Meet the "New" Whirlpool SKU-70-0 dishwasher!

[turquoisedude]

On Friday I left for Cincinnati to pick up this lovely turquoise Whirlpool dishwasher. I picked it up on Saturday after surviving a brutal drive through a wicked storm system. Drove back to Canada on Sunday, then unloaded my new toy today.

I am over the moon!

Did I mention this is one of the 'telephone dial' timer models?

Overall, this dishwasher appears to be in terrific shape - it sure looks low-mileage to me. Racks look nice and solid and mercifully, I don't think there are any major issues with the plastisol tub. That rusty gunk on the edge of the filter strainer worries me a bit, but I will have to get water in the tub before I panic too much.

So far, no testing has been done, but don't despair, I'll let y'all know!

[this post was last edited: 1/14/2019-17:55]

 

[turquoisedude]

Model and serial decoding

When this machine was found, it seemed to be a coming up as a 1963 model. But here's the serial number if that might help better identify when it was made:
PR 358497.

If anyone can decode the date, I'm all ears!

What is throwing me is the fact that there is just 1 wash arm....

 

[toploader55]

That Spray Arm looks like one from a commercial machine called a ADS. Judging by the spray nozzles, I bet that baby can flip things over in the top rack.

Congratulations Ernestine ; ). Will you be you be selecting cycles saying "One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingys " ?

 

[christfr]

very nice very pretty, you lucky boy you

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Eddie: I was just thinking that

Or Jackson. But the jets look more Hobart-ish. I would bet that thing will blast off any food.
Nick.

 

[peteski50]

whirlpool phone dial!

Hi Paul - thanks for the great pictures. What a great catch! Best Of Luck with it!
Peter

 

[swestoyz]

Dial D for dirty!

Congrats! What an incredible save - and in such great shape! Can’t help you on a date of MFG, but it is your color!

Ben

 

[appnut]

Just rewards Paul!!  Congratulations.  You've always been such an operator 

 

I anxiously await every step of the process and information!!

 

[norgeway]

According to John....

And Consumer reports of the era, these were number one!

 

[toploader55]

Of course they were/are... It's a Whirlpool ; )

 

[pulltostart]

Congratulations!

Glad you got this one home!  It appears to have quite a bodacious top rack.

 

lawrence

 

[lotsosudz]

Wheres Ernestine when you need her?

I wish appliances companies, had intelligent people that you could speak to about old/older models. then all you had to find out is if, "this was the party, to whom you were speaking". Beautiful find, and of course perfect color! congratulations Buddy.
Hugs,
David

 

[combo52]

WP SKU-70 Dishwasher

WOW Paul, I am so glad you rescued this machine, it has been a long time since I have seen one of these great DWs.

{ only one wash arm ?] There really weren't any great number of DWs that had more than one at this time, and there was no other DW that had a wash arm this large and powerful with a full 1/3 HP motor in 1958 or even in 1963.

This would probably been the last year of this DW, WP went to a porcelain tub and door and a unified pump and motor in 1964, they also added the upper wash arm on these newer machine.

Can't wait to see this NEW DW some time soon, Its funny I have been cleaning out my basement the last few months and going through more than 50 years worth of collecting appliance parts and found a timer dial for this DW you just got.

John L.

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS!!

Very cool find there turquoisedude!
I see that dial and songs start popping up in my mind:
CALL ME by Sky
OPERATOR by Atlantic Star
OPERATOR by Jim Croce
TALK TO ME BABY by Chico DeBarge.
The list goes on & on...
LOL

CONGRATULATIONS on such a unique and interesting dishwasher find! Looking forward to reading your progress report.
)

 

[bajaespuma]

I'm amazed at your collecting talent, Neme. I'm also amazed at this machine and wondering if Ma Bell didn't sue them for copying their phone dial so well.

 

[gansky1]

That's a really beautiful find, congrats. Thanks for the close-up shots, I've never seen a WP this old.

 

[whitetub]

Great find. That wash arm looks very commercial dishwasher style. I am sure it can spray all the way up to the top of the tub.

 

[spacepig]

Great find and such a beauty!

 

[dishwasherfan]

Awesome

Congrats on this rare dishwasher, I believe this is the 1st time I've seen this model that anyone has on this web sight. Please keep us informed & photos/videos of your progress. Thanks.....

 

[turquoisedude]

Upon further inspection....

I only got around to inspecting the Whirlpool dishwasher more closely today.   First inspection of the tub and sump area was encouraging but there are a couple of potential  trouble spots...

 

[turquoisedude]

I gave the main components a gentle cleaning.  Bonus - when I tried to spin the motors for the wash and drain pumps, both moved smoothly.

I think we have proof that this is a 63 model!

