Hi there - just recently purchased a house that needs a LOT of work...in the kitchen there happens to be a KDB21 that is kinda beat up but my wife and I are pretty darn shocked by how well it works, so we're looking to just tune it up and hopefully help it out a bit cosmetically if possible. The parts I'm looking for seem to be discontinued everywhere they pop up online - this seemed like the place to ask. At minimum, I'm looking for a push button to replace one of the ones that is broken off (there are just the metal forks sticking out, not great with the kids around...), but at most if there was a cleaner front face-plate around I would be interested in that as well since the labels around the dial are all but worn off and it would be nice to see what we're selecting! Anyway, not looking to crash the party but thought I might get some leads here - and I think it is really fantastic to see a group of folks passionate about these great old machines. Thanks in advance for any help!
KitchenAid (Hobart) KDB-21 Parts?
- Thread starter russ300
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rollermatic
Well-known member
enjoy that "21"
i collect kitchenaids, have about 2 dozen but only one 21 model! i don't have any parts myself, especially not a face plate or that button. most of my machines are the older 17 and earlier models.
i have heard over and over and over again stories from folks who replaced their old kitchenaids because they were a bit ratty looking or just "old" and all of these folks were disapointed with their new machines! your kitchenaid may not look it's best but it will outclean anything on the market today and do it much quicker! some of the new one's take 2 hours! your's takes about 1/2 hour!
it might be missing a button and the dial scratched up but the important parts you may need are all still out there. pump seals are still made by hobart, as well as motors. and on e bay a lot. racks are out there on e bay a lot. i personally would keep it as long as i could! i have several old "12" model kitchenaids that still have the original pump seals and don't leak a drop and run like new at over 50 years old! hobart made these dishwashers with the same quality as their commercial machines, using the same pumps and motors! you won't find a better machine. the 21 was also the first model from hobart do use a reversing motor and do away with the drain valve and solonoid that previous models had. so that's another key part you don't have to wear out!
look at it as a bit of nostalgia in your kitchen! maybe someone else here will have spare parts. keep your eyes on craigs list and e bay, you might find a 21 model for sale very cheap. i see them on craigs list ever so often for 25 bucks or so! you could buy one for parts! then you'd be set for life! i would not jump into a new machine just because it's prettier or more modern or boasts of "less water usage"! the new one's use less water but they clean less as well! give me any old kitchanaid any day of the week!!! hopefully someone here can help you with parts.
good luck with it!
pete
i collect kitchenaids, have about 2 dozen but only one 21 model! i don't have any parts myself, especially not a face plate or that button. most of my machines are the older 17 and earlier models.
i have heard over and over and over again stories from folks who replaced their old kitchenaids because they were a bit ratty looking or just "old" and all of these folks were disapointed with their new machines! your kitchenaid may not look it's best but it will outclean anything on the market today and do it much quicker! some of the new one's take 2 hours! your's takes about 1/2 hour!
it might be missing a button and the dial scratched up but the important parts you may need are all still out there. pump seals are still made by hobart, as well as motors. and on e bay a lot. racks are out there on e bay a lot. i personally would keep it as long as i could! i have several old "12" model kitchenaids that still have the original pump seals and don't leak a drop and run like new at over 50 years old! hobart made these dishwashers with the same quality as their commercial machines, using the same pumps and motors! you won't find a better machine. the 21 was also the first model from hobart do use a reversing motor and do away with the drain valve and solonoid that previous models had. so that's another key part you don't have to wear out!
look at it as a bit of nostalgia in your kitchen! maybe someone else here will have spare parts. keep your eyes on craigs list and e bay, you might find a 21 model for sale very cheap. i see them on craigs list ever so often for 25 bucks or so! you could buy one for parts! then you'd be set for life! i would not jump into a new machine just because it's prettier or more modern or boasts of "less water usage"! the new one's use less water but they clean less as well! give me any old kitchanaid any day of the week!!! hopefully someone here can help you with parts.
good luck with it!
pete
Here is a link to the owner manual so that you can get an idea of what's on the cycle dial to help you decide whether to use normal or light wash cycles.
http://www.kitchenaid.ca/assets/pdfs/literature/Use and Care Guide - 4177721.pdf
http://www.kitchenaid.ca/assets/pdfs/literature/Use and Care Guide - 4177721.pdf
Check craigslist regularly and you may/will eventually find a 21 series machine for really cheap that you can use for parts. I found two 22 series machines several months back, one for $30 and one for $25, both complete and in working order.
stevet
Well-known member
Battle wagon!
As you can imagine, the KDB series is a Builder's model which was a great move by Kitchenaid to get thier foot in the door like many other manufacturers did with home appliances. If and when this base model bit the dust, the longevity of it would be a great selling feature and the owners would no doubt purchase another Kitchenaid machine.
Unfortunately, parts for it were obsoleted in the 90's especially the control panels which would be difficult to find even on ebay and such places. With most stores offering free take away of the old appliances, not many people think to save the old one as a spare if it works, or to part it out. They just want it out of the way.
