Trim Kits etc
Yes unfortunately, only the 16/17 panel kits will fit the 17 series. It was funny how fast Hobart/Kitchenaid discontinued the kits for the 15 series. They didn't stick to the 15 year parts availability program at all. Instead, they dropped them and advised users to use the 16/17 panels and panel kits and then to drill a hole in the bottom panel for the timer knob to go thru.My Uncled had to do just that when he refaced his cabinets and made the panels for the dishwasher. We used the updated kit and drilled the hole in the new solid lower panel to make it fit.
Ken,(bajaespuma),I know the trim kits are hard to find so whenever I found an old KA lying at the curb, if I didn't take the whole machine home, I always took the panel kits, We had quite a few Kitchenaids in the family so if someone needed a new panel or piece of trim I had it for them. I currently have a few trim kits in the attic that I took with us when we moved down from Long Island and some I have added since.
I think if someone has a 16/17,that you could safely use the top panels and kits from the 18 and ups and just cut the panels to size as well as the side trim, But if mnemory serves me correctly, the 16 and 17s came with a less self contained kit than the later models and included a primed wraparound panel which had the holes drilled in the panel sides to accept the hardware that held the trim pieces in place. I think you could make the newer panel kit work with some careful cutting, unrivetting of the trim itself and reattatching it to the current panel on the smaller machine and then figuring some way to strecth the stainless trim to make it work on the larger bottom panel. So now maybe you would need 2 trim kits to make one to fit.
I knew one guy who had a Hobart UM undercounter machine and actually put wood panels on it by screwing it in place with stainless corner material. So I guess if you find a higehr series panel kit, you could probably adapt somthing to make it work of use your old 16/17 panels and find some way of just loading in the new color or stainless panels and holding it in place with some cornering.
I found a suitable moulding you can use from Mc Master-Carran at the link below. See if this would work for you. I am sure that they would even have the paneling in stainless or aluminum as well. How about a brushed Copper panel for the machines.. Now that would be sharp!
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
www.mcmaster.com