KITCHEN AID DISHWASHER KDC-20A REPLACEMENT

[speedwagon]

The KDC-20A HAS been reliable for decades with some part replacements. Now it is showing it's age. The interior finish is quite worn with some rusty metal showing. I have cleaned and patched the bare metal with Kitchen Aid paint. The upper dish rack frame is rusting, and after the wash cycle the dishes still have detergent on them, (the strainer has been cleaned).
Should I replace it with another older model, or opt to purchase a new dishwasher?
Things that I think about are how long will Cascade keep making the powder for the older machines, the newer machines have a ridiculously long wash times for water filtration, and the newer motors are not as rugged has the older ones.
Your thoughts are welcomed.

 

[michaelh]

Hello,

There are plenty of 19/20/21 machines out there on marketplace, OfferUp etc. if you think that’s the best route and you could keep parts from your current machine for spares.

Your description of the lack of cleaning quality, from what I’ve read around this site, it could be a bad wash arm support. We’d need more expert opinion here.

If you decide to keep the machine, it sounds like it needs a clean out with vinegar or dishwasher cleaner to get that film off and make it shine.

 

[combo52]

Poor cleaning from a KD 20 dishwasher

Are you sure the inlet valve is letting enough water in? That’s the most common reason dishwashers like this start doing it for job it also causes a lot of rusting because the detergent concentration is getting too strong.

I have found that my older 80s whirlpool dishwashers were just fine with the dishwasher pods. You don’t get near as much etching and rusting from the pods. It’s given new life to my old whirlpools from 1986.

John

 

[speedwagon]

KITCHEN AID DISHWASHER KDC-20A REPLACEMENT

Thanks for the information. I will look at the inlet valve and the lower washer arm support. Tim

 

[qsd-dan]

Next time you run the dishwasher, when it's on the main wash cycle and quits filling, stop the machine. Let the water drain down for a minute, pull the lower rack and take a picture of the water level against the filter housing. We'll be able to tell you if it's underfilling.

You can check the upper support by removing the wash arm (it pulls straight up) and confirming that the bearing is solid in the housing with no movement. Sometimes it will appear fine but will be worn. There are several new upper supports on eBay at the moment. The wash arm will also be worn at this point where it rides on the upper support bearing. Also check the seams of the wash arm, the seams can split or become leaky and allow water to discharge there instead of diverting all of the water through the jets.

Carefully inspect the blue water delivery tube in the upper rack that connects to the upper wash arm. These can deteriorate and will cause a loss of water pressure.

 

[speedwagon]

KITCHEN AID DISHWASHER KDC-20A UPDATE

Update: Again thanks for all the help.
I installed a new upper support,which was loose, purchased on Ebay, and cleaned out the water inlet valve filter, which was dirty.
dishwasher performance cleaning greatly improved.
Still have some trouble with the upper washer arm. The blue water delivery tube has no holes other than one which I think is supposed to be there.
What the problem seems to be is worn bearings that are installed on the top and the bottom of the upper washer arm causing it not to spin. Finding those bearings is next to impossible. The upper washer arm is protected by the optional guard.
I added two copper bearings on the bottom to close the gap which enables the washer arm to spin a little better, but not good.
Any ideas would help.