My 'new' Kytchin-Aide Dishwashr

[bugsyjones]

As I said, I'd post pictures.

This is the KitchenAid KDC-21A Custom 21. No idea what year it is, but it's a HOBART labeled unit. If you didn't get the back story, it was purchased for $40 at the Habitat for Humanity reStore. The cabinet-front came with it. It needed a new water pump and drain hose (salvaged from the frigidaire). It was missing the kickplate. I made one from some leftover trim and some flexible stick-on chrome trim. It looks just as good as original. The first load of dishes didn't clean well. I figured something was plugged up, so I ran an empty cycle with some Lime-Away and that did the trick! It loosened up all the calcium and limescale. She runs like a dream now! Kind of loud and noisy, but I contribute that to what a REAL dishwasher with a REAL motor sounds like.

~Tim

 

[gyrafoam]

Keep you eye out for an old machine someone has cast-off by the side of the road or something. Get the insulation blanket off of it and adapt it to your machine---or----- get a roll of water heater insulation at HD and wrap it that way. It will help keep the water hot and is great sound insulation.

A great dishwasher!

 

[bugsyjones]

Inside

If you are asking...yes. My countertop is uneven. Just at that spot though. Strange.

It was a snug fit and I had to make my own upper mounting brackets.

The racks are nice. No broken prongs or rust.

I really like the drying feature. It's AIR and not just a heating element like the 'frigidaire.' It doesn't have as much capacity as the 'frigidaire', but it does a better job at cleaning.

So, does everyone approve?

Inside:

 

[bugsyjones]

Insulation:

It has insulation. It was such a snug fit, that I do not really want to wrestle with getting it back out. Honestly, it's not THAT bad.

~Tim

 

[gyrafoam]

I get it. I hate having to wrestle with them too.
Once you get used to it you will see it can hold a lot more than that Frigidaire. The biggest difference with a KAid is it doen't much matter how you load it----everything will come out clean anyway.
I agree about the drying. I have some kool old dishwashers, but that forced-air drying of the KAids is the absolute best.

 

[appnut]

tim, I'm so excited for ya I got goose bumps all oover. that makeshift kickplate panel looks like it belonged there from the beginning. I'm impressed. I think you'll learn to load it in time and you'll be able to get as much, if not more in there than the frigidaire. I'll be glad to lend some loading tips if ya like.

 

[qsd-dan]

So, does everyone approve?

Hell yes!

 

[tlee618]

For SURE!! That is a beautiful machine and those racks are really nice!! What a great find. Believe me you will come to love the sound! I find it very relaxing. As Steve mentioned the really neat part is that no matter how you load it everything seems to come out clean. What is the time for a Normal cycle?
Terry

 

[gansky1]

It's beautiful!

Keep running each cycle with a little bit more phosphated detergent or buy a box of Glass Magic and add a little of that each time - the limescale will dissipate over time and not cause undue damage to the porcelain like Lime Away will.

 

[bugsyjones]

What is the time for a Normal cycle?

I don't know, but I've been starting it at potscrubber each time. Even the longest cycle seems pretty short. Probably about 30 mins. Perhaps another 15 minutes if you include the drying cycle. As opposed to the Frigidaire's 45 mins. and the GE Nautilus' staggering 1 hour and 30 minutes! Both without drying cycles!

I don't think we have to worry about me ruining the porcelain with Lime-Away. I did it just one time, and I have a water softener system, so I don't have to worry about build-up later on. As far as phosphates in the detergent, I get the highest I can find, which is original Cascade powder. I usually over-fill the pre-wash cup just a little.

~Tim

 

[autowasherfreak]

I Approve!!! And I'm Jealous.

Very nice. You did a great job on the kickplate. If you hadn't mentioned that you made it, I would have thought that it was the original kickplate.

 

[whirlcool]

That sure is a nice KA you picked up. It doesn't look old at all. The control panel looks nice and clean.
I love dishwashers that have the silverware basket over to the side like the one you have. It makes loading the machine so much more versatile over the ones who have the huge basket that sits in the middle of the machine.

