KitchenAid KDS-16 for sale, Boston

[nathanw]

Our kitchen has a KitchenAid KDS-16 (Superba), stainless trim. It's in good shape: exterior is clean, racks are pretty nice, cleans well. We use it two or three times a week, and have for the two years we've lived here. The only problem I know about is that the door springs are dead, so we have to be careful when opening it.

We've decided to replace it with a more modern/spacious/water-efficient one (also a KitchenAid, as it happens), so we're putting it up for sale, and this seemed like the right place to find fans of this model. There's a link to a set of photos I took recently. I also have the installation instructions and manual ("The Special Dishwasher for Special People"); I'll post another link to the scans of them.

Asking $200.
Logistics to be figured out.

Nathan Williams
[email protected]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/njw/sets/72157632918141577/

 

[danemodsandy]

Nathan:

I have three words of advice for you, which I feel sure will be seconded by many others here:

Don't. Do. It.

If you will replace those door springs, you will have a far better, longer-lasting dishwasher than anything you can buy today, including any new KitchenAid model on the market.

Your email address implies an engineering background. Which would you rather rely on - time-tested electromechanical technology for the timing mechanism, or lowest-bidder, offshore-produced electronics placed right in the path of rising steam from the wash cycle? Blown control boards are extremely common on new dishwashers, and the tab is usually around $300 for replacement.

No dishwasher uses so much water that it should be a real concern - your KDS-16 uses all of 11 and a half gallons per full cycle - all washes, all rinses. And it uses those gallons to sluice and deluge the food off your dishes; older KitchenAids are known here as the "hurricane in a box." Newer dishwashers use less pressure and less water for a far longer time, and deliver an inferior result.

You need door springs, we'll find you door springs. But you'll never find a new dishwasher with the reliability, the cleaning ability and the durability of what you already have.

If you still want to sell this machine, the speed and alacrity with which someone will take it off your hands should tell you something.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.:

I own a KDS-55, the portable version of the KDS-15, predecessor to your KDS-16. My machine has been given the reconditioning and repairs it needed.

It is only thirteen years younger than I am, and I expect it to outlast me.

 

[chachp]

I have to agree..

I have the KDS-17A version which is only a few years younger than yours. I took a new Bosch dishwasher out of my kitchen and replaced it with this vintage machine and have never looked back. While I can't complain about the cleaning ability of the Bosch it took FOREVER. My KDS-17 is done in no time flat and cleans every bit as well.

 

[combo52]

New KA DWs

Nathan while a new KA DW is a much different machine than the one you are trying to sell I do think that yo will be very pleased with your choice of a new DW, and if used the same amount of times as the old one it should easily last as long and have even less service calls along the way.

 

Stated as an authorized KA dealer and repairman for nearly 40 years, John.

 

[volsboy1]

New Dishwasher's suck in the past 10 years I have had Two Maytags,2000 Jet-clean great machine until in caught on fire.Jetclean two fell apart fast really fast.G.E. Triton power surge,and a G.E. Monorgram that I threw away.I did get one of the last Kenmore Ultra wash but being a one-legged guy and my nephew dropped some crackers and I slipped and fell on a open door and ruined it.I have a T.O.L. L.G. right now and well it works good so far but when this goes I am getting one just like you have there.Screw these new ones and these new Whirlpool have a 7 hour wash.They minds well just add a buttton on there that says run it in the ground.I guess they have to with a 44 watt wash motor for it.My Aunt got her  new two Kitchenaid T.O.L. water saver and kept em for two months and gave it away free she replaced it with Two new Miele's a commercial one and a 5000 and I love them both but can't afford them yet saving for one though.The commercial one pumps 110 ten gallons a min through it and has Ten min cycle..If you get a Kitchenaid get the one that has the grinder in it the Classic that

still has the four star wash arm..The other ones would take 5 hours to wash that is what Whirlpool does now put's very weak motors and stops and starts it.I have seen the motors in them it says ten mins on max..

