Potscrubber 2800 Gives Up the Ghost! Anyone needs parts?

[kenkuhl]

We bought a summer home built by a Hartford executive in the early 1930s. It was sold to a family in 1960 who updated the kitchens and baths...by 2011 it had not had a year 'round occupant in over 20 years!
We inherited a GE Potscrubber 2800 which worked better than the new GE model we had just left behind in our previous house. Other than the issue with the telescoping arm coming into contact with things, which stopped the washing process with a lovely beeping sound, it worked great.
A month ago it wouldn't start so we called our veteran local appliance lady to make a house call. She told us it was "one of the good ones but it was DOA". The motor just gave out after 30 years!
When we asked her what she would suggest, she said: get a pre-1975 KitchenAid..."the new ones are all crap".
We found a KA KDI-15 on Craig's List locally. It's going in this week..
If anyone has need of any parts from the 2800 we can talk about it...

 

[twintubber]

Beautiful Machine

I remember that model very well. They were stunningly beautiful and very advanced looking in their day.
I also remember, that even though they were all electronic controls, they were very simple. Not a lot of thinking and choosing to get it going. Just the basics. A few touches and off ya go!
So sad when something like that finally dies since today's junk is so pathetic. But I am glad you got to enjoy it for a while at least.
And good luck with your new KA. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'm still playing with the one I just got yesterday.
It's a KDS-19C

 

[kenkuhl]

KA KDI-15

We just picked it up on Saturday...I had hip surgery 2 weeks ago so I am a little slow getting the 2800 out and the KDI-15 in!
I plan to document the process with images and text...

Ken

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations

We had a 15 series that was still in the house when we sold it in the early 2000s, but your appliance maven could have recommended up through the 18 series KAs which came out in 1977.

Best wishes for rapid healing.

 

[kenkuhl]

"As Found" Images of the KA KDI-15

My wife follows the Hartford CL religiously. She looks mostly for free or low priced early 20th century furniture to refinish in those new "Pottery Barn" colors.
When our 2800 died I asked to keep her eyes open for an old KA dishwasher..
When she found a good lead I wrote to the lady and asked how much they wanted since the ad did not give a price. When she got back to me and said it was free, I told her we would be there ASAP...
The story goes it was in a seasonal cottage on the Housatonic River in Western CT. The warranty card had a date 6/29/67. It had had limited use since the home was only used seasonally and the current owners removed it 5 years ago after buying the property thinking it unnecessary. Their house inspector however said it was running just fine when they purchased the property.
It has some rust issues and the heating box is bent open slightly which will have to be repaired. It appears to be the simulated wood grain copper color.
I am attaching the "as found" images...we will see how it cleans up!

 

[tomturbomatic]

That could be a real copper front with the sealant/protectant over the copper giving the grained effect. That was a rare and expensive pair of special order panels. Ours was coppertone. That is beautiful beige plastic on the control panel and handle.

 

[appnut]

I gathr it wasn't the electronics which caused the GE to die.  A replacement motor is available that's more efficient.  Combo52 would say there's still life in that GE. 

 

[combo52]

GE GSD2800 DW

Yes Bob the GE DW is an easy fix, the complete pump and motor only retails for around $140 and even though I am not the biggest fan of GE DWs the one you have is better than a 15 year older KA. The copper look panels on the old KA were one of the optional panels available at the time, they were steel panels with a VERY thin copper plating and clear coated, they usually did not stand up well, they usually rusted or turned dark in spots.

 

I would diffidently hold on to the GE DW for a while to see if you like the OLD KA DW, and while a KDI-15 can be a very good machine something that old can have all kinds of problems, believe me I know them well having worked on hundreds of them over the years.

 

John L.

 

[twintubber]

My Two Cents Worth.....

is to save the GE if you can.
Since the electronics are fine and the wash system as well as the interior are fine and in good condition, the replacing of the moter/pump mechanism in one of these machines is relatively simple. It's one of the simpler machines to work on, actually.
A new motor/pump mechanism would give you many more years of joy and great washes with this rare and beautiful gem of a GE.
As for the KitchenAid, you could always work on it at your own pace as a rebuild project to use at another time OR, consider installing it as a second dishwasher