 

[gadgetgary]

Great Find

Good Luck with your fantastic KitchenAid.
You will absolutely love it.

 

[toploader55]

KitchenAid

They are absolutely the Best I have 5 of them all ranging through the years. Double wash arms are the best. The KDS 18 is the best KA ever. Enjoy your machine.Eddie

 

[bugsyjones]

I've decided I'll go ahead and keep it. haha.

Adding the kickplate did muffle a great deal of the noise. There's hardly any. Except for the sweep of the spray arms and when the drain pump kicks in.

Still getting used to loading. I'm liking the fact that I can put dishes anywhere on the bottom rack without having to 'allow space' for the spray tower in the middle. I also have to be careful of big items like frying pans. I either have to put them on the top rack or tilt them inward a little so they clear the upper wash arm. A problem easily solved though.

I do like the flexibility of the silverware basket. The GE Nautilus' basket had one spot. That's the only spot it can go. On the KitchenAid, I can put it at the front or along the side if I want.

I'm not one to pre-wash, and I don't need to with the KitchenAid.

The control panel is in exceptionally nice shape. No corrosion or worn spots. All the labels are clearly read and the stainless is shiny.

It's the nicest appliance in the kitchen! It puts all the others to shame. They just look like frumpy white generic boxes. The KitchenAid has a bit of personality. Plus, it coordinates with the cabinets, so it's visually appealing as well.

I suppose I have the KitchenAid enthusiasts on here to thank. If they didn't religiously spout KitchenAid's superiority, I'd probably still be using the Frigidaire. Heaven knows that before joining this forum, I wouldn't know one from another.

~Tim

 

[appnut]

Tim, I got a couple of comments based upon your loading comments above. First, the silverware basket basically has one spot and that is where it is at the fornt of the bottom rack. Try putting frying pans on the right side facing toward the center. Ther's a knida cutout in the bottom rack for just that purpose--cake pans, fry pans (skillets) and the like. The skillet SHOULD clear the top rack because it will be on the outside of the outer side of the top rack. That's the location where ya put things like broiler pans, tall coookie sheets, and the like. Unfortunately, I've only worked with Imperial and Superbas in this series and never a Custom. The Imperials and Superbas had a collapsable pair of tines at the very back of the row where you put dinner plates, facing toward the front, on the left side. That collapsable pair of tines allowed for other cassaroles, cake pans, and skillets to be placed too, as well as some serving bowls. But I don't think the custom has that collapsable pair of tines. And unfortunately, the photo with the pots & pans in the bottom rack isn't very clear and doesn't show what's loaded on that right side very well.

 

[bugsyjones]

No matter where you stick them, they get in the way.

Tilting the fry pans slightly inward fixes the problem.

 

[stevet]

Rack 'em up!

Your loading problems will be solved with the changeover to the adjustable top rack setup. You have the bare bones rack on top which has no up and down adjustment to clear items in the bottom or top rack. Go back and check the other machine and buy the whole machine just for the racks even if you only use the top one. If the rack is so-so, then take it anyway and transfer the mounting hardware(the adjusters) on to your rack and at least it will go up and down and will also have the CHINA GUARD.
I have a KDC21D model which is the "derivative" model which came with the deluxe features like the rack and guard!
I know I may have a spare rack or two or maybe even the hardware setup.

 

[soberleaf]

i picked up that exact model when i

first started collecting dishwashers 2 years ago. i used it as a daily machine for about 4 months and it did do a super job! i also picked up another non working 21 model later so i probably have some parts laying around if you ever need them.

i checked my kitchenaid production log that i got off this site last year and posted for you here. looks like april of 84 to feb of 89 were the years of the 21 model.

you can't go wrong with a hobart kitchenaid, no matter what model! enjoy your new toy!

 

[bugsyjones]

Interesting. The 21 series came out year before I was born!

The other dishwasher is an identical model. No special adjustments of the top rack.

Honestly, it's not a big deal and I'm not going to buy a dishwasher just for the parts.

I solved the problem.

This one suits it's purpose.

~Tim