 

[turquoisedude]

Neatest dishwasher junction box ever! Love the hex nut connectors. So, I hooked up a cord, latched the door and 'dialled' a Normal Cycle. Nothing happened... Then I jiggled the door handle and I heard the water solenoid start to buzz. At first, I held down the door handle and let the machine run; it did eventually 'fill' and the wash pump motor started! The door was not closing properly due to a bent mounting bracket blocking the door. Once bent back, the machine continued to run. And run. And run.... So it did eventually get to the 'dry' portion of the cycle (I selected the energy saver option...LOL) and the machine did cycle off. However, I never not once heard the drain pump kick in... After the timer shut off, I tried pressing the pressure pad switch in the tub sump and, even with the door open, the drain pump started! Now, I don't have a schematic for this machine, but I've got a feeling that pressure pad switch in conjunction with the timer will complete or break the circuit to the drain pump. I guess I've gotta get some water in there to know for sure... LOL Or take the front panel off to see if there's a wiring diagram or schematic in there. Perhaps later this week. But bottom line - this machine is not going to need a lot of immediate work other than cleaning that door switch. Wahoo!!

 

[combo52]

WP SKU-70 DW

WOW Paul it looks to be in great condition, I don't see anything much to be concerned about.

 

K model WP machines are 1963, you should also see a letter stamped on the Delco main wash motor followed by 63.

 

One thing I would do is skip the dry cycle, that is an 800 watt heater and its close to 55 YO plastic coated steel interior, if you are going to run it when you are not around turn off the dry just add a relay so the heater can only run when the main pump motor is energized.

 

I bet you are really getting excited about finally having clean dishes.

 

John L.

 

[bigalsf]

WOW!!

Congratulations Paul! That is such a cool dishwasher. I actually had the 1962 version (SJU-70) a long time ago when I was still living at home on Long Island; I actually found it in my neighborhood! Since I was still in high school I was not allowed to install it for daily use (darn!), but it worked really well and is a very powerful dishwasher.

The basic model is the FU-70 introduced in 1959/60. When you examine the wash system it's really a very early version of Whirlpools Point Voyager system (separate wash & drain pumps, wash pump horizontally mounted, filter system designed to direct all debris to drain pump), albeit not nearly as sophisticated. The wash pump was actually sourced from two different manufacturers (Gorman-Rupp & Stayright). Your's probably has the Stayright pump as those were phased in to production in the latter years of this model.

Regarding the single wash arm, only the top loading portables with a spray arm system had two wash arms. Not sure why, but with some ingenuity your's could be adapted to a two wash arm system.

I have service literature for this I will send you under separate cover, but I've included a couple of pics showing the model specs and an illustration of the wash system.

I am super happy for you!! Enjoy the machine, and definitely heed John's advice; install a relay for the heater so it only works when the main pump runs.

Have fun!!

 

[hippiedoll]

ALRIIIIIGHT!!

I am so happy for you that this lil whirlpool isn't going to need much work to be put into service.
WOOOO HOOOOO!!!

I'm doing the HAPPY DANCE for you on this side of the computer...
D

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[turquoisedude]

Some further exploration and cleaning.... There was a good amount of gunk from 55+ years in service however the trim and paint on this dishwasher are exceptional!

I took the front panel apart to resolve the door switch issue; dusted it, and more or less managed to reassemble everything.

However, I managed to chip the timer dial when removing it. It's a small chip and I've already repaired it.

I gave the tub a wipe down and the rust spots that I noted when I first got this machine are bad enough to warrant some preventative action before I start using this. I'll do some sanding and sealing next week, I think. I am still itching to try this machine out; I have resisted the urge to remove the Maytag WU400 in the kitchen...for now.

But it's looking good... [this post was last edited: 1/22/2019-11:40]

 

[estesguy]

Vinyl on steel...

I wasn't aware of others doing vinyl on steel tub and door dishwashers but GE back then. Not one of the best examples of American engineering. Nice machine though[this post was last edited: 1/22/2019-13:39]

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ugh what a cool find Paul, I'm really glad you saved this beautiful dishwasher. My favorite part is the Whirlpool swirl logo on the dial! I have a '69 version of this machine installed in my basement workshop.

 

[turquoisedude]

Progress report on the SKU-70 dishwasher

Unlike me, I stepped back from the excitement of finding out the 63 Whirlpool dishwasher still works and thought for a moment (OK, maybe a fraction of one...) about what MIGHT need to tweaked/fixed/adjusted to prevent future disasters and moans and wails and howls of protest (from Hubby, not Canyon). The door switch was already resolved, so I thought the water valve would be the next component to check.

Although the solenoid coil works well, the valve just pees water when connected to a water supply. Not a big surprise that the diaphragm inside the valve is hard as a rock. I tried in vain to find a replacement diaphragm, but no luck. I'm going to dig around in my parts stash in Ogden this weekend because I think I have a working valve from a Mobile Maid; the 3/4 inch threads are stripped to hell on this so I couldn't use it as-is but perhaps the diaphragm may fit the original FSP valve. It's a gamble and plan B is to sub a more modern dishwasher solenoid valve.

 

[turquoisedude]

I spotted a few areas in the tub, in the filter/drain sump area in particular, where there has been some bubbling due to water infiltration under the plastisol. No comment...

Step 1 - clear off the damaged areas