dishwashercrazy
Well-known member
KitchenAid Briva In-Sink Dishwasher - Repair of Lid Balance "Link" Part# 8572664 & former Part# 8529382
The purpose of this Discussion Thread is to document the procedure that I have used to replace the broken "Link" on my KIDS01EKSS0 Briva. I also have a KIDS36EPSS1 Briva. The following procedure would be equally appropriate, I believe, on any of the Briva models which have the plastic connectors that attach to the Briva's Hinge Pins (Left: 8529383, Right: 8529384). (See first photo below).
Background: The KitchenAid Briva, I believe, was introduced in the latter half of 2002 or the beginning of 2003. And I believe that production ceased in 2007. (Please forgive the continued use of "I believe", because I don't have all of the facts, and am simply supposing certain facts when I don't have complete information.)
In June, 2009, I purchased a used December 2003 Briva KIDS01EKSS0 on eBay. It arrived with both of the Links broken off. Over the next year and a half, I have been searching for replacement "Links". What I have discovered, I believe, is that the replacement Link part numbers 8572664 and 8529382, were never stocked by individual parts houses. Rather, replacements were always ordered directly from Whirlpool. Well, long story short, Whirlpool in their infinite wisdom, is no longer making these parts available. I continued my pressing of the issue to Whirlpool about discontinuing parts on Dishwashers that were made as few as 3 years earlier. Always with apologies, I kept hearing the same story - no longer available. They even went as far as to offer to exchange my Briva with a brand new standard dishwasher. I explained that I was not interested in a new dishwasher - that I wanted my existing dishwasher fixed with a replacement $26 part.
In the process of contacting large mid-west parts suppliers, and small appliance stores, I found a dealer in a nearby town, that has two customers with KitchenAid Briva machines, both with broken Lid Balance "Link" parts. They thought they might have a repair solution, but it apparently was not successful.
Even a couple of months ago, I attempted my own fix by interweaving thin copper wire around the plastic connector, hoping that just beefing up and supporting the connector would be sufficient. But when I attached the connectors to the hinges, and closed the lid, the connectors exploded off the hinges. I set the project aside, but I wasn't giving up yet.
NOW, this week, I started racking my brain trying to figure out how I might retrofit the dishwasher lid with a replacement for the original "Link". I spent the better part of 90 minutes inside the hardware section of my local Do-It-Best Hardware store, searching for a solution. And along with the assistance of Josh, one of the associates, I had my first workable solution. It required a return visit for further modification and more parts, but I finally had my solution, which is described below.
Mike
This photo shows the good "Link" on the right side of my other Briva machine. It consists of a nylon cord with a plastic connector attached to the lid hinge; the remainder of the cord passes left over one pulley, down and over a second pulley, then through the cabinet and attaches to an adjustable coiled spring underneath the unit. There is a second "Link" on the left side, similarly routed, and connected underneath to a separate coiled spring. The failure involves the plastic cracking and splitting where it grasps hold of the lid hinge.
The purpose of this Discussion Thread is to document the procedure that I have used to replace the broken "Link" on my KIDS01EKSS0 Briva. I also have a KIDS36EPSS1 Briva. The following procedure would be equally appropriate, I believe, on any of the Briva models which have the plastic connectors that attach to the Briva's Hinge Pins (Left: 8529383, Right: 8529384). (See first photo below).
Background: The KitchenAid Briva, I believe, was introduced in the latter half of 2002 or the beginning of 2003. And I believe that production ceased in 2007. (Please forgive the continued use of "I believe", because I don't have all of the facts, and am simply supposing certain facts when I don't have complete information.)
In June, 2009, I purchased a used December 2003 Briva KIDS01EKSS0 on eBay. It arrived with both of the Links broken off. Over the next year and a half, I have been searching for replacement "Links". What I have discovered, I believe, is that the replacement Link part numbers 8572664 and 8529382, were never stocked by individual parts houses. Rather, replacements were always ordered directly from Whirlpool. Well, long story short, Whirlpool in their infinite wisdom, is no longer making these parts available. I continued my pressing of the issue to Whirlpool about discontinuing parts on Dishwashers that were made as few as 3 years earlier. Always with apologies, I kept hearing the same story - no longer available. They even went as far as to offer to exchange my Briva with a brand new standard dishwasher. I explained that I was not interested in a new dishwasher - that I wanted my existing dishwasher fixed with a replacement $26 part.
In the process of contacting large mid-west parts suppliers, and small appliance stores, I found a dealer in a nearby town, that has two customers with KitchenAid Briva machines, both with broken Lid Balance "Link" parts. They thought they might have a repair solution, but it apparently was not successful.
Even a couple of months ago, I attempted my own fix by interweaving thin copper wire around the plastic connector, hoping that just beefing up and supporting the connector would be sufficient. But when I attached the connectors to the hinges, and closed the lid, the connectors exploded off the hinges. I set the project aside, but I wasn't giving up yet.
NOW, this week, I started racking my brain trying to figure out how I might retrofit the dishwasher lid with a replacement for the original "Link". I spent the better part of 90 minutes inside the hardware section of my local Do-It-Best Hardware store, searching for a solution. And along with the assistance of Josh, one of the associates, I had my first workable solution. It required a return visit for further modification and more parts, but I finally had my solution, which is described below.
Mike
This photo shows the good "Link" on the right side of my other Briva machine. It consists of a nylon cord with a plastic connector attached to the lid hinge; the remainder of the cord passes left over one pulley, down and over a second pulley, then through the cabinet and attaches to an adjustable coiled spring underneath the unit. There is a second "Link" on the left side, similarly routed, and connected underneath to a separate coiled spring. The failure involves the plastic cracking and splitting where it grasps hold of the lid hinge.
