KitchenAid Custom 21 making clicking sound

[dreamingtree]

Hi all, I hope you can help me. We bought an old KitchenAid Custom 21 a couple months ago and it was a dream. Now it has started making a clicking sound in what I believe are the wash and rinse cycles. It sounds like the wash arms are hitting something, but they aren't. It's rhythmic like that, though. It's also not cleaning well. I have removed the filters and cleaned them. There was some stuff in there, but it hasn't solved our problem. Any ideas where I should start looking first? I would greatly appreciate any advice!

 

[stevet]

More info needed..

Can you take a video with your phone and post it here so we can hear the noises it is making while the machine is running? That can be a big help in determining the issue.

 

[dreamingtree]

Sure thing. I'll do that when I get home.

 

[DADoES]

 
Be aware the videos cannot be uploaded directly into a post like a photo.  Videos must be placed at an online sharing service and linked for viewing.  Majority here use YouTube.  AW site software recognizes YouTube URLs.  Copy the URL for sharing/viewing and paste it into your post.

 

[dreamingtree]

I apologize for the delay and appreciate the guidance I've received so far. Here is the video link for the sound it is making. The loud click at the end is a dropped dust pan.

 

[combo52]

It sounds like the top or bottom wash arm is hitting something, sometimes the lower arm spindle get loose and cause

Lift the lower arm off and see if the shaft is loose at all [ it should not be ] one of the four SS arms may be coming loose as well and hitting the lower rack track because the water can lift the arm a little when running.

 

John L.

 

 

 

[tomturbomatic]

I remember when we were at John's Aunt and Uncle's who rinsed everything before loading it in their KA. When they started it after dinner, the lower wash arm made horrible banging sounds because the wash arm support and wash arm needed replacing. Because they rinsed everything so thoroughly, they did not realize that the machine was no longer cleaning, just eating itself.

 

[dreamingtree]

John, I had a face palm moment. I never thought to run the dishwasher without anything in it. I did that tonight and it did not make a clicking sound. I did check everything you suggested and it's all sturdy. I apologize for skipping something that was probably common sense to most. I can't for the life of me imagine what I put in every time that would do this. I always check "clearance" with my tall stuff, but I am going to investigate. My husband also pointed out that we changed detergents around the same time the clicking sound started so maybe the dirty dishes is a whole separate problem. I will post on this thread again if the problem persists. I really appreciate everyone's time and I apologize. I do have a different question that has popped up since running an empty dishwasher. Is there a way to stop or reset a load on these models?

Tomturbomatic, I definitely need to get used to not rinsing as well. Old habits die hard.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Check the flatware basket:

after you load the basket make sure nothing is protruding through the gridwork at the bottom of the basket. This would cause the wash arm to strike the protrusion and not rotate correctly. The best way to avoid this is to load flatware handles down.
WK78

 

[dreamingtree]

WK78, thank you for the suggestion. I do load my flatware handles down excluding sharp knives, but I put those laying down in the long slot of my basket. I am running a load now and the sound is back despite making sure nothing is hanging out or too tall. I am going to do a couple more empty runs to make sure I didn't just get lucky the first time. The thing is that it wasn't making this noise the first month or so we had it and I am doing everything the same, except new detergent, to my knowledge. I am going to triple check it's nothing I'm doing, though.

 

[chachp]

Weight of the load?

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is it possible that when the bottom rack is fully loaded it's just heavy enough that it dips lower and the bottom spray arm is hitting something?  The good news is it doesn't sound like it's stopping the spray arm from rotating.  What is the condition of your lower rack?</span>

 

[dreamingtree]

The racks are in amazing shape. No rust. Everything seems to be in order. But you did get me wondering if maybe the dishwasher isn't quite level. Could that affect anything? If it's not level it's not very far off. Do these have adjustable feet like a stove does? I looked but can't really tell. I might just try some shims if not.

 

[dreamingtree]

Well, I ran another empty load and it does still click with nothing in it. I took another video to see if maybe someone can catch something different. The video is of the empty load. It doesn't seem to do it during the rinse cycle. Maybe a slight similar sound as it transitions from spraying to draining. I'll pay more attention to where the sound comes during the cycles.

 

[DADoES]

 
Seems the lower arm has been the focus thus far.  Maybe the upper rack arm is the source.  Does it seem excessively loose or wobbly on the rotational bearing?  Perhaps purposely anchor it with a clothes pin or zip tie or some such so it can't rotate to see if the clicking occurs.  If so, try the same with the lower arm.

 

[dreamingtree]

The upper wash arm is wobbly. I can easily push it into the upper rack. Can I just stick something long through the upper rack to catch it? It won't bother the mechanisms? And can I run a full light load with it that way? I still haven't figured out how to cancel or restart a load on this model. I really appreciate everyone's help so far.

 

[DADoES]

 
The spray arms are not motor/mechanically driven.  They rotate via Newton's third law of motion (physics, for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction) like a spinning water sprinkler.  Holding them stationary won't cause any more damage to anything than holding a spinning sprinkler.

It has a rotary timer knob?  Canceling a cycle involves manually turning it to a drain period, which they aren't specifically marked.  You have to figure out where they happen by observing a cycle in advance and remembering the positions where you hear it draining.  The final drain usually is the best choice.  Raise the handle to pause the cycle, turn the knob accordingly, then lock the handle.  Raise it again when the drain is finished and turn the knob to Off.

Posting a photo of the timer may be helpful for someone to assist you in identifying where are the drain periods.

 

[dreamingtree]

DadDoES, I just ran a light load all the way through, empty with a pasta spoon stopping the upper wash arms. I did still make the noise but not as rhythmic. The picture is where the machine was in the cycle (and also for reference to restarting the dishwasher, but I think I understand what you explained above. Thank you for that). I believe it was draining for the dry cycle. So no spraying was happening. I do have a video uploading to YouTube to explain what I mean. I live in the boonies so it takes a long time to download a 20 second video. I'll post the link when it finishes.

 

[dreamingtree]

Here is the video. I'm not sure if this offers more information. Just want to be thorough. Again, this is at the end of the rinse cycle right before drying.