May I ask if the button you seek is Chrome or Black as I may have both and are you looking to replace the front panels too?
I have a number of front panel trim kits which will include the white and black panels as well as the almond/bisque and harvest wheat panels. You can toss the metal panels and insert wood or custom panels as well. There ARE stainless panels available for them for sure on EBAY as well as some limited availability through Whirlpool and other parts distributors. I have a few sets of the panel kits which include the door and lower panels. The only snag is that they need to go in a large box so sometimes shipping can be a bit on the high side.
Let all of us know what you need and I will bet you will find it here.
Steve
As you can imagine, the KDB series is a Builder's model which was a great move by Kitchenaid to get thier foot in the door like many other manufacturers did with home appliances. If and when this base model bit the dust, the longevity of it would be a great selling feature and the owners would no doubt purchase another Kitchenaid machine.
Unfortunately, parts for it were obsoleted in the 90's especially the control panels which would be difficult to find even on ebay and such places. With most stores offering free take away of the old appliances, not many people think to save the old one as a spare if it works, or to part it out. They just want it out of the way.
May I ask if the button you seek is Chrome or Black as I may have both and are you looking to replace the front panels too?
I have a number of front panel trim kits which will include the white and black panels as well as the almond/bisque and harvest wheat panels. You can toss the metal panels and insert wood or custom panels as well. There ARE stainless panels available for them for sure on EBAY as well as some limited availability through Whirlpool and other parts distributors. I have a few sets of the panel kits which include the door and lower panels. The only snag is that they need to go in a large box so sometimes shipping can be a bit on the high side.
Let all of us know what you need and I will bet you will find it here.
Steve
stevet
Well-known member
No stepping on toes!
Peter
I don't want to step on your toes, but just want to remind the readers here that Hobart DOES NOT have any parts for the Kitchenaid Dishwashers past the 20 model series which shared parts with the models they were selling at the same time as the 20. Nor do they actively sell parts for these units and in fact the commercial branches never did(for about 99.9% of the most part).
The 21 series was sold intially by Hobart but was then sold and manufactured by Whirlpool and Emerson(Insinkerator) after the sale of Kitchenaid to Whirlpool.
Shaft seals and motors are shared with the 18,19,20 series and the current production SR24 SERIES commercial machines so we can keep those classics going for many more years to come. Seals and motors for the 15,16 and 17 series are still available thru Hobart but at a very premium price for the motors without the gaskets and are still available thru regular domestic parts distributors where available and will soon be NLA at Hobart as well. Models prior to the 15, namely the 12 thru 14 series are all but gone now including the last few seals you got as well as the drain valves.
Hope this helps as well as doesn't disappoint anyone. Looks like it may be time to look for a few parts donors for future use.
Peter
I don't want to step on your toes, but just want to remind the readers here that Hobart DOES NOT have any parts for the Kitchenaid Dishwashers past the 20 model series which shared parts with the models they were selling at the same time as the 20. Nor do they actively sell parts for these units and in fact the commercial branches never did(for about 99.9% of the most part).
The 21 series was sold intially by Hobart but was then sold and manufactured by Whirlpool and Emerson(Insinkerator) after the sale of Kitchenaid to Whirlpool.
Shaft seals and motors are shared with the 18,19,20 series and the current production SR24 SERIES commercial machines so we can keep those classics going for many more years to come. Seals and motors for the 15,16 and 17 series are still available thru Hobart but at a very premium price for the motors without the gaskets and are still available thru regular domestic parts distributors where available and will soon be NLA at Hobart as well. Models prior to the 15, namely the 12 thru 14 series are all but gone now including the last few seals you got as well as the drain valves.
Hope this helps as well as doesn't disappoint anyone. Looks like it may be time to look for a few parts donors for future use.
KA DW PARTS
For any DW that has flat panel inserts you can just go to your local sheet metal company and have them made. My partner Smitty often makes panels for me for various projects.
On the shaft seals I buy the little bellow and carbon part from the parts list for 1990s MT DWs, they are less than $10 a peace and they will fit all KA DWs 15-25 series and most WP & MT DWs from around the same period of time. I even used one to fix the leaking pump seal in my 1960 KM combo, it has worked great for more than 15 years now.
For any DW that has flat panel inserts you can just go to your local sheet metal company and have them made. My partner Smitty often makes panels for me for various projects.
On the shaft seals I buy the little bellow and carbon part from the parts list for 1990s MT DWs, they are less than $10 a peace and they will fit all KA DWs 15-25 series and most WP & MT DWs from around the same period of time. I even used one to fix the leaking pump seal in my 1960 KM combo, it has worked great for more than 15 years now.
go to your local sheet metal company
When Nate and I revived the Thermador THD 3600 we found sheets of aluminum at Orchard Supply Hardware that provided the look of stainless steel at a fraction of the cost (picture attached). We only had to make one cut with tin snips to make upper and lower inserts fit. I think I've seen the same vendor's products at Lowe's too.
