Metal Clips On Wash Arms

[whirlcool]

We have a Maytag dishwasher, Quiet Series 300 (2008). I had the wash arm off to check for any debris inside (PM) and I noticed at the ends of the wash arm there are these metal clips. They just snap on and off. I took one of them off and found that they were covering the last two spray holes on the top of the wash arm on each side of the wash arm. So I took them off, flipped the wash arm 180 degrees and reinstalled them. They fit perfectly and now they don't cover the last two holes on the spray arm.

I wonder why they are there in the first place? What is their function? They are only installed on the bottom wash arm only. The upper wash arm doesn't have them.

 

[logixx]

I think to protect the plastic spray arm from melting during heated dry.

 

[whirlcool]

OK, then why were they installed on top of the wash arm? If you put them on the bottom of the wash arm they will protect the ends of the wash arm from the heating coil and allow the last two spray holes to work.

Possibility of being installed wrong at the factory? They way you describe it makes sense, the way they were installed doesn't.

 

[logixx]

I just googled Quiet Series 300 and one of the first pics that came up... Looks like someone slept while putting the spray arm together.

 

[logixx]

Okay, so now we need to know: has it been like this for six years?!

 

[whirlcool]

Yup, it has been this way ever since we got it. The clips are now installed the way they are shown in the diagram you supplied. We've even run it without the clips. We have not noticed any difference in performance. Everything always comes out clean with no bits left over. The ends of the wash arm don't seem to be melted either.
But it does make sense that these clips could act as heat sinks to prevent the arm from melting. The heating element is right under where the clips are.

 

[murando531]

I'm surprised the arm could actually propel itself with the end jets covered. The angled end holes are what gives it the most thrust. Otherwise I suppose it could still wash well as long as nothing deep was loaded against the sides. Plates and bowls on their sides must have gotten enough spray from the exposed holes and from the water falling from the upper arm and above to get clean. At least now the end compartments of your silverware basket are getting a good showering from below too.