My Kitchen Upgrade thanks to Dishwashercrazy and Varicyclevoice

[combo52]

SS Or Brushed Chrome front panels

Yes KA did offer both types of panels, the BC was usually a little more expensive than the painted panels and real SS was even more. The real SS panels had a blueish cold color to them while the brushed Chrome panels had a warmer slightly golden color to them. Keep in mind that most Built In DWs did not come from the factory with front panels on them and you had to pay extra for the front panels. This all changed by the early 1980s as most companies started to include reversible front panels. This came about because UL started to require DWs to come out of the box with front panels installed in the late 1970s, so to reduce inventory WP, KM, D&M, GE and many others went to having each DW have several reversible panels rather than stocking so many different machines in different colors. KAs as some of you may remember came with heavy duty grey cardboard panels so the machine [ at least in theory ]be used until the metal panels were installed.

 

[varicyclevoice]

Thanks to Ralph.....

I have to say thank you to Ralph for being such a great host to Mike and to me. Mike and I had a wonderful time and it was soooo much fun! We laughed and laughed and enjoyed each other's company.

Ralph is an outstanding cook and to have a meal prepared by him is a treat! I love italian food and he is the king!

I am very glad that the parts we used worked properly and that we were able to get the KitchenAid back into service. It was a bit of a challenge fitting in the 17 into the space due to the tile issue but what a reward it was seeing the machine work flawlessly. I did recommend wrapping additional insulation around it and it did make a difference!

I also want to thank Mike (dishwashercrazy) for driving us down 9 3/4 hours to Ralph's. He is a great driver and I must say he has the loading and the strapping down of the machines that we put on the back of the truck down to a science!!

I hope that you Ralph will come up to Illinois/Iowa for a visit sometime this summer! Thanks again for having us!

 

[re563]

It's a shame

That Hobart sold off the KitchenAid division. It's no wonder that these machines were called "the cadillac of dishwashers". I just love 'em

 

[chachp]

My Kitchen Aid Bubble is burst.........

[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]....but I will not be defeated.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]So the other night I'm running another load of dishes.  I have been finding all kinds of creative reasons to wash things and I know many of you on this site know exactly what I mean, others would think we’re nuts but we really don't care about them.  LOL![/COLOR]

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]I started the machine and it didn't sound exactly the way it usually does but I let it go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  [/COLOR]It sounded like there was a little flutter or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Anyway, it seemed to sound OK as it went on but at the end of the cycle I noticed a little water on the floor in the right hand corner in the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I thought maybe there was an issue with the seal or maybe something leaking inside the door.</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]The next night I took the panel off, started the dishwasher and proceeded to get this fine mist of water sprayed over me as I stared at the motor.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]Soooooooooooo, what did I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  [/COLOR]I called Todd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You know Todd, A.K.A. Varicyclevoice, A.K.A. little SteveT.</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]I didn’t even finish telling him what it was doing and he is telling me I need this Hobart part #107011 for an Impeller Drain Seal kit or whatever the hell it’s called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  [/COLOR]He even gave me the Hobart phone number to call in Little Rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>What a guy!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Anyway, they didn’t have it in stock but I did find the Whirlpool Kit Part 4160551 (also provided by Todd) on eBay for $9.00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It’s brand new in the package with free shipping so I thought that was a good deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I’ve read all of SteveT’s former posts on this topic and I have not used the machine since for fear of ruining the new motor we just put in.</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 10.5pt]Anyway, send good Karma my way folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  [/COLOR]Todd is going to consult with SteveT and together with my Webcam he is going to walk me through this sensitive procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If it doesn’t include a Food Processor, Mixer, meatball or spatula I am a fish out of water but I’ll take my hands out of the pasta dough and give it a go!!</span>

 

 

[macboy91si]

That's The Spirit

Awesome that you are not calling it quits. The webcam idea is neat as well, you should broadcast it for all to see, a live KA repair.

 

Good Luck!

 

-Tim

 

[stevet]

waiting to hear from you??

Should I be looking for an email? I will gladly take a call from you on the seal leaking. I will also send you, the shimming instructions for the seal, when I get home. I do have to wonder if you may have broken the little plastic stop that retains the carbon(lower) portion of the seal. It is possible if you used the original lower pump housing. After all these years, it may have given out in which case you will need to buy a new one.
Needless to say, don't use the machine until you fix the leak.

Later
Steve
P.S. the Hobart part number for the seal is 117011. you got a bargain at 9.00 Hobart list is 32.95

 

[stevet]

Shimming the seal!

This is for the 17 series as well as the 15 and 16 pumps. I am one of the few people in the country that has the touch/clear gage. If you wish to borrow it (not always necessary) I can send it.

 

[combo52]

Leaking KD 17 shaft seal

Glad you caught it early, The first thing you replace on a machine like this is the shaft seal when you are doing a rebuild. And on the KDS17s a leak like this if not caught in time can ruin or short out and even cause a fire from water and detergent getting on the blower-dry heater, water inlet valve and worst of all the expensive [ hard to find KDS17 timer ]. Over the years we saw a lot of KDS17s where the timer shorted burned and melted and it was usually the end of the DW as they were already old enough that people would not pay for a new wring harness.

 

[chachp]

Quick Rinse and Hold Video

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: small;">Well, thanks to excellent advice from Steve and Todd I have the KDS-17A back in service.  I created a quick video of a Rinse and Hold cycle.  I had to cut it short because my make shift glass door was not doing a very good job of holding the water in.  LOL.</span>

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<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: small;">If I can figure out a better set up I'll create a better video.  I had intended to create of video of replacing the Drain Seal but it didn't work out that way.  The machine is now dry as a bone again underneath so I'll leave the bottom panel off for a few cycles so I can keep an eye on it but I think it's good to do.</span>

 

[rollermatic]

enjoyed looking at your

thread and pics here! a lot of good kitchenaid info in this one! especially about the wiring problems due to leakage.

those kd-17's are my all time fav kitchanaid. have a few myself.