When Nate and I revived the Thermador THD 3600 we found sheets of aluminum at Orchard Supply Hardware that provided the look of stainless steel at a fraction of the cost (picture attached). We only had to make one cut with tin snips to make upper and lower inserts fit. I think I've seen the same vendor's products at Lowe's too.
LOWER COST ALUMINUM DW PANELS
Ralph these turned out to be a good cost savings for your Thermador, Oh that was mean LOL
Ralph these turned out to be a good cost savings for your Thermador, Oh that was mean LOL
I suspect -- no, it's my fervent wish -- that the Thundering Thermador has finally met its maker. Or it should at least be heinously haunting him. After it left my kitchen it didn't take long to start pulling its "film at 11" BS on Nate and was expeditiously 86'd, let's hope never to torment another household.
rollermatic
Well-known member
toes still intact!!!
my toes are fine, i don't take offense to much that anyone says anymore! that's the joy of gettin older!!! this site is all about information, at least to me. i post on occasion, i ask questions on occasion. the point is to get the info to the person needing it. if someone else has better info or more accurate info all the better!!!!! that's what makes this site an encyclopedia of knowledge!!!! and that's what distinquishes it from bein a boring internet chat room!
i would be happy to sell you my 21 model, very cheap! i'm not collecting anymore, i did what i set out to do. i proved to myself that in a 2 year period i could aquire all the machines that interested me. i ended up with a flair stove that i love, 6 rollermatics that i have always loved, a 1-18 that i like, and about 45 dishwashers from the 50's, 60's, and 70's mostly kitchenaid and g.e. with a sprinkler of frigidaire thrown in.
but now i have pretty much lost interest, thank God! i'm savin money! it was expensive gettin all those machines shipped and takin road trips. so the 21 model i have i really don't want. i have no interest in any kitchanaid made after the 17 models ended. i will sell that 21 for 30 bucks but i won't part it out. i like to leave em as i found em! i see you are in pennsylvania so i imagine it's too far for you to travel. but keep me in mind if you ever want it, it will be here, not throwin any away.
and combo, thanks for the info on those pump seals. i have always bought them from hobart or off e bay at about 40 bucks each. don't think i need anymore, have a good amount of parts stockpiled here for any kitchenaid repair i will do in the future but it's good to know! again, great info that only this site can provide!
your feedback on my pump seal storage question was much appreciated also. i got a lot of good opinions on that one, your's provided the best overall answer! at least i know i can let these machines set without worry!
good luck with your 21, again if you want mine let me know please.
my toes are fine, i don't take offense to much that anyone says anymore! that's the joy of gettin older!!! this site is all about information, at least to me. i post on occasion, i ask questions on occasion. the point is to get the info to the person needing it. if someone else has better info or more accurate info all the better!!!!! that's what makes this site an encyclopedia of knowledge!!!! and that's what distinquishes it from bein a boring internet chat room!
i would be happy to sell you my 21 model, very cheap! i'm not collecting anymore, i did what i set out to do. i proved to myself that in a 2 year period i could aquire all the machines that interested me. i ended up with a flair stove that i love, 6 rollermatics that i have always loved, a 1-18 that i like, and about 45 dishwashers from the 50's, 60's, and 70's mostly kitchenaid and g.e. with a sprinkler of frigidaire thrown in.
but now i have pretty much lost interest, thank God! i'm savin money! it was expensive gettin all those machines shipped and takin road trips. so the 21 model i have i really don't want. i have no interest in any kitchanaid made after the 17 models ended. i will sell that 21 for 30 bucks but i won't part it out. i like to leave em as i found em! i see you are in pennsylvania so i imagine it's too far for you to travel. but keep me in mind if you ever want it, it will be here, not throwin any away.
and combo, thanks for the info on those pump seals. i have always bought them from hobart or off e bay at about 40 bucks each. don't think i need anymore, have a good amount of parts stockpiled here for any kitchenaid repair i will do in the future but it's good to know! again, great info that only this site can provide!
your feedback on my pump seal storage question was much appreciated also. i got a lot of good opinions on that one, your's provided the best overall answer! at least i know i can let these machines set without worry!
good luck with your 21, again if you want mine let me know please.
Guys - thanks for the continued discussion...
Steve, at minimum I'm just looking to replace the one black rectangular button that's missing. If you've got one, that would be fantastic!
If I was able to find a replacement panel to go behind the dial (with the cycle selections on it_, that'd be a bonus since mine is all worn away...I never thought of doing something like Ralph did on the Thermador for the bottom panel - that's pretty wild!
Pete, that is tempting but yeah, Cincy is a HAUL from Philly. Still, good to keep in mind if it does make sense sometime...
Steve, at minimum I'm just looking to replace the one black rectangular button that's missing. If you've got one, that would be fantastic!
If I was able to find a replacement panel to go behind the dial (with the cycle selections on it_, that'd be a bonus since mine is all worn away...I never thought of doing something like Ralph did on the Thermador for the bottom panel - that's pretty wild!
Pete, that is tempting but yeah, Cincy is a HAUL from Philly. Still, good to keep in mind if it does make sense sometime...
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