Lost bushing on Lower Arm Support - what to do?

[leon]

Hello vintage Kitchenaid and Hobart lovers. I have a KDI-16 with stainless panels that came with the house I purchased two years ago. I like it a lot and it works perfectly with the exception that the detergent door sticks and doesn't open sometimes, but that's another story.

My post today concerns the Lower Washer Arm Support, part number 4161063. Every few months I like to remove the lower arm and the dome-like screen to clean out debris. Last night I found a small curved piece of metal and saw that it came from the arm support. It looks like a metal ring that seems to serve as a bushing; not the platter-like piece on the top of the support arm but a couple of inches below.

I was able to find the whole support piece for sale for not much money, about $45 for a new one and less for a used one, but was wondering if you'd think it worthwhile to do this or if I could possibly just replace the ring itself.

THanks!

 

[chachp]

Is this the part you're talking about?

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">It's actually 4161073 and as you've probably seen there are a few available on eBay.  I think most here will tell you not to attempt to repair but replace instead.  At least that's what I would do.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">There are others who could say for sure so you may want to wait for a couple more opinions.</span>

 

[leon]

Thanks for the response! Yes, you caught my typo - sorry. Saw the whole support on ebay and glad it looks to be an easy and cheap fix assuming nothing goes wrong along the way. Still wondering if it's advisable to replace the single bushing? If I replace the whole assembly it looks like two versions are available: one has the white plastic piece at the top like the one you have in your post, and the other (presumably older) type has the bronze top like the one that's currently in my unit now.

Was looking at some other threads concerning the lower arm support and it seems that some other models also have a fine mesh screen or filter. I don't see anything like that on my model so either it's missing or it isn't supposed to be there. Just wondering.

Also, is the circular heating element surrounding the support there to provide extra heat to the wash water or to help with drying? Was wondering about that for a while.

Thanks again!

 

[chachp]

Send a pic.

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">Can you post a picture of what yours has and the condition it's in?  It will be easier to assess that way.  Not sure about the white plastic top vs. the bronze.  Someone with more knowledge will be able to advise.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">Looks like a nice machine by the way.</span>

 

[stevet]

Go for Broke!

Buy the complete NEW Support. You won't be sorry. Also, the bushings were never available as a separate item and if it has come off it indicates that the support and or the bushing or both are worn beyond what would be factory specs.

And you may want to clean those filters a bit more often than once a month unless you never or rarely find anything on them. It is easy enough to do and will prevent any bad odors from forming inside the machine.

 

[chachp]

It looks like it heats the water....

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">I took this out of the KD16 Service Manual.  You can download it here under Manuals and Literature.  But it looks like the heater is heating water.  It won't stop to raise the temperature anything considerable but it will help to retain the temp throughout the cycle.</span>

 

 

[leon]

Thanks for the great feedback. I'm guessing the version with the metal bushing on top might be better than the plastic version?

I purchased the sales brochure from the literature part of this website and it's really cool. Noticed that the KDI-16 in the brochure has a "soak" button but mine does not. Wondering if mine is an older version that did not offer that feature.

 

[leon]

Hello again, I finally purchased the replacement washer arm support and I was eager to get it installed. I decided to do a visual comparison of the old vs. new before bolting it into my machine. I observed to my disappointment that the new one is not the same: the shaft on the new part is shorter by 1/2 inch.

I am not sure if I ordered the incorrect part or if there was a packaging mistake somewhere along the line that resulted in this mistake.

 

[leon]

Here is the new part which has a 1 inch shaft extension and another picture showing the 1.5 inch extension on my existing wash arm support. My machine is a KDI-16.

 

[toploader55]

Well, Stevet or Combo would know for sure but I think the only thing that might happen is the spindle will protrude though the top of the HydroSweep a tad.

I'm no expert but it certainly look like the same structure and design.

The amount of space where the water flows into the arm looks the same.

I hope it works.

 

[leon]

I figured out that this part "should" work because the top of the saucer shaped bushings are at the same height, the only difference is that the shaft on the new part would not extend all the way to the surface of the wash arm.

I attempted to install the new part but the bottom surface does not mate perfectly to the area around the pump? impeller?, which is weird. So, I'm looking for a new wash arm support and also some advice about how to avoid this slight but significant mismatch in the future. Thanks

 

[toploader55]

Sometimes the part must face a certain way. Have you tried it in different positions ?

Like turning it around ?

 

[stevet]

Right way, Wrong way!

Eddie is correct, the support can only go on one way. There should be a hole that fits over a protrusion in the lower part which houses the wash impeller. Try re-positioning it.
As far as the length of the shaft is concerned, it should not usually stick out over the top of the wash arm itself. Since you did not show the whole support in your pictures, I cannot tell if maybe over the years, the one in your machine was actually from a very early 15 series machine which had a higher profile on the wash arm with a longer bushing in it and thus, a longer support shaft.
As long as the new one comes up to the top of your wash arm, then you should be fine.

Keep us posted and perhaps post some more pics.

 

[leon]

Thanks guys. The top of the original part's shaft extends to the surface of the wash arm, but the new part's tip stops below the surface creating a small space. Regarding installation, I figured out how it is keyed in the correct position but the bottom surface is an imperfect match and i would need to dremel out some material for it to fit.

 

[leon]

Does anyone have this wash arm support with a 1.5" shaft extension that I could purchase?

 

[swestoyz]

The KD-15 and some of the early KD-16 wash arms have a longer bearing for the wash arm support shaft.  More than likely, if your original wash arm support was missing the bushing your original wash arm is probably on the way out as well, but you should be able to use your earlier wash arm on your replacement support.

 

Here is a picture of the early version of the wash arm with the longer bearing (picture taken from a KDS-15).  Notice the center protrudes higher and the bakelite center has additional material added to support the longer bearing.

 

[swestoyz]

And... here's a shot of the later KD-16 through KD-20 wash arm.  Notice the bakelite is flush across, with the shorter bearing. 

 

Replacement wash arms are on eBay (PN 416484).  After replacing the wash arm support and wash arm, you'll have a brand new KitchenAid!

 

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[leon]

This is extremely helpful, thank you so much!

 

[leon]

I see that the machine pictured is a KDS-15 but was wondering if my KDI-16 should also have the donut shaped filter screen with the large circular holes?