KitchenAid KDS 18 Ready For Install

[buffster]

Now for what to do about the front panels...

Greg, you might check out companies that produce static cling posters/stickers like those used by many mass transit companies. I think you could actually get some really interesting pieces of "art" for a relatively low cost. You could also change the art at will. And, what a conversation starter that would be... food for thought.

 

[Hometechdoc]

LaPearla or KDS-18

If you are not going to go for the LaPearla, then this is a good choicd. Actually one of my favorite dishwashers of all time. You will be thrilled with it. I think you should find the boob as the door panel.

 

[toggleswitch]

Go for a nice but artsy butt-crack

At least everyone relates to that, as do both of my sub-cultures *LOL*

Great choice of dishwashers mister!

 

[toggleswitch]

Greg:

I'm thinking you could post that French-Canadian advert to the "obscenity" thread in the sand-box!

 

[easyspindry]

Great dishwasher -- as if you didn't already know

The innards are just like my 20 year old ISE, and it's a great machine. You'll always be pleased.

And it looks great, too. You done good.

Jerry Gay

 

[tomturbomatic]

Greg, I am happy for you. With the addition of the larger upper wash arm, this is the finest performing KitchenAid Hobart ever made, IMHO. I looked at the recent Consumer Reports ratings of dishwashers and cannot believe they average 2 hours for a cycle. My KDS18s, WP and older Maytag can do the job in a little over an hour. I don't understand why it takes twice as long to clean dishes in the new dishwashers, unless it's analagous to a weak stream making another process take longer. I wonder if the cycle takes less time if you supply them with hot water at 140F?

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Very Good Choice!

Greg,
You will love it! I have used many of the vintage model dishwashers, and I don't find any of them to clean as well as the Hobart made Kitchenaids.
I was lucky to find a KDS - 18 that was installed into a home, but never was hooked up to power or plumbing! The couple bought the house new, and never could understand why it did not work. They were getting rid of it to make cabinet space. I was lucky that one of guys that I had searching out for me was called by the couple to come get it if he wanted it, he did not want it, and called me to check it out. He knew it was an older Kitchenaid, but did not know what model. It is funny, because I almost did not go because it was about 100 miles away from me. I am glad that I went. When I got to the house I was happy with what I found. When I took off the bottom of the dishwasher, I could not get over the fact that it was never hooked up. The old couple fought the whole time while I was taking it out as to who was at fault for not calling the builder of their house, over the last 30 years. I could not get it out fast enough.
I love it, and it cleans anything, fast! I have it built in the kitchen. I also use a KDS-19 that I use have as a portable, and I think it is just as good of a cleaner. The cycles on the 19 are very different, and the actual wash is longer than the 18 series. The only complaint that I have about the 19 is that it does not have the upper constant rinse. That makes a huge difference when you have a packed load.
I decided with the 18 to keep the smaller upper wash arm in the 18 since it was original, and see if there would be any issues with cleaning. I have never had any cleaning issue with the smaller wash arm.
I think it will look super in your new kitchen! The KDS 18 to me is a very beautiful and modern looking machine.
Brent

 

[mickeyd]

HI Greg, It's MINT

What is "constant rinse," please, when you get a chance?

Mister Blackstone is mighty PO'ed that a K(i)D is blocking his view :-0

;'D

 

[DADoES]

Constant Rinse ...

is the sprayer whirlygig at top of the tank.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Constant Rinse was KitchenAid's term for a water-distributing spinner at the top of the tub similar to the GE Power Shower, but smaller in scale and with curved outlets at either end to make it spin. KA had trouble with people breaking off the Constant Rinse by jamming a full top rack back into the machine. They came up with a smaller spinner as a replacement for broken ones. The Constant Rinse does make a BIG difference as far as keeping junk from winding up in the depressions in the bases of some glasses, bowls and the work bowl of the food processor if the little locking holes on the side are not angled for good drainage.

 

[retro-man]

You can have any picture you want blow up to usually a 9 x 11. Then take the photo to a company that does copying and printing of blue prints. They have computers that can make copies of the 9 x 11 into 3' x 4'or pretty much any size you want smaller than this and then you just cut to fit. A plexiglass cover would protect it. I had this done last year with a picture and had it made into a large print. I was impressed with how good this came out. If I remember correctly the price was around 60 or 70 dollars. I am going to mount mine on a shadow box frame and back light it over the back of the bed in the new house. For the beginning picture enlargement I went to a Kinko's copy shop only 3 or 5 dollars there. Hope this helps your creative skills.
Jon

 

[gansky1]

NOW its' ready!

