Kitchenaid Dishwasher KDI-21A: how to remove washer arm?
- Thread starter mrh
- Start date
Help Support :
Yeah, and it may sound dumb, but be sure the tips of the wash arm aren't being held under the edges of the tub wall and preventing the arm from being lifted up and off.
REMOVING WASH ARM IN KA DWs
Yes the arm should just lift off but the bronze sealing ring often wears into the Bakelite base of the arm and blocks easy removal. unfortunately sometimes when it is really stuck you will end up breaking part of the wash arm support when it finely comes loose. If it is really stuck you can pull it up a little and spray silicone spray under the edge of the hub and on the SS shaft this might help.
Important note to all KA DW owners remove the lower arm on a regular basis, you need to do this to clean the filter anyway, this will keep it from getting stuck. The filter needs to be cleaned every few loads and make sure that the DW is getting enough oil in the way of dirty dishes. The worst thing you can do to any DW is to pre rinse the dishes, DWs are not designed to wash CLEAN dishes. KA DWs had a beautifully built SS shaft and bronze bearing in the wash arm that will last the life of the machine if the machine is used as designed to wash DIRTY DISHES.
Yes the arm should just lift off but the bronze sealing ring often wears into the Bakelite base of the arm and blocks easy removal. unfortunately sometimes when it is really stuck you will end up breaking part of the wash arm support when it finely comes loose. If it is really stuck you can pull it up a little and spray silicone spray under the edge of the hub and on the SS shaft this might help.
Important note to all KA DW owners remove the lower arm on a regular basis, you need to do this to clean the filter anyway, this will keep it from getting stuck. The filter needs to be cleaned every few loads and make sure that the DW is getting enough oil in the way of dirty dishes. The worst thing you can do to any DW is to pre rinse the dishes, DWs are not designed to wash CLEAN dishes. KA DWs had a beautifully built SS shaft and bronze bearing in the wash arm that will last the life of the machine if the machine is used as designed to wash DIRTY DISHES.
Yes, it spins freely. And I noticed how the wall has a ridge that might prevent it from lifting out, but it is stuck well before that. Bakelite? Did they still use that in the 80's? Thanks for the suggestions. We are quite afraid of damaging it if we pull too hard and then we'll be sunk.
Still can't get it off!
We tried the silicone spray and it will not come. As I stated, it lifts up about an inch..and it's not the ridge of the tub stopping it, it just won't come off! We're really afraid of breaking something so have not used excessive force, although my husband has hauled on it quite hard.
Any other suggestions?
thanks
We tried the silicone spray and it will not come. As I stated, it lifts up about an inch..and it's not the ridge of the tub stopping it, it just won't come off! We're really afraid of breaking something so have not used excessive force, although my husband has hauled on it quite hard.
Any other suggestions?
thanks
stevet
Well-known member
Plan B
I have to ask... as you lifted the arm up, was it able to be turned? I know if it came up enough it would hit the tray rail on each side of the tank but if it stops turning as you lift, I would suspect excessive mineral buildup or some corrosion on the shaft or inside the brass bushing in the washarm.
Forget the silicone spray as it has almost no penetrating characteristics for this problem. I would suggest that you purchase some PB Blaster from the hardware or Home Center store and spray it into the center of the wash arm so it can work its way down over the bushing and the shaft.I would wait a while before trying it or maybe spray it one more time within a 24 hr period and then try removing the arm.
Spinning the arm during this time may also help work it free too.
I know it smells nasty, but once it works, you can remove the arm, clean the strainer screen and then run it thru a full cycle with automatic dishwasher detergent and it should take away the smell as well as any left over residue.
And like I mentioned in my email response to you, clean the filter at least once a week hereafter asnd if you leave the machine unused for a period of time, maybe remove the washarm,and filter and leave them inside the rack for safe keeping until they are needed again.
I have to ask... as you lifted the arm up, was it able to be turned? I know if it came up enough it would hit the tray rail on each side of the tank but if it stops turning as you lift, I would suspect excessive mineral buildup or some corrosion on the shaft or inside the brass bushing in the washarm.
Forget the silicone spray as it has almost no penetrating characteristics for this problem. I would suggest that you purchase some PB Blaster from the hardware or Home Center store and spray it into the center of the wash arm so it can work its way down over the bushing and the shaft.I would wait a while before trying it or maybe spray it one more time within a 24 hr period and then try removing the arm.
Spinning the arm during this time may also help work it free too.
I know it smells nasty, but once it works, you can remove the arm, clean the strainer screen and then run it thru a full cycle with automatic dishwasher detergent and it should take away the smell as well as any left over residue.
And like I mentioned in my email response to you, clean the filter at least once a week hereafter asnd if you leave the machine unused for a period of time, maybe remove the washarm,and filter and leave them inside the rack for safe keeping until they are needed again.
Hi Steve, I've tried the pb blaster, let it sit for some time and still no luck although it does feel a little looser..could be I'm imagining this. We are able to pull the arm apparatus straight up until the shaft ..the metal rod in the middle is recessed by about a half inch, then it just stops coming. It makes a sound like it's hitting something..but it is not hitting the ridges on the side, we are aware of those. Yes, you can turn the arm freely when you have pulled it to this point. It spins, and you can rock the arm up and down a little but it just won't come!
thanks
thanks
Total Mystery....
