Low fill, Superba series 57 Portable

[fltcoils]

My Kitchenaid dishwasher only fills half full. It needs 3 gallons and only gets 1.5 gallons during the timed 2 minute fill period. The unit is a portable, Series 57 (series 17 portable).

I've cleaned the water filter section of the fill valve. vinegar soak. (caution: a vinegar soak will strip off the plating from the fill valve bracket.)

Flow currently from the faucet, hose, fill inlet and screen is about 3 GPM. So something downstream of those, the fill valve, supply tube or tub inlet orifice must be choking the flow.

Suggestions?

 

[sudsmaster]

I'd take the dishwasher out into the yard and try to backflush the fill circuit.

 

[customline]

Maybe.......

1.The water inlet valve is defective.
2.Crimp in the hose.
3.The timer is not letting the water inlet valve open long enough.
I would inspect the water inlet valve for a worn flow washer, deposits inside valve,or a bad solenoid. Also, hows the water pressure in your house?
Inspect the wiring between the timer and the inlet valve.
Good luck with your repair.

 

[fltcoils]

Worn flow washer

The timer gives 2 minutes for the inlet valve opening period. I don't know if that meets the spec or not. Is that correct for series 17?

House water pressure is from city, it's an old house, but I can fill a 4 qt pot in 20 seconds, will fill the DW tub in 1 minute. Twice as fast as needed.

Where might I find a worn flow washer? Is it located in a hose, in the tub inlet fitting or somewhere in the inlet valve?

Thanks

 

[toggleswitch2]

What size are the "speedies"--> (flexible or bendable thin pipes or hoses connecting the water shut-off vavles behind the sink to the faucet.

Before today's stainlees-steel mesh braids over plastic tubes, these were thin-walled tubes; chrome-plated or copper that were often bent to fit. ioften the bends have a kink and/or reduction of the water flow.

Check to see if there is a kink or bend in your hose.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Oops sorry, missed prt of the first post!

 

[fltcoils]

Plenty from faucet, clear thru to valve inlet filter

Yes, the flow is good clear thru to the water exiting the inlet filter at the inlet valve. So the restriction is in the valve or the line from the valve to the tub port.

Anyone have a pic or description of where this (mystereous to me) built-in flow restrictor is located?

 

[customline]

Check This Out......

Here is an exploded view of what your inlet valve might look like. You want to pay attention to #8 the diaphragm assembly. This is where most of the obstruction will happen if the inlet valve is clogged. The two little bleed holes need to be open. Remove the inlet valve from the dishwasher, take it apart and inspect the whole thing. You might also have some deposit buildup at the inlet screen (#12).

 

[fltcoils]

After my wisdom tooth is taken out this afternoon, perhaps I'll be smarter and better able to diagnose the KA valve.

Thanks for the photo of the Kenmore valve.

 

[stevet]

the real deal??

I am not sure if you will be able to blow this pdf up to see the various parts of the valves used in these machines but give it a try.

You should actually get a gauge on a faucet in your hose to check the water pressure. Sometimes it can be alot less than we assume it is. Here in Palm coast, I have seen it as low as 20 psi and as high as 60 psi. I use one of those sprinkler system gauges which are available at HD or Lowes and put it on the faucet at the slop sink in the laundry room. You can run the dishwasher in the kitchen and it will still show the drop in the laundry room. Since it is a portable unit, you cant really test it at the kitchen sink.

Also, you may want to make sure that the hose to the air gap on the machine is not kinked in any way or that the lines are not clogged up with lime scale.

Did you actually remove the screen in the valve and clean it or just soaked it? Vinegar won't remove rust or sediment. Sometimes it is best cleaned by removing it and cleaning it with a small tube brush
I cannot attach the pdf so I will email it to you. I hope it helps.
It is from the 16 series manual but is exactly the same in the 17 service manual but the 16 manual gave more detailed info.

View attachment 6-26-2008-17-45-31--stevet.jpg

 

[fltcoils]

Better without flow restrictor

I reassembled and ran the machine without the flow restrictor.

The restrictor is a disk, with 3 short legs on it's bottom and 3 small holes drilled thru it. Each leg is maybe .020" high and each hole is perhaps .025" diam.

As pressure crushes the disk against the legs, the net opening decreases thus helping to maintain the same flow at increasing pressure. Quite interesting.

Without the disk it fills 3 gal worth in 1 1/3 minutes. So the problem may be solved by inserting a restrictor with larger holes....

 

[fltcoils]

Adjust water level sensor/switch

I adjusted the water level sensor switch, so now I have a good fill. In CW for higher, out CCW for lower. About 1/4" per 1/2 turn.

Honestly, I think the flow restrictor is a backup safety device. If the water level sensor doesn't work, by keeping flow to "just enough" you may flood but only a little bit.

So I'm happy with running the way it is, without the original flow restrictor, which is too small for modern faucets with built-in govt mandated flow restrictors of their own.