Repair man who doesnt know his stuff?
So? The repair guy said it was a solenoid.. well he might be close if you consider a bimetal to be the same as a solenoid!
Maybe just a difference in terminology. So I am ready to apolgize if necessary!
That machine was the last of the Hobart designed machines with a dual compartment dispenser. The doors are held closed by a bimetal which will bend out of the way when heated and allows the doors to swing open. There are a few reasons why you could have trouble with these dispensers.
Since you said that it seems to be working now, just be mindful of some of these things that can go wrong.
The bimetals are heated by passing a current thru them which causes the 2 dissimilar metals to bend as they heat up from the amps passing thru them. K/A used two methods of getting this to happen.
They would pass the pump motor current thru them for a specific amount of time and the bimetal spring would bend and the door would open. If there was not enough water in the tank to cause the motor amp draw to be sufficient, the spring would not bend enough and the door would not open.
This scene could cause one or neither door to open. Maybe you had a low water pressure condition and the machine wasn't full enough.
However, on the newer units like the 21 series and up, they switched to having the tank heater current draw pass thru the bimetals thus insuring that enough current will always pass thru them to open the doors. You would have to check your machine's wiring diagram to be sure which system you have.
Another culprit nowadays seems to be the Gel type detergents which seem to gum up the woring parts of the dispensers like the hinges and springs on them. This seems to be the bane of all the newer machines which seem to all use the same dispensers.
Kitchenaid forums have recommended the use of powedered detergents and to stay away form the gels. In many water conditions, the gels can leave residue on the dishes and glasses as well as many of them are clay based.
The other culprit can also be simple water mineral deposits on the dispensers that prevent smooth operation. Deliming the machine or doing a vinegar wash would help.
Also, it is not recommended that you leave the detergent in the dispenser with the doors closed for a long period of time as moisture which may have gotten into the soap and dispenser will cause the soap to adhere to the doors and prevent them from moving as the soap could clump and harden up.
And of course, water circulation is important so as to allow the dispenser to get wet from the action of the water being pumped by the washarms. Try not to block the area and on those K/A's with the washarm under the top rack, make sure nothing impededes the arm from turning like something hitting it from the bottom or thru the top rack. Also, the water delivery tubes do rot out on the bottom. So keep an eye on them. I usually turn mine over every few weeks to make sure they are okay and it also seems to help the tube maintian a good seal with the manifold on the back of the tank and on the rack.
Hope this helps.