 

[toploader55]

Hi Nathan

1, KitchenAid by Hobart

2, It's already Stainless. (If that's what you'll be replacing it with)

3, The Full Cycle takes about 45 minutes and the dishes are clean when you open the door.

4, I have 5 KitchenAids. 2 built in and 3 Portables ranging from 1958- 1982. They are all still running and Clean Great. They'll be here after I'm gone along with my 2 Maytag Washers.

You will never be able to find a Quality Built Machine like the one you already have. It's made out of Steel and was built by American Engineers which are almost non existant today in appliances.

If you really want to replace it, keep your KitchenAid in case you want to go back to a Dishwasher that works.

 

[firedome]

Amen to the above...

as one who has 4 KA 17 & 18 series machines, and grew up with a KDS-15, there is nothing like them... keep it!

 

[nathanw]

I appreciate the enthusiasm and concern, folks, but I really do want to sell this. The new one is a done deal and is just waiting for this one to be uninstalled so I can take delivery. The door-spring thing is a genuine problem for us - besides the knees it's battered already, my son is going to be toddling around soon and this door will be a real threat. I'm sure it's fixable - perhaps by someone here! - but I need a safe, working (even if slow) dishwasher more than I need another fix-it project. (Besides, my background is in electrical engineering more than mechanical.)

 

[firedome]

understandable...

those who aren't into vintage appliances may not wish to deal with the usual factors that go along with owning them.... that said, of my 4 KAs (all working to one extent or another and in good condtion): 2 were free, one $40 and one $50, I'd think $50-75 would be more likely to move it, if you really want to see it reused rather than go to the re-cycler, and put it on CL if you haven't already.

PS: my Grandfather Wm. N. Seaver was head Librarian at "Tech" from around 1935-1952. Harvard grad, Classics, class of 1900.

 

[kenmore71]

In all honesty, while that machine looks to be in nice shape. I doubt that you will have any takers for $200. Those still show up from time to time behind appliance stores for free and typically only grab $50 or so on Craig's list.

 

[chachp]

Those stainless panels..

..may pull a little extra money. I got mine on eBay for $25 but it didn't have the stainless panels. It was Avocado. Todd (Vari-Cycle voice) sent me the stainless panels for mine for my birthday a few years ago.

I suspect those stainless panels are a little hard to come by so I wouldn't give it away. Best of luck to you with your new machine.

 

[danemodsandy]

Yeah:

Those stainless panels are your strong suit.

Or you could just stick the thing in the basement against the time your new DW blows a control board just outside of warranty. Our offer to help you find hinges will still be open.

 

[firedome]

I've got

the hinges!

 

[firedome]

and yes,

SS panels were unusual back then, my folks had them (or were they brushed chrome? idk) on our KDS-15 ca. 1965.

 

[toploader55]

Brushed Chrome.

I remember as a child looking at the KA 15's choice of front panels in their brochure.

All those choices. But then again, that was back in the day when Kitchens had Style, Personality, and Color. Mostly all the Kitchens I see today are so Generic, Monochromatic, Cookie Cutter, and just plain Boring.

There is just no "Cozieness" or Good Feel. It's all so industrial. I just spent 3 weeks taking care of my Dad and I just couldn't adjust to those Granite Counters. I really dislike them as you just can't tell when they are clean unless you look at Light reflections on them.

But back to the KA... I'll stick to my Old Machines. I would gladly take yours (Nathan) off your hands, but I just don't need another machine.

I hope someone saves this one.

Jon...(Jetcone)... Maybe the Chatham House ??? Hmmmmmm ???????

Maybe Not as the house does rent and no one anymore except us understands the loading of the One Armed Wonders. LOL

 

[clwilliams]

OBO?

Other member of the household with the KDS-16 here:

There have been no offers for this washer, and unfortunately craigslist has only turned up shady characters. It's going to be the junkyard for it by the end of this week, unless some sort of arrangement can be made, which is tragic. It should have been made more explicit that offers at other prices would be worth discussing.