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I had a KDS-18 do this before and it nearly drove me nuts!</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I think it was calcium build up or something. I never was able to figure it out once I got it out. There was no evidence to why it was stuck. I know the sound even. It is a clunk sound like metal on metal.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">The way that I was able to get it to come out was not using much upward force. I got it up to the point where it was stuck and gently rocked it side to side and back to front. All the while barely using any upward "pull" force.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Give that a try. Once I got it out it never stuck again.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Hope it works for you.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Brent</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I had a KDS-18 do this before and it nearly drove me nuts!</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">I think it was calcium build up or something. I never was able to figure it out once I got it out. There was no evidence to why it was stuck. I know the sound even. It is a clunk sound like metal on metal.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">The way that I was able to get it to come out was not using much upward force. I got it up to the point where it was stuck and gently rocked it side to side and back to front. All the while barely using any upward "pull" force.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Give that a try. Once I got it out it never stuck again.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Hope it works for you.</span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Brent</span>
Brent, and Steve, it IS driving us nuts. It sure sounds like it's metal hitting metal. My husband disagrees that it's loosened up even a little and he's the one who has done most of the tugging. We bathed it in the PB BLASTER all day. We tried gently pulling and rocking it every which way. I think we're going to have to abandon hope of ever getting it out without breaking it altogether. I guess we'll just see how long she lasts now without ever cleaning the screen! But I'm atill open to suggestions...
I GOT IT!! I took a hammer and just kept gently tapping the base of the arm all around the sides,and on the top and it finally came loose. There is no evidence of why it was stuck, but there are 2 rings below the white plastic piece surrounding the shaft. One ring looks pink and plastic and has a break in it, and the bottom one is metal.
I'm adding a picture. Should I be worried, did these break off, or if I broke the pink ring, is this going to be trouble?
thanks
I'm adding a picture. Should I be worried, did these break off, or if I broke the pink ring, is this going to be trouble?
thanks
REMOVING WASH ARM IN KA DWs
The arm was stuck on the bronze ring, it wears into the base of the bakelite wash arm hub. Its getting stuck has nothing to due with mineral build-up and once they are this stuck you need a wash-arm and new wash-arm support anyway. See my earlier post as to why this happens. If you look at the white nylon piece where your spatula is, that part is broken loose and will block most of the water that usually goes into the lower main wash arm. And unless you can think of a clever way to fix yours it will need these parts, unfortunately they are NLA although you may find some on line or Ebay. I have good used parts if you want to contact me.
The arm was stuck on the bronze ring, it wears into the base of the bakelite wash arm hub. Its getting stuck has nothing to due with mineral build-up and once they are this stuck you need a wash-arm and new wash-arm support anyway. See my earlier post as to why this happens. If you look at the white nylon piece where your spatula is, that part is broken loose and will block most of the water that usually goes into the lower main wash arm. And unless you can think of a clever way to fix yours it will need these parts, unfortunately they are NLA although you may find some on line or Ebay. I have good used parts if you want to contact me.
stevet
Well-known member
Yep, You did it and John's right!
Congrats on getting the arm off, but John is correct. You have a broken washarm support and you will have to search one out from one of us here or online. I also have some used ones as I am saving the new ones for the 21 series machines I still have. The machine is worth invesdting in and will give many years or service if treated well.
Congrats on getting the arm off, but John is correct. You have a broken washarm support and you will have to search one out from one of us here or online. I also have some used ones as I am saving the new ones for the 21 series machines I still have. The machine is worth invesdting in and will give many years or service if treated well.
Easy explanation. It's a KitchenAid.
Seriously, though, it may be OK for now, but the issues with the wash arm could eventually cause the problems described above unless you replace the necessary components.
Seriously, though, it may be OK for now, but the issues with the wash arm could eventually cause the problems described above unless you replace the necessary components.
stevet
Well-known member
Thanks, Ralph
Absolutely right. I have seen lots of these machines with the bushings on the support(that white, nylon type sleeve) blocking the lower arm and thus sending all the water up to the upper wash arm and still the dishes on the bottom rack come clean. There are some small jets directing water down on to the dishes but there would be so much water falling back down over them, that they could very possibly still come out clean. No way as clean as they should be, but clean none the less.
Margaret, take care of getting that part while you still can. Eventually, they will get more and more rare and costlier than they may already be.
Isn't it wonderful how Whirlpool stops making parts even for their products and washers as well and all we can do is go out and buy new appliances.
Great for them and the economy I am sure but not for us!
Absolutely right. I have seen lots of these machines with the bushings on the support(that white, nylon type sleeve) blocking the lower arm and thus sending all the water up to the upper wash arm and still the dishes on the bottom rack come clean. There are some small jets directing water down on to the dishes but there would be so much water falling back down over them, that they could very possibly still come out clean. No way as clean as they should be, but clean none the less.
Margaret, take care of getting that part while you still can. Eventually, they will get more and more rare and costlier than they may already be.
Isn't it wonderful how Whirlpool stops making parts even for their products and washers as well and all we can do is go out and buy new appliances.
Great for them and the economy I am sure but not for us!
