What I did on my summer ‘staycation’ part 4 – 57 Whirlpool dishwasher timer rebuilding made easy!

[turquoisedude]

Remember that 1957 Whirlpool (well, OK, it’s really a D&M) dishwasher with ‘some assembly required’? The timer definitely fell into this category
Well, I got another step closer in making this beastie work again!

 

[turquoisedude]

I had managed to reassemble the timer but I was not sure that it would work. Encouraged by the timer servicing literature that turned up here in the documents and manuals section and using the schematic wiring diagram from the machine I devised this diabolical test hookup.

 

[turquoisedude]

My goal was to make sure that the correct components were getting power and that the timer contacts were making and breaking contact smoothly.
I used different coloured lights to represent the different components – in this sample, the blue light is on, meaning the fill valve would be powered up.

 

[turquoisedude]

The yellow light means the impeller drive motor and the heater unit are on now. This shot was taken during the wash portion of the cycle.

 

[turquoisedude]

The green light on here would mean the drain valve has been activated.
I observed a couple of cycles as the blue, yellow and green lights cycled signalling a fill, wash, then drain operation. But I had a couple of surprises, like in this picture.
The drain solenoid was activated at the beginning and the end of the ‘dry’ portion of the cycle, which made a great deal of sense to me.

 

[turquoisedude]

But this was a surprise – this happened at the end of the wash portion of the cycle, The drain valve was powered up but for 1 increment, the fill valve was activated. This seems to be a purge of the tub following the main wash. Again, this makes a great deal of sense to me.
Maybe D&M didn’t make such bad machines after all... (ducks and runs)

 

[turquoisedude]

My last hurdle with this machine is the water valve... The solenoid coil is open on the original valve. I know I can substitute a modern one easily, but the water delivery pipe is rather unique and I’d like to preserve as much as possible. I kinda regret the substitution I did for the 58 Frigidaire spin-tube...
Speaking of which, notice the resemblance of the solenoid coil from this valve to a Frigidaire’s? They’re close, but not that close, alas.
I’ll have to make a decision on this one soon....

 

[combo52]

1957 Inlet valve

Paul your inlet valve pictured can be easily rebuilt, a newer valve coil will fit and you should also replace the rubber valve seal, then it will work like new.

 

[combo52]

1957 Inlet valve

Paul your inlet valve pictured can be easily rebuilt, a newer valve coil will fit and you should also replace the rubber valve seal, then it will work like new.

 

[badgerdx]

sorry, but

D & M? I know I'm going to smack my head with a "duh" but I'm not knowing the abbreviation.

 

[turquoisedude]

Bob,

D&M is an abbrieviation for 'Design & Manufacturing' which I beleive was a spin-off from American-Standard (no pun intended, 'cause their 'American Kitchens' dishwasher of the day was an impeller-wash model with, gasp, the first roto-rack!).

D&M built dishwashers and put different appliance manufacturers brand names on them so that said appliance manufacturer could offer a full line of appliances. This Whirlpool dishwasher is an example - Whirlpool did not actually build their own dishwasher until 1958 or 1959.

D&M built machines which were rebadged as Admiral, Crosley, Chambers, Kelvinator, and many others; but most notably, Kenmore dishwashers were D&M up until (I think) the 1980s!

Here's a timeline from a post in the automatichwasher.org archives (see reply #17 to the thread linked below) and there is lots more information out there! dishwashercrazy (Mike), I believe, has quite a bit of information about them, if you are interested.

Who made this? (Considering the set)

Interesting 50's kitchen set, and look, there's a sprayer too. Is anyone familiar with the company that produced the cabinetry, or who the dishwasher manufacture was farmed out to? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160397552294&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

www.automaticwasher.org