KDS-18 vs. KDS-19

[carmine]

I've had a 19 installed in my kitchen for about a year and a half. It is part of a larger remodel that uses older coppertone appliances. ('64 Flair and '64 19-cf Frigidaire) No complaints with DW performance, however the cosmetics of my KDS-19 are a but lacking... First of all it's almond which I could easily remedy since I paint cars all the time. Second, the chrome is pitted and upper stainless trim has a slight saw mark (oops). Finally, the porcelain inner door is worn with some rust stains.

I saw an old KA DW posted in an ad mainly showing vintage wood cabinets. I inquired about the DW because I thought it was the same as my KDS-19. Since the cosmetics looked better, I figured it would save me painting and provide some spare parts.

Turns out it was a KDS-18. I don't know what the differences are, although I give it a slight cosmetic edge beyond just the better condition (I like the script fonts, lol).

How would you experts proceed? Since the current 19 is a known performer, could I just swap the doors? I figure all the "action" is controlled by components in the door, and it solves all my issues without introducing any potential new issues. Then I'd re-assemble the 19 door on the 18 and keep it around as parts.

Also, the heated dry button on the 18 appears broken? It just pushes in, and then stays in... Or does it only pop back out after a cycle? The "normal wash" button has some peeled chrome, so if someone has a nice button I might be willing to buy it ;-)

 

[carmine]

For some reason the new photo loader isn't showing up on my phone (although I has in the past... Computers!) So here is the 19...

 

[carmine]

Also, there appears to be evidence of a prior repair. Any idea whay this is? Common failure point?

 

[appnut]

The 19 heats its own water and only offers a no heat dry.  The 18, you have to keep water heater set at 140 degrees minimum.  No heat dry is an option when button pushed in.  It should pop out when the door latch is lifted.  The 18 was the last to offer the 3rd wash level (on the top of the tank) Constant Rinse.  The 18's Soak & Scrub is much longer cycle than the 19's version and probably does a better job in my opinion. 

 

[stevet]

Not so easy!

Carmine,
While the 18 and 19 series look nearly identical, there are many actual differences between them that can make swapping parts impossible.

First, regarding the doors,the 18 was the last machine that used a dual hole rinse aid dispenser that used a solenoid to dispense the liquid. The 19 began the use of the single hole, bimetal actuated dispensers which carried on thru the 23 series machine. You can swap the doors, but will have to plug up the extra hole. They did make an insert to do that so if need be, let me know and I think I have them.

Second, the 19's lacked the heated drying system with the blower and heater located under the tank like the 18 has.The 19 also had a sump temperature probe on the right side of the sump which the 18 does not have.Thus making the tanks non-interchangeable. It's not impossible to do, but could be either very costly and nearly impossible to find all the parts.(But I have done it already and have since sold all the needed parts to another person a few years back. Just know that you can put the 19 parts into the 18 tank but not the 18 into the 19 unless you never intend to have a heated dry.(again, not impossible to do, but an adventure)

The pumps and water and drain valves would be swappable as well as the wash arms and the racks, with the 19 upper rack being the more desirable rack due to the larger wash arm that did a better job of getting items in the corners of the rack.

The 18 has a higher sani rinse temp and the heated dryer with an option for no heat (element off, fan on) drying. But the 18 did not preheat the water in the tank like the 19 and does not heat the final rinse water unless Sani-Cycle is selected. It did heat the water in the wash phases at the rate of 1.5 degrees a minute while washing.The other feature that many people like about the 18 was that it was the last machines to use the upper constant rinse above the top rack. It was used to help rinse out the tops of cups and glasses of small food particles.It was done away with in later machines and some of them had a small slit cut into the water manifold in the back of the tank that would spray water out and over the tops of stuff in the top rack. Purely a matter of preference in my opinion and also, since most people broke the upper spinner all the time, it was useless once that happened. The replacement design was marginal at best and now are nearly impossible to find.

The energy saver button DOES stay in on the 18 until you either open the door or push the cancel drain button. Energy saving dry must be selected anytime after the door is opened.

The last picture looks like you have a major liming problem in the fill air gap. I would strongly suggest you remove it and clean the lime out of it so it doesn't leak. Just be careful when removing it so you do not damage the small rubber sealing gasket.

If you can get the 18, I would say to do so and install it if it works well. Even as a donor machine, more parts from it will work in the 19 than the other way around. If all it needs is one of the program buttons, I have a bunch of them. Let me know if you want some.

Any other concerns, just post them here and we all will take care of you!

 

[kakidd]

18's are great

I grew up with an 18 and they are great machines. I have been looking for one in my city for years and finally found one a month ago at a resale shop for $25. While I did have some minor issues getting it back up to speed, I just had it installed yesterday in my kitchen as a daily driver. I swapped the original upper rack with one from a 19 so I have the longer wash arm. If you have sufficiently hot water, the 18 is fine without the water heating and in my opinion does a better job than the 19.

 

[carmine]

Thanks for the replies. Give me some time to let it all wash over me (!) And I'll develop a plan. Just to clarify, I have both machines, so no decision about buying the 18.

I'm not nearly as concerned with DW performance as I seen discussed on this site. Basically all my fine china is mismatched old junk, and that probably won't change anytime soon. So if my re-used Carl's Jr. cups and Gladware have spots, I could care less. All I know is the 19 always impresses me with it's ability to get junk off whatever I put in it. I came from a "rinse first" family, but have changed that since learning things here. I guess I'd just install the 18, but I worry that I'd miss the heated water?

BTW, that's a temporary floor with no kick trim in the photo!