Thread Number: 5314
Kitchenaid by Hobart dishwasher - Score!
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Post# 114153   3/8/2006 at 23:35 (6,594 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
I really didn't feel like driving into the City. It was still rush hour, and I was tired. All I really wanted to do was to take a nap.

But I'd been emailing the fellow who was offering the 70's KA dishwasher for free. I didn't know anything about the condition, but he said it worked fine.

So I washed the truck, put air in the two tires with slow leaks, and braved truly awful traffic. A trip that should have taken 34 minutes (per Mapquest) took 1 hr 15 minutes (front loader times!).

But it was worth it! When I got to the destination, there was the dishwasher, with, of all things, a brushed stainless steel front! Inside it looked immaculate, with a nice off-white with blue speckled porcelain finish. Instead of the cheesy plastic blower found on later KA dishwashers, this one sported a stainless steel fan housing in the back.

When I got it home for closer inspection, I could see proudly emblazoned on the front panel, "Custom by Hobart".

I took some pics but it will take some time to upload them here.

There was a surprise bonus - sitting on top of the Hobart was a GE P-7 wall oven. Same model as my Harvest Gold P-7, but lacking the meat thermometer and rotisserie. The best part was that the door panel is also brushed stainless. My plan is to remove the door panel and exchange it with the Harvest Gold on on the oven already installed. I have pics of that too, and will post them as appropriate. I want the stainless door since it will blend in much better with the stainless KA Superba sXs fridge that sits next to the wall oven. The Harvest definitely clashes with stainless.

So all, in all, it was worth the trip. Somehow I even found room in my garage to stash the two items, until I can deal with the door exchange and installing the Hobart into the patio kitchen.

Only one fly in the ointment: the Hobart is missing both the lower front panel and the kick panel. The owner said they were destroyed when the unit was removed. So I'm looking for a replacement lower panel plus kickpanel for this unit - or at least if someone has one and could take measurements or photos, as I know where I can get a stainless replacement made up, I'd appreciate it.






Post# 114159 , Reply# 1   3/9/2006 at 00:38 (6,594 days old) by fixerman ()        

I have a stainless KDS19 with the lower panel and kick panel. I'll take a pic and post it later.

Post# 114161 , Reply# 2   3/9/2006 at 00:52 (6,594 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Thanks, Fixerman!

This appears to be a KDS17.

Pic of plate:


Post# 114162 , Reply# 3   3/9/2006 at 00:54 (6,594 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Front view

Post# 114163 , Reply# 4   3/9/2006 at 00:57 (6,594 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Interior

Post# 114164 , Reply# 5   3/9/2006 at 01:00 (6,594 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Custom by Hobart

Post# 114165 , Reply# 6   3/9/2006 at 01:02 (6,594 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Stainless GE P-7 wall oven

Post# 114175 , Reply# 7   3/9/2006 at 02:36 (6,594 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
One of my aunts had a KDC-17A. Compared to the next model up, KDI-17 (Imperial), the Custom lacked the Soak cycle, adjustable pins in the upper rack, and a little section of fold-down pins at the rear of the lower rack.

LOVE the KD_-17 operational sounds! The snaaapp of the drain solenoid, and cavitation of the pump as it reaches prime during fill and loses prime during drain.


Post# 114180 , Reply# 8   3/9/2006 at 06:14 (6,594 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        
so nice

christfr's profile picture
super find youll love the dish washer...love that look

Post# 114181 , Reply# 9   3/9/2006 at 06:15 (6,594 days old) by harvestgold (Deland, Florida )        
kitchen aid dishwasher

My mom has the same model only in coppertone brown she bought it new in 1971 the door springs are broke and one of the soap dispenser cups won`t open but she refuses to buy a new one funny thing is my aunt has the same one in a portable in avocado green that is mint, hardly ever used would love to get that one these were bullet proof machines the best dishwashers ever made super quality !! Nothing like the plastic junk they make today

Post# 114292 , Reply# 10   3/9/2006 at 20:30 (6,593 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Rich, I'm proud of ya for going and congratulations!!!

Post# 114309 , Reply# 11   3/9/2006 at 21:42 (6,593 days old) by fixerman ()        

Here's the bottom panel

Post# 114326 , Reply# 12   3/9/2006 at 23:50 (6,593 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
That's a great dishwasher find - and in such nice shape too. You're very lucky the racks are in good shape,usually they are pretty trashed by now and the "plates down the center" lower rack is NLA. The heater outlet in the back corner was very hard on the rack as well, there should be an 1100 watt heater in that unit? These fan-forced, high wattage drying systems were about the best I've ever had. I changed out the heater in my 18 Superba with a 17 series heater for the extra wattage - never a spot on anything. You might check the parts books on the 17 and 19 series for panels, I think the later models were different. Congrats on the finds, keep us posted on your oven's makeover too.

Post# 114364 , Reply# 13   3/10/2006 at 07:05 (6,593 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
ahhhhhh..

Fan-forced drying. I miss that immensely


Post# 114476 , Reply# 14   3/10/2006 at 18:54 (6,592 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Thanks, Fixerman, for the photo of the lower panel and kick panel. Is there any chance you could flip the lower panel around to show the reverse side? I think I'll need to see that in order to design/build a replacement.

And to everyone for their encouraging messages, thanks a bunch!


Post# 114493 , Reply# 15   3/10/2006 at 20:32 (6,592 days old) by fixerman ()        

Here's the back view

Post# 114609 , Reply# 16   3/11/2006 at 15:22 (6,591 days old) by deeptub (Carbondale, IL)        

deeptub's profile picture
Sudsmaster--I have an avocado green lower panel from a KDS-17A. It's just in my way. You could spray paint it black or something. Or fashion a stainless "cap" for it. Email me if you are interested. It's yours if you want it.
T.


Post# 114690 , Reply# 17   3/12/2006 at 04:11 (6,591 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
Post# 114691 , Reply# 18   3/12/2006 at 04:12 (6,591 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Parts Manual?

launderess's profile picture
If not your model, check seller's other listing, he has a tons of such items going on at the moment.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO launderess's LINK on eBay


Post# 114743 , Reply# 19   3/12/2006 at 15:32 (6,590 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Deeptub,

Thanks!



Post# 115119 , Reply# 20   3/14/2006 at 00:43 (6,589 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
I've been ill with a bad cold all weekend - bedridden for 2 1/2 days - but recovered enough by now to take a closer look at the hobart.

The lower rack is in great shape, I can't see any damage from the rear forced air heater. I am gathering, however, that there is no way to heat the wash/rinse water? At least I can't see a heating element in the sump area. In any case, the sump area looks good. I see one small chip where rust might be forming, on the inside of the sump, which I'll probably treat with some JB Weld. The porcelain on the outside of the sump looks fine. Also a small chip in the porcelain inside the door, which looks more recent since it's not rusted at all. Probably happened during the remodeling/removal.

I am also wondering where the heated air comes out... the only place I can see where it could would be at the bottom of the door. Is that correct?

There is some rusty looking discoloration on top of the fan housing... I'm assuming this is from water splashing up inside the blower bell and dripping down... maybe some rust on the porclain blower tube, which I can't see. I didn't try to remove the stainless blower bell, and didn't want to force it.



Post# 115121 , Reply# 21   3/14/2006 at 01:18 (6,589 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
Correct. This model has no water heating.

Correct. Drying vents along the full width between the door and lower panel.


Post# 115123 , Reply# 22   3/14/2006 at 02:00 (6,589 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

sudsmaster's profile picture
Thanks, Dadoes.

Can you say which Hobart/KA dishwashers heat the water?



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