Stick A Fork In It, It's Done. RIP My Kenmore DW

[redcarpetdrew]

That's my girl!

I knew you could do it. Locate a motor that is wired and has the relay included. That's what I'd do. Fix the immediate issue and save your beautiful hands then take your time planning it's replacement if you decide to.

Fix it right and I just might have to get the boss to hire you here so I can train you up proper. Of course, a city girl here in rural Reno. Hmmm sounds like a reverse Green Acres plot. LOL!

RCD

 

[rp2813]

". . . a city girl here in rural Reno."

L, you should check the timetables.  Maybe the divorce express is still running.

 

[launderess]

On the train for Reno!

Miriam Aarons is being RENOvated. Three guesses Mrs. Fowler who she is going to marry.

 

[rp2813]

I was about to edit with this one:

 

[launderess]

Tourjours L' amour!

Oh L'amour how it can let you down, but how it can pick you up again!

 

[rp2813]

No dishpan hands in that crowd!

 

[mich]

Laundress

Those little yibbles.. Do they look like grains of salt?

 



 

^ Like This?

 

[launderess]

No luv

They are the remains of the ground flax seed "meal" we have with our oatmeal each morning at breakfast. Also bits of rice, oats and anything else that is not totally scrapped off dishes before they go into the unit.

Have long taken to being Hyacinth Bucket when unloading the DW, inspecting each piece before it is put away. Usually several will need to be rinsed free of yibbles, then dried.

Thing is one has long reset this dw to do a second short rinse after the main wash, then it goes onto the final rinse. You'd think between those rinses with heavy doses of rinse aid would solve the problem, but no.

 

[washer111]

You Know What?

Given that any modern offering from the likes of Frigidaire probably won't be much better in terms of filtration (Do they use the same pump and filter mechanism?), perhaps it would be better to lean towards either a new or used European model of 18"...

 

The higher-end EU models have Self-Cleaning Filters, but no grinder (So "schmutz" and "Knurr" get pumped down the drain, but larger objects are not) - so whilst you might have to remove a coarse strainer, its better than the "Hyacinth Bucket" approach you seem to be taking at present.

And at least you don't have to O/D the rinse-aid so much - maybe spare the poison on your plates just a tad.

 

[launderess]

Don't know about their 24" dw, but the Frigidaire 18" portable is made in China and sold under several brand names.

Just as before it seems the portable dishwasher market isn't large enough to support several major players. D&M/Frigidaire/WCI/Electrolux was the source of Kenmore's 18" units, but from the things one has read they couldn't or wouldn't supply product any longer a prices Sears requested.

Have looked at the new models of Frigidaire 18" dishwashers and was not overly impressed. To their credit the machines do have an upper spray arm under the rack which should in theory deal with the yibble problems D&M machines are known for; OTOH there is tons of plastic every where.

Read online that Frigidaire now uses a plastic motor stem instead of metal. This seems good because it can avert the problem of metal rusting and corrosion. However there are reports that if the impellers jam or something they will strip that plastic shaft. Once that happens you are in the same situation one is in now, the entire motor/pump assembly must be replaced.

Peeked inside my Frigidaire last night and noticed another worry. The sump to tub gasket is cracked and worn away around the edges in a few spots. How much or if any water can leak down to the motor is unknown. However if one is going to replace the motor then that seal would have to be done as well.

So far the list of things needing repair is pushing me to look for another dw. This even isn't counting the door latch is going (requires multiple attempts to close the door so unit will operate), and the door springs are shot. Only thing that seems to work is the timer. *LOL*

Again all this might make a tolerable repair project if the thing was a great dishwasher. But quite honestly this Frigidaire/Kenmore had a tendency to leave yibbles scattered about, especially on upper rack items. Even with setting manually to a second rinse there would often be bits of things on or in glassware/cups.

Am thinking for the few hundred dollars in parts it would cost to repair this dw one could find a better (vintage) portable.

 

[washer111]

I hope you can find a nice portable - Given space limitations and water heating issues, would an older KA unit work well with your needs, or would something else be "good?" 

 

From what I've seen, GE still has a portable market, but unfortunately, Energy Regulations have probably strangled the old turbine-pump, self-cleaning filter and food grater that once adorned their models.

Perhaps a more knowledgeable member on these units (Calling "bwoods"!) could enlighten you further.

OR perhaps its time to start looking for that GE 2500/2800 model you've longed for so very long

 

(Can you tell I have an affection for older GE appliances?)

 

[logixx]

Could you get a regular 18 inch unit and put it on a board with castors underneath it?

Kenmore 18" review: http://dishwashers.reviewed.com/content/kenmore-14652-dishwasher-review

 

[launderess]

"On the Normal Wash, the scores were comparable to other mid-range dishwashers: there were very few remains of the common egg, milk, and meat stains, and only slightly more leftovers from the sticky baked-on oatmeal stain. The Pots & Pans cycle showed barely any improvement with these stains, but did a great job removing burnt cheese and burnt sugar.

When a dishwasher sprays food particles onto other plates instead of draining them away, it's called redeposit. It was barely noticeable in the Normal Wash and practically non-existent on the Pots & Pans. However, with both cycles, we did notice that items loaded in the rear of the upper rack don't get as clean, which indicates poor water coverage in that area."

That almost could be my current unit! *LOL* Thanks for the link.

Find it worrying that even this latest model of Kenmore's 18" dw still cannot get items placed in rear upper rack clean and yibble free. This even with now having an upper spray arm instead of just a tower.

 

[launderess]

Well Lookee, Lookee

Here is my DW on offer for $200.

http://www.reachoo.com/ads/213060631

 

[washer111]

Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

Has any progress been made in the department of liberating oneself from the drudgery of the kitchen sink?

Really hope you can find something small and workable for your needs.

I'll share some prudent advice too - It doesn't matter how desperate you get, please don't try putting your dishes in the washer or dryer - especially if you want them to come out in one piece again!
"Have you tried using the tumbling dryer?"
"Yes - I tried it last night, and its broken."
"Why?"
"It smashed all the dishes!"
*LOL*

 

[arbilab]

Unless of course one owns both halves of a Thor AutoMagic.

 

[washer111]

Mmmmm. Hadn't considered that one! 

 

Very clever!

 

[launderess]

Sauce boxes the pair of you.

*LOL*

As a matter of fact have nabbed something but as it hasn't arrived you'll have to wait to find out.

Am also that fed up with washing up by hand. Used to be able to clear away dinner dishes and clean the kitchen for the night in <15 minutes. Then it was off to bed, maybe out for a stroll/drinks/ice cream, maybe watch something on PBS, but not now. Am stuck with my hands in hot water messing about with dishes, glassware, pots, pans.... the lot. If one does not dry them at once manually am faced with a drainer full of dishes first thing in the morning that must be sorted.