Should I look for a vintage Kitchenaid dishwasher for my sister??

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

rickr

rickr

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2003
Messages
4,081
Location
.
My sister Colleen is in need of replacement dishwasher. She had a Maytag that is about 10 years old, and is a pos. The top rack is falling down on one side, and the dishwasher does not clean very well at all. I told her she should let me find a used Kitchenaid, rather than purchasing a new one. What should I look for? I do not want anything too old, just a Hobart built machine. I know of a used appliance store in Fort Wayne that has some Kitchenaids. I do not know anything about dishwashers(except Hobart built Kitchenaids were the best), so please help me.What should I look for, and what to avoid....

Thanks guys!
 
Hey Rick

I know I'm not close , but I have a KDS 20 that is mint. I have not run her in just about a year, but I can pull her out of storage and water test her. She came from a very clean home. No crap on the door jambs and ran beautifully when I had the machine hooked up. I'm just a KDS 18 fan. I'll attach some pics...

toploader55++8-16-2009-22-16-19.jpg
 
Racks are in Good Shape

She's an Energy Save V. Preheats Water. Let me know if you want her as I need to start cleaning out. Cleans very well. I replaced the feed tube for the upper rack. That's all I did when I got her and she's a Great Machine.

toploader55++8-16-2009-22-25-6.jpg
 
Kitchenaid.

The Hobart design rocks my socks, however, all was not lost (for awhile anyway) when they were bought by Whirlpool. They remained quite good up through the 23 series. Some 21 series machines are Hobarts, some are not. The way to tell quickly is the location of the heating coil. If it is big and in the bottom of the machine in plain view, it's a whirlpool. If it's small and down in the sump, it's a Hobart.

Regarding the question of "Should I look for a Vintage Kitchenaid..." The question should not be "should I", but "When should I."

Cheers,
Dave
 
I agree with VolvoGuy!

I have a KDS-14 model. Really, really old. But GREAT!!!!!!Go with a "17" or up model. Or, be brave, and find a"15" model.
 
Best cleaning dishwasher

Go with a whirlpool powerclean or kenmore ultrawash machine anything after 1984 which is when these were introduced.Kitchenaid 23-25 models use the same pump system but dont work as well overall because they only have one finell rinse and the upper wash arm doesnt get as much water pressure as the direct feed system used in the whirlpool system. If you want a new machine whirlpool still makes at least one powerclean model DU930 seares and there is one maytag and one kenmore model if you dont want the in door silver ware basket . After over 30 years of working on dishwashers this is the only machine we seldom get a poor cleaning complaint on.
 
" If it is big and in the bottom of the machine in plain view, it's a whirlpool. If it's small and down in the sump, it's a Hobart."

All of the Superba models through the 23 series place use the small heating coil in the sump, regardless of whether it's a Whirlpool or Hobart machine. The 23 series Superba used a lower wattage element than its predecessor did. Only the Whirlpool-made Classic or Imperial models use the wide heating element in the bottom of the tub, but not the Superbas.

Most (if not all, not sure) of the Whirlpool machines use the squarish Emerson motor rather than the classic round Hobart motor.
 
WOW Eddie that is a nice machine! Too bad it is so far away. Wonder what that would cost to ship to Fort Wayne Indiana? Prolly too much to ship it here, but what do you want for it anyway?

Thanks for the information guys!
 
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but i'm not in love with my KDC-60A that I got last year. She is in awesome condition inside but I don't like the racking or the washing. I think my dishes came out cleaner in my Maytag tall tub that I replaced. I've had to start scouring my stainless pots before they go in...they seem to be turning a bluish hue that I never had before. My Kenmore ultra wash and the Maytag never did that. I've also had to start rinsing gunk off the dishes because of yibbles. The filter is not clogged either. I don't know what to do anymore.
 
What to do.

jakeseacrest, First check your hot water temperature, it should be at least 140 degrees for good dishwasher operation. It is also a good idea to run the sink faucet until it runs hot before starting the dishwasher (the dishwasher water supply is usually tapped from the sink hot-supply). Also, is the bushing beneath the wash arm worn, preventing the wash arm from spinning properly?

Dave
 
Rick,

A good friend of my parents had a KDS 20 for close to 30yrs IIRC, and she absolutely hated to leave it behind when she moved into her condo this past spring. Marcy would kill to have her old dw back. If you can find a nice machine locally, or the one above, go for it, your sister will love you for it.
 

Similar threads

J
Help with Hobart Kitchen-Aid KDI-58 Portable Dishwasher
Replies
5
Views
25
DADoES
DADoES
thatwasherguy
Thinking about buying a vintage dishwasher. Thoughts??
Replies
8
Views
24
rollermatic
rollermatic
M
How did these KA dishwashers get water to the top rack?
2 3
Replies
40
Views
46
norgeway
N
H
Need heating element for 1990 Kitchenaid KUDS230Y1 dishwasher
Replies
5
Views
6
hal
H
V
Whirlpool portable dishwasher - to repair or not to repair....
Replies
3
Views
44
agiflow
A

Latest posts

Back
Top