I've made a few more adjustments in the restoration process. I tried the sani-cycle the other day and it never progressed beyond the heating stage in the final rinse. Upon investigation, I found that someone had replaced the thermostats incorrectly. From the factory, there are two thermostats (pictured below) that control the 180F sani-temperature (left side) and the 196F high-limit thermostat (right side). The sani-thermo was there, but apparently not functioning properly and the high-limit one had been replaced with a 165F. This caused the machine to heat the water to approx. 165 and then turn off the heater, effectively making the cycle stuck in this loop indefinitely. I replaced both thermostats, a new 180 for the sani temp and I only had a 185 for the over-limit replacement, but it works just fine and will hold it until I can get another from Grainger, Johnstone, etc. Fortunately, these thermostats are readily available, just be sure to get the correct temp ratings.

 

[gansky1]

Here is the load I "sani-cycle" washed today. A few of these dishes were still in the machine from the small load the other day, but I added quite a few more that had been waiting patiently since Wednesday for their turn in the KitchenAid. Not a Bob-Load, but they were pretty nasty...

 

[gansky1]

Yes, there is water pooled in the ridge of the Mixmaster bowl ;-)

 

[stevet]

An Arm and a Leg!

Gansky, I see that your machine has the larger upper washarm already. Did you change the racks or did it come like that for you?
I am not surprised at the tstats being wrong.Some guys just don't see what they are looking at when they install parts. Maybe the lack of progress thru the cycle because of the error caused the owner to get rid of the machine!
One thing I see in the picture though is the "87" on the right hand stat.. that was the factory designation on those hi limit tstats. The sani stat was "86". They had used these same designations all thru the years for those stats. Maybe you do have the correct one at 185 degrees as they did have range associated with them. And yes, they can be gotten at Johnstone's but it is hard to find them with the locating pin on the back to lock into the spring clip on the assembly as seen in your pictures. Those are items I always scrounge off of any machine I run across or decide to toss.
Looks in perfect condition. Does it have the old or the new style constant spray on top? And I do see that there is CLEAN
water in the mixer bowl..testament to the filtration system maybe and the constant rinse?
These pics are making me itchy to fix up the 18 I got from my pals in Orange City, FL in December.
Needs some major parts which I have hanging around so I might just tackle it tomorrow.
Will keep you and everyone informed of that machine's progress

 

[spankomatic]

Greg,
KDS-18 is my all time favorite. We had one for years in our house in the late 70's. I think we got in May of 1979. I would trade my 2 hour cycle Bosch for one in a second! One of the things I always liked about it was it's flexability in loading. Can't beat it. Sani cycle and best drying you can get all in about 1 hour. I also like the silverware basket and mini basket for small items. We had 8 people living in our house back then and the KDS-18 was used 2-3 times daily. Never had any repairs. Next wash in you have can I do the dishes?

Jim

 

[peteski50]

KitchenAid!

The KitchenAids were my favorate also. I always loved the loading pattern better than any other. I wish they would have made a tall tub with the well built hobart style.
Peter

 

[gansky1]

I did switch out the top rack for the longer wash arm that I scavenged from a 19 series a long time ago. I've been lucky finding racks for these still in good shape, even have a 17 series set NIB. The 180 t-stat is a replacement I bought several years ago for my other 18 I had in my old kitchen, but it seems to stay in place pretty well. I may use some electrical tape to secure the whole assembly together before installing it in the cabinet just to be sure though.

Do you remember the commercials with people slamming the doors of their KitchenAid dishwashers "for the sound of quality" -- or something like that? Also, the commercials with the tag line "next time buy a KitchenAid"...

 

[sudsmaster]

Black Beauty

I'll be picking up a black beauty of a KDS-18 in a few days. Thanks to this thread, I pounced on it and can see that it's just about the best DW that KA ever made. Heated forced air dry with separate air heater, water heating element deep in sump to heat the water and not the dishes, upper wash arm, sanitize feature... good enuff to boot the Bosch.

 

[launderess]

Long Cycle Times

Of today's dishwashers are mainly the result of machines having to do more with less in terms of water and energy use. Same as with washing machines.

Many vintage dishwashers had multiple fills,purges, wash and even rinse cycles on the "Normal" cycle. Today one is hard pressed to get more than "wash - rinse" on most machines, or if they do multiple cycles, the amount of water used is not enough to really get a good powerful stream of water going. Suppose dishwasher makers could use more powerful motors and or pumps, but that costs money. Difference is sort of like comparing cleaning the drive with a water hose versus a pressure washer.

L.