KitchenAid KD-12 merges with a KD-14, does that make it a KD-13???

[Unimatic1140]

Good questions Tom, I was wondering the exact same thing. I've run three loads now where I've sat there and watched the dispenser door open. Two of the three times the tab dropped down, not far enough to fall out, but far enough that it was melted before the fill even stopped. The other time it was stuck up in there but the water spray flushed up into the dispenser and in less than 30 seconds I saw powder drop down and out of the dispenser as the wrapper melted. I think tabs in that dispenser is the way to go since it takes a bit more than residual water to get them to melt.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Thanks, Robert. So this is not one of those things that has the lump of detergent around the bead of stuff that serves as the rinse aid? I must have this confused with what are called tablets or something. Have you tried the tablet things yet in any of your machines? Did you try these packets when the machine just had the warm-up spray? If so, was the spray enough to dissolve the wrapper so that you lost detergent?

 

[magic clean]

Tom

the hard compressed tablets are not recommended for short dishwashing cycles. There is a chance that it would not fully dissolve. The "pac" type with the water soluble starch film seems to go into solution faster.

Neat dispenser there Robert!

 

[tomturbomatic]

detergent lumps

Leslie, Thanks. I kinda figured they would not dissolve fast enough for older machines.

 

[chachp]

I like the Cascade Complete...

It works really well in my newer Bosch and the KDS-17A. But let's face it, at close to $9 a big box it gets a little pricy. Kroger has them on sale this week for $5.99. That's a steel so I stocked up. So boys, if you have a Kroger close by check it out and see if it's on sale in your locale as well.

Robert, love your dishwasher BTW. I, too, am surprised by how fast that washarm turns. I sure would love to have one of those in my kitchen!!

 

[dnastrau]

kcleveland205: timer repair

I would try the company in the link below. Please post your results as this is a "new" vendor that no one here has used yet.

Good luck!

Andrew S.

http://www.appliancetimers.com/

 

[austinado16]

Very cool upgrades Robert!

I'm pretty sure my '59 KD12 runs the pump during the drain. As the water falls away, the pump looses pressure and the arm stops spinning. I'll pay attention when it runs tonight. I made a clear lexan "door" for mine so I could watch it run with the entire door open. Very fun!

I've got my dispenser basket over on the far front right corner, and I don't believe it gets partially rinsed out during the pre-fill. I've seen some manuals that suggest placing a drinking glass over it to protect it until the wash arm starts spinning and blasts the detergent out of it.

 

[a440]

Robert hows it running?

Hey Robert,
Just curious about your KDS-13...
I am sure it was fun to hear the change of the different cycles and such, not to mention having a dispenser.
Do you find that it is a better performer cleaning wise with the added cycles? Or was the older timer cycles just as good?
I am sure that after you finish with the website changes you will be working on a computer program to run it with. You can then call it your "Digital Controlled KDS-13".
Brent

 

[Unimatic1140]

I'm pretty sure my '59 KD12 runs the pump during the drain.

Mine had the gravity drain timer in it, in all three 2-increment (45 seconds each increment) drain cycles it turned the pump off the 2nd increment. The five drain cycles on the KD-14 timer are only 1 45 second increment, so I like moment of silence.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Do you find that it is a better performer cleaning wise with the added cycles? Or was the older timer cycles just as good?

I do think its better to have the pre-wash Brent, and doing a pre-wash totally warms up the machine and dishes, so the wash cycle water stays hotter. I have been really enjoying the 14's cycle. Its fun having the same dishwasher with a brand new cycle.

 

[a440]

Sounds fun!
It has been fun watching your creation grow.
I bet it is so much fun to use!
Brent