KDS-19 question from email I received

[varicyclevoice]

Some of you are more technically savvy than I am and wondered if you could help out a person who sent me an email with this question:

Regarding a KitchenAid Superba KDS-19--

I’ve re-installed this machine twice and replace the pump once.
Now, for some reason, the unit won’t pump dry. It leaves water in the sump, up to about 1/4 inch across the entire pan (casing) surface (doesn’t leak over the door sill).

I notice on the right side of the sump, near the power-in of the heater element, is a stub fitting that looks like a sensor. Is this the water level sensor? If it is, how do I test it? I’ve got a digital multi-meter etc, and everyday experience with electrical circuitry and sensors - - - so am not intimidated by a schematic.

Do you know where I can get one on the net????

Regards,

Dave from PA

 

[stevet]

Slow down there, Mister! You are running down the road too f

Dave,
There are two sensors in the sump of your dishwasher. The one on the right hand side is the wash temp sensor which interrupts the timer from advancing until the wash tank water is heated to the proper temperature of 140 degrees.

The other one is on the left hand side of the sump and would appear as if it was nearly touching the heating element itself, is both the sani rinse temp sensor as well as the hi-limit thermostat sensor. The sani rinse tstat interrupts the timer in the final rinse until the water is at the correct temperature and if the water should overheat or the element is dry fired due to no water going into the unit, the high limit will cut the current to the element.

The only water level sensor in there is the actual float switch which is there to prevent the machine from overfilling.

As far as the excess water in the bottom of the tank goes, how high is the water in reality? There could sometimes be just a little left on the bottom of the sump but most of the time there would be little if any water visible.

There are some things to consider:

The drain line can be plugged or pinched somewhere, or the drain in the sink is sluggish or the hose is hooked up to a disposer which doesnt have the drain knockout "knocked out". Did you repelace the disposer recently and forget to knock it out?

Do you have a drain air gap on the counter? It could be clogged as well, slowing or stopping the draining of the water.

The drain impeller that was originally used was really not that large though it usually did the job. If you replace the shaft seal and impeller with the Hobart kit, you will get a larger finned vaned impeller which will really increase the drain pressure and volume out of the pump.

If you want to go that route, the part number is 435102.This includes a new shaft seal and the drain impeller. You can probably get by with just changing the impeller and not have to worry about the shaft seal. Of course you have nothing to lose by changing both pieces. If you are unsure of how to do it, just install the drain impeller.There are shimming instructions in the kit so you should be okay.Pretty straight foward deal.

And just for the record, that shaft seal kit will fit the 18,19 and 20 series pumps and will make a difference in the performance of the drain pump on those machines.

Hope this helps.
Steve

 

[toploader55]

Go get'em Steve

You are the Hobart/KitchenAid Guru. I was waiting for you to reply to this one. If anyone has an answer to a KitchenAid issue, Steve's the go to guy. Eddie

 

[stevet]

you are sooo kind!

Ed, thanks for the vote of confidence! And don't forget that I still have my own KDS19 sitting in the garage that makes for easy reference!

Not to mention that it also has been converted to a hot air drying system! And boy did it clean well and dried even better than anything I ever had!

 

[jons1077]

Oh my...

I did that once. I put in a new disposer and dishwasher and forgot to knock that drain stop out. I had an air gap installed at the time and the water shot out of the air gap. A few seconds later the hose blew off the disposer and shot water everywhere! I felt do dumb!!!

Jon