My 1st KA Portable (KDI-57)

[macboy91si]

So I'm browsing this yard sale early today and what do I see, this tucked in the corner. It's an Imperial and the tag says KDI-57. I think this is the portable version of the 17 series. It's in need of a little work, and I don't know much at all about KA's. I tried an initial load in it, motor sounded good, but a small dribble of water from an unidentified location underneath. Also the machine did not do very well, it did not even dissolve the standing powder in the door dispensers.

So... What do I do with it? The racks are a little rough and there is soap or mineral deposits CAKED everywhere. Also it's a single-arm machine with a spray thingy on the top of the tank. I don't know about the age or how good the 17 is in comparison. It was cheap, and I think the KA's are neat machines.

-Tim

 

[macboy91si]

Control Panel

This is the control panel, it took a while to figure it out. The buttons push easily and the timer control still appears to work fine. It has a different operation than I'm used to, and opening the door resets the buttons.

 

[macboy91si]

Timer

Here is a shot of the timer, it seems that DRY is mandatory.

 

[macboy91si]

Cycle Modifiers

has 3 cycle choices, but I wasn't sure how these corresponded to the timer dial. A power light is always nifty.

 

[macboy91si]

Racks

The racks were well used, it would probably need new ones if one were really going to use it. The racks were also coated with dull, powdery soap or residue of some form. There are some pretty bad spots and the tips of the tines are mostly worn down.

 

[macboy91si]

Rack Rot

This is one of the spots on the racks. Nothing sucks like having a bad rack.

 

[macboy91si]

Tub Scale

This is the tub. While the porcelain seems to be in good shape, it's a mess with what I think is a combination of soap and limestone deposits. It gets better, stay tuned.

 

[macboy91si]

The Sump

And oh what a mess here!

The filter was also in the same shape. I do no yet know how to remove the motor/pump if need be. Is there anything that is good for cleaning this up?

Also not sure the condition of the HydroSweep bushing/support there

 

[macboy91si]

HydroSweep

This the underside of the washarm. I was surprised that it just lifted off.

What kind of shape is this in?

 

[macboy91si]

Underneath

The belly of the beast was pretty clean. There looks to be water stains and signs of leakage around what appears to be the heater ducting.

 

[macboy91si]

Heater Area

This area seemed like it had seem some leakage. The blower/heater assembly is VERY rusty so I think this has at least at some point been a source of leakage. No sign of porcelain damage or tub rot though.

 

[macboy91si]

Heater Duct

I removed the heater to see, which was pretty awful looking. This is the chute that goes up to what appears to be some sort of flapper in the tub. This has been leaking, but I don't know if it's my peeing culprit from today's run.

 

[macboy91si]

Heater Box

This thing is pretty rotten. The fan is good as were the elements, but the housing has BAD rust and small pinholes in it.

 

[macboy91si]

KDI-57

This thing needs a little work

I will try to work on it some more this weekend, hopefully I can get this into service. Any KA help and information is greatly appreciated.

I'm tuckered out, that's all for tonight...

-Tim

 

[rp2813]

That is definitely a project.  It looks to me like it was fed a steady diet of high iron content water over all those years.

 

I had a later Imperial model for many years.  If the timer and buttons work the same on yours, here's my guess as to how you'd use them:  Pushing the "Full Cycle" button will require you to rotate the timer knob to the thick line between "Prewash" and "Wash" sections in order to start the machine.  Pushing "Rinse Hold" means you will have to rotate the timer around to the thick line between "Wash" and "Rinse" sections.  I think "Soak" is just an outdated term for "Pots & Pans."  Push that button and you probably just have to give the timer knob one click from the "Off" position to start the machine, and you would probably fill both detergent cups only when using this option.  My guess is that the machine knows enough not to apply heat as it advances through the "Dry" cycle when you select "Rinse Hold" option.  The fact that you don't have an air-dry option is all the indication you need that this series was produced prior to the 1973 energy shortage.

 

For plastisol touch-up on the racks, you may have to do some searching to find it in blue.  I found Maytag brand (apparently no relation), but it's a very blue blue.  These days, hardware and appliance parts stores only carry plastisol touch-up in gray or white.  My Maytag stuff came from an old packed-to-the-ceiling appliance parts shop with loads of old inventory.

 

[jakeseacrest]

I used this same dishwasher in my culinary arts classes in high school for 4 years. All you need to do to start it is latch the door and select either full or soak cycle. No need to move the dial at all. We never used rinse and hold but I believe it is the same also.

 

[Gilles8000]

Hmmmmm.....Upon reading the User's Manual all cycles begin at the Off position.

We used to have a Custom KDC-17A series, and my sister had an Imperial 17 Series (KDI-17A). Yours is the KDI-57 series which came out between 1970-1974. The 17A preceeded and all that changed the the Energy Saver Heat Dry Off Button. The other features stayed the same.

The sure that the timer is on the Off Position for all cycles.

The Rinse Hold, has a half fill purge, then goes into a 2nd rinse where the siahwasher is filled with clean water There is a 2 minute pause after rinsing during this cycle then goes into action again draining the waste water. The dishwasher stops and the dial automatically advances to the off position and no more wash action is done.

The Full Cycle consist of half a fill purge, followed by a prewash of prerinse, then rinses again, goes into a main wash, then 2 after rinses aand heated dry.

The Soak Cycle is the same as the Full Cycle except during the 2nd fill it washes the dishes and then soaks then for 13 minutes then carries on the rest of the cycle.

If you are only using one detergent wash be sure to use the main wash detergent cup only, but where the dishes are very dirty use the detergent use both cups and close both covers. Also, use the detergent in both cups if you are using the Soak Cycle.

The dishwasher has an on light, and has heated dry on the Full Cycle and Soak Cycle.

Sorry I had to correct you on that rp2813, but we had a Custom.

The Custom and Imperial dishwashers all start at the off position.

Rp, if you start the dishwasher where you stated for the Rinse Hold no rinsing action will be performed. Also, when you start the dishwasher for the Full Cycle in between the prewash and the main wash you'll miss 3 water fills.

Rinse Hold 10 minutes plus 50 minutes for timer advance to Off position.
Full Cycle 60 minutes
Soak Cycle 73 minutes

There ya go, Macboy I gave you the updated information on the dishwasher.

 

[Gilles8000]

Check ebay Macboy. you'll want one that is listed for the KitchenAid series dishwasher as listed below

KitchenAid 15 to 21 Series (Built In)

OR

Kitchenaid 35 to 37 Series (Sink combination)

OR

KitchenAid 55 - 61 Series. (Portable)

What you want is to get a Blower and Fan combination on EBAY that specifically has Kitchenaid or Hobart. Also, the models listed above that are listed here will work on your KDI-57

Steve might have more of an update on that...lol

 

[toploader55]

Good Lord !!!

I never ever have seen a build up like that.

 

IMO, the Wash Arm support looks OK. The mineral deposit is scary.

 

Next thing I would do is check the Intake/ Sediment screen on the Fill Valve. It's probably 98% plugged.  Sounds like and looks like it's starving for water. You may have to replace the valve just by the looks of the tank deposits. But you never know until you inspect that.

 

Underside of the wash arm... Not too bad.  If you can stop the leak, after you clean the line strainer and actually get water in the tank, some sort of Lime Scale Remover is definately in order.

 

But the Experts will chime in shortly.  Especially stevet the Hobart Man.  Hope this helps.