Thank You!!

[annsmith]

I recently purchased a fixer upper ranch with a great lot. It has original appliances including a KA Hobart KD18 and a Hobart Trash Compactor. The dishwasher wasn’t completely draining and after scouring the internet I came across this site, read through some strings and followed the directions in a post from 2009!!! I completely took the guts apart, scoured 41 years of soap scum off each one and put it back together! Being an almost 50 year old woman, I’m pretty darn proud of myself! Couldn’t have done it (don’t think a plumber could have either) without this site.
So Thank you! Automaticwasher people!!

 

[repairguy]

Congratulations on keeping a great vintage appliance going.

 

[appnut]

Congratulations!! Very proud of you and great going!!

 

[chachp]

Nice Job Ann!

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's how it starts for many of us!!  LOL.  Great job.</span>

 

[bradfordwhite]

Any pictures of your appliances and home?

 

[donprohel]

You are rigth to be proud!

I have always believed that it is because of women like you that gender equality will be achieved.

And yes: we are curious...

 

[annsmith]

I’m not quite out of the woods yet, it’s like peeling an onion!! I’m now disgusted by the drain hose leading from the Dishwasher to the disposal. It’s caked with gunk. I’m going to post a new thread requesting direction on how to replace that. Completely out of my comfort zone.
This kitchen is old, but it’s clean, has a great layout and great bones. The old appliances actually give the kitchen some credibility, as if they’re daring me to include them in the master plan.
Here’s some photos of ‘Big Betty’ and her sister ‘Oscar’ in their almond glory! Considering painting the panels to match the new cabinet color or maybe sliding a piece of something else in there painted to match. That’s another discussion tho
Some in-progress pics of the layers of soap scum as well.

 

[DADoES]

 
Better to keep all questions related to this situation in one discussion for easy reference to the history.  IMO.

 

[annsmith]

Good suggestion Thank You!
Maybe I’ll just do separate posts per question within this thread so that the photos make sense.
1. How do I replace the hosing unit from the dishwasher to the disposal. I’ve attached photos of the hose. The dishwasher sits pretty wedged in the cabinet but if I need to pull it out I can.
Photos attached.

 

[rp2813]

The hose is a standard size.  As long as you can get at it easily and the fitting it's attached to on the machine isn't all crusty, it shouldn't be a big deal to replace.  Just be careful when removing it and coax it off gently.  There will probably be some water remaining in it, so be prepared with a towel to absorb it.

 

You can remove the stainless steel trim pieces from one side of the dishwasher door and the lower access panel, and there should be additional sheets behind the almond ones with other color options.  The colors will be vintage, like avocado or harvest gold, but white will be in there too.  This should apply to the trash masher as well.

 

[annsmith]

Thank you!
Last thing...
The lower rack is rusted in places. It looks like at some point someone covered the prongs with plastic which isn’t a terrible idea but it’s deteriorating. Does anyone have any better suggestions to correct existing rust or prevent future? Also is there a place besides ebay to buy a replacement rack if need be?
Thanks all so much!!
Ann

 

[good-shepherd]

layers of soap scum as well.

Are you sure those are not hard water deposits?

If so, you'll need something like Lime-Away or diluted Muriatic acid to remove.

 

[bradfordwhite]

I don't know what they put on there, it looks like pieces of tubing but with an open top like that it just catches the water and guarantees a rusty mess.

If you don't want or can't find replacement racks, I would take these outside to keep the mess out of the house, remove the tubing pieces, take a wire wheel set on a drill and remove all the rust. You have to be down to clean shiny metal.

Then treat those areas with rubbing alcohol and bring inside.

Then paint and/or use a combination of dishwasher rack paint and rack tine covers. After the first coat let it dry over night and go over it again the next day. Remember you can't have any exposed metal as that will just begin to rust again.

In some areas, the rust on that may be so bad you will need to cut out the section of rack using a lock cutter to get a nice clean cut.

I did one of these a couple years ago that was even worse. I had to cut out about a 4x4 section but once it was done it worked good.

You certainly don't want to use it like it is as the rust will stain not only the dishes but also the dishwasher and the detergent won't work as well.

 

[bradfordwhite]

As for draining the dishwasher...

Is there an air gap on the top of the sink?

If it were me, I would make a dedicated drain for the dishwasher.

I have found that running a dishwasher into a garbage disposal is often a problem for a number of reasons.

You can also do a tie-in on the other side of the sink and plug the hole in the garbage disp.

The inside of the dishwasher looks like you have some serious hard water there.

I would soak all the parts in vinegar overnight to get the hard water lime off before putting the pump parts back together.

A water softener may be in order there. Or fixing the one that might be there already.

 

[rp2813]

You might be able to find a donor machine locally through the various on-line classified sites, and it could be cheaper than buying just a rack on ebay.  That's if you have the room to store an extra machine, or just harvest what you want from it and scrap the carcass.

 

Otherwise, rack repair goop can be found in small bottles at appliance parts retailers or stores like ACE hardware.  It brushes on like white-out typing fluid.  The only thing is that all of the racks these days are white or gray, so light blue will be tough to find unless you know of an appliance parts store that's been in business for decades and may have some old stock.  Honestly though, those tines are so rusty that they may not be viable anymore even if slathered with rack repair.  I think the plastic tubing only served to promote more rust.

 

[latchlock8111]

plastic prongs

I might just remove one of those plastic prongs and match it up with some tubing at the hardware store. Hobby Lobby ? New and fresh in a contrasting color , shiny black ?? Might not look bad. Slide them on all the "prongs" and nobody might ever know what was original to the rack or not.

 

[annsmith]

Great suggestions on all accounts, thank you! I’m working on the drainage issue - still not draining completely, which is sad because I really thought I fixed it!! I like the idea of running a new line that’s not connected to disposal but the whole hard water issue is becoming a very valid concern. I’ll keep everyone posted as I move forward.
Thank you so much!!