18

It is either the fan or the motor itself the only way to know for sure is to tear it apart. Your DW appears to have already had the motor replaced once in its life as it currently has the Emerson built motor, which was not what Hobart used in the late 1970s when a KDS-18 s were built.

 

[eronie]

loose fan on motor shaft!

 

[stevet]

"fan" of KitchenAid

Clifford,

It is obvious that you have already invested in a new pump motor as it is the square sided, Emerson built motor that you have in there as well as the starting relay. They are usually good and dependable motors but as menitoned above by John(combo 52)
and like the others, it sure sounds like it is the fan. They usually crack at the flat on the fan that fits over the motor shaft.

Unfortunately, that fan is not replaceable and you would have to repair it. It is not too hard to remove the motor but it will take some time to do the whole job. Just go step by step and you should be able to do it.
Older Hobart motors are available if you want to go that route or even a newer style like the one you currently have.

 

[RudeRedDog]

Decisions on KDS-18

Well, folks it is nice to see the replies and very heartening.

I would be willing to remove the whole thing, but I honestly have not that much experience with the dishwasher, as I got the unit as it is when we bought the house in 2000 and other than that, the only thing I had done was a repair person fix a water leak from the unit.

So, I am game, but not sure of the step-by-step process. But live and learn I guess.

I am not as positive about the repair of the fan, so I would rather replace the motor unit, but I kind of feel like I'd rather lean towards the old Hobart model as it probably still can work better than the newer (planned obsolescence) units.

Quality still trumps quantity in my mind. And like food, where low cost/higher quantity/lower quality leads to poor health, whereas, higher cost/lower quantity/higher quality leads to better health.

So does anyone have any pointers or direction as to what they think my next steps should be; especially you stevet, as I listen to those who know a device best?

What would a original Hobart model set me back? You can send me an email with the particulars if you want at [email protected] (in case anyone want to ask, the name is what I called my first ever Orange tabby cat named Huey)

Is there any particular vendor that anyone would recommend to me for looking into the pump motor to replace the current one with a like model? Or does anyone have a new one sitting around and willing to trade money for the device?

Thank you all and best regards.

Clifford Phillips

 

[stevet]

You've got mail!

Clifford, I just sent you an email.

Steve