KitchenAid Superba kds-17a/c water level question

[random]

Hey,
I just moved into an apartment with this old beast. It wasn't washing well, so i pulled the filter and pump assembly and cleaned it all. It works a bit better, but i don't think it's getting enough water.

The water pressure is really low, and this seems to use a pressure sensor + timer to fill itself. The water is filling the tub but none of the floor at the bottom.

Any ideas if this is enough water/how to adjust?

 

[stevet]

Start from scratch!

Random, the water level is controlled primarily by the timer and a flow washer in the fill valve which should under ideal conditions of 20-120 psi of water pressure, bring the water level up to about within 1/4-1/2 inch of the bottom of the wash arm hub.
Before you try adjusting the pressure switch, I would turn off the water AND POWER to the machine and remove the fill valve strainer which is a very fine mesh filter inside the valve which keeps plumbing debris from getting into the valve and can cause a valve to stick open and cause a flood.

After this many years, it is probably full of all kinds of crap and is keeping the water from filling up to the correct level.
So many people throw perfectly good machines away for this very reason.

I would caution against trying to adjust the water level switch because it is probably working just fine as it is and if there was enough water in the tub and at its age, if you tried to adjust it, you may just whack it out and never be able to get it back again. Those parts are non existent for these older machines and unless someone on here has a spare switch, you would be out of luck to find another one.
So try cleaning the valve screen out and seewhat happens.

You can test your water pressure by buying a sprinkler system gauge at Lowes or Home Depot and attaching it to your sink in the kitchen with a faucet to hose adapter. The gauge fits a standard hose bib and you can get the adapter at Lowes or HD as well.
Even if your water pressure is like 30 or 40 psi, that is enough to fill the machine properly.

Please let us know how you do!
Steve

 

[soberleaf]

i picked up 2 kd-57 portables recently

and had the same problem, it was indeed the screen, all full of junk. i cleaned it out and viola, water level is fine!!!

and when i first went to use that g.e. mobile maid i bought from matt (everythingold) it had the same problem as well. again, these machines are 30 plus years old!

 

[ultramatic52]

Dirty Filter

If this doesn´t work you can try taking out the filter again and then pulling out the metal washer and the black gasket inside the valve which are meant to stop the high pressure water. Sometimes this are not black or does not have the metal washer. GE dishwashers have 2 plastic O rings with tiny holes. Pull everything out until you can see the main hole inside the valve. Some water valves have 4 small holes instead of a big one. So take everything out until you see this main holes. Then replace the water filter, if it´s a metal filter try not to loose its shape because it can cause to let garbage into the valve and cause flooding. If it looses the shape, with the smallest flathead screwdriver, after you replace the filter try to stick all the filter to the valve walls sealing all the walls. This prevents flooding and unbuilding/rebuilding the valve again.

In Mexico, water pressure is so little than even with a clean filter, we don´t get good water levels. I´ve done this to several dishwashers and people have really appreciate it. They now get spectacular perfomances out of whatever dishwasher brand and model they own.

I hope this information is usefull

 

[random]

Where's the screen?

Yeah that makes sense. Where is this filter? I've never pulled out of these apart before, so I'd like a little direction before I grab the screw driver.

Here's where the water comes in
http://www.pithed.org/oink/washer.jpg
Is that where the water line filter would be?

Thanks so much for your help. I really want to keep this thing working

Ian

http://www.pithed.org/oink/washer.jpg

 

[random]

also

Please excuse all the garbage under the dishwasher in the pic. I have no clue why its there. Then again I found a driver's license in the screen inside the washer, so I guess nothing should surprise me.

 

[stevet]

easy to find..

The screen is located in the front of the valve just behind the metal mounting bracket. The bracket is held to the valve with 4 small screws which in turn is mounted to the cross member by 2 larger phillips head screws. Take the valve off the crossmember after removing the water line and you can work with it right there. Remove the 4 small screws and the bracket and valve will separate and you can get at the filter.
Hope this helps.

 

[random]

i cleaned the screen

Ok i cleaned the inlet screen -- it was pretty rusted up. some CLR in it, and gently around the inlet cleaned it out pretty well.

The washer still isn't filling enough, but I was impatient and adjusted the screw on top of that sensor (presumably the water level set screw) before I heard a reply here. Not wise I know. heh.

So now I'm going to wait for some advice before proceeding, should i be adjusting that set screw now? which way/how much? Anything else to check first?

We do have extremely low water pressure, but its a rental unit and the landlord doesn't care, so not much i can do about that. But apparently it used to work, and I dont think the pressure took a dramatic plunge in the past couple years.

Thanks

 

[stevet]

Look Before you leap!

There is nothing you can do to increase the water level by adjusting the switch. As I stated here, the water level is determined by the timer and the flow pressure. The switch is a SAFETY device to prevent overfilling, not for extending the fill time or level.

What you can do is fill the machine manually until you hear the switch click which will indicate the maximum level. It should be just under the door lip inside the tank. Then you can gently turn the adjusting screw counter clockwise to lower the level at which the switch will open.

Do it a very small amount. it can make a big difference so now you will have to deal with it by trial and error.

Drain the machine using the cancel drain function and then let it fill and see where it stops. Then add water manually again to see if the max level has dropped. Adjust or leave it alone accordingly!

Your water pressure must be very low or close to 20 PSI or you have a very small fill line going to the machine. Make sure you are using at least a 3/8 " supply tube and not a 1/4" line.

LEt us know what happens next!

 

[combo52]

Low water level in any dishwasher

If you can get two gallons of hot water out of the faucet nearest the dishwasher per minute than replace the inlet valve part # 417000 this valve con be used on all porc tub KA dishwashers I have done this thousands of times and it nearly always solves the problem. Rebuilding old valves is not a good idea unless you replace all the rubber parts.

 

[ultramatic52]

Filter Location

Hi. Filter is located on the main water line entry. Let me tell you this valve is really different from the ones I´ve done this to. Unplug every hose from the valve and try to take the valve apart from the dishwasher. I really can´t tell if the parts I told you to take away are in the green plastic portion or in the blue one. They are generally after the filter. I would really appreciate if you can take pictures where the filter locates and take one more without the filter. AND PLEASE DON´T TOUCH ANYTHING INSIDE THE DISHWASHER, DOING SO WOULD CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE OVERFILLING SYSTEM AND COULD CAUSE IT TO LEAK AND FLOOD.