And I do mean that literally....was surfing the nearby AL craigslist and found a black KUDI23 identical to my mother's so I'm sure it's from around 1994 as that's when she got hers.  It's BRAND SPANKING NEW never installed, never run since it left the factory!!!   Still has the energy label hanging from the top rack!  The protective plastic film is still on the control panel too!!!  We are so glad we found it and it wasn't but an hour or so away!  I had been looking for a Hobart model but mom's WP made one has been awesome too.  Between our 18 year old Maytag that's still going strong and this KA we should be good to go for at least 20+ more years to come!  I'm gonna start looking for spare parts for both machines soon.  I do wish it had the Superba's adjustable top rack but I can live with this one for now.

Thanks, I can't either! I'd rather have this than the Superba anyway just so I don't have to worry about those buttons wearing out because I will rarely have to change settings.

Never used appliances like this turn up surprising often. It looks like from the serial # this DW was built the 51st week of 1994.

You can always put the adjustable rack from a better model, but I think you are limited to a rack from a 23 series KA DW.

If there is still plastic film on any parts of this DW I would remove it as soon as possible, sometimes we see washers and dryers where the film is left on too long and it ruins the painted finish under it.

Oh thanks for that, I didn't think about it.  We just moved it into MIL's basement for the time being.  It will stay warm and dry down there until we get it installed.  It even still smells like I remember my mom's did when it was new.  Almost like the smell of a new car, nothing like it.

I would diffidently take a 23 series KA over an 18, the 23s have a much better pump system [ no stinky filter that leaves hunks of food etc in the bottom ] and the newer machine is much better quality over all [ things like detergent dispensers that always work and don't short out and catch fire ].

But to be fair we are comparing two machines where there is over a decade of difference between when they were built and most appliances and other consumer items also improved over this time period.

My old reliable Maytag is beginning to need some things, like new (not used) door hinges (I've already taken them out once and beat them back into alignment so the door wouldn't drop) $140 ($70 apiece), possibly door gasket $47, rinse aid leaking out between washes, racks beginning to rust a little, a couple times Tony couldn't get it to start, and some new and interesting noises developing. I stretched clear plastic over the door last week and turned it on...seemed like it's lost some pressure too, the top spray seemed weak. So...today I installed the brand new 1994 Kitchenaid. I had to do a little plumbing modification to get it to work. The Maytag had a drain loop designed into it and the KA doesn't, and there wasn't room for much where it's located, but I used CPVC to configure a loop between cabinet support braces and fastened to the wall...worked like a charm! This house was built in 1956 and when I bought it, the washing machine sat beside the kitchen range...which is where the dishwasher now resides. Even though it has a WP Powerclean pump module in it, I can still hear some of the Kitchenaid sounds I remember from my childhood...that 1/2hp pump sounds awesome! The tub size is a tad smaller inside than the Maytag is, but I can move the top rack up and down and couldn't in the MT...and it doesn't matter if something hits the roof...no top wash arm. Don't get me wrong, my Jetclean has always been an awesome cleaner, and side by side it could probably out blast this KA...but I'm so glad to have a new KA! The build quality of the tank alone speaks volumes, and it's so quiet too! I went ahead and put in a longer metal top rack wash arm.

I even found a brand new in box spare motor/pump on ebay for $79!!!! Repairclinic wants $203. I'll just keep it in a dry place...in case either myself or my mother needs it. Also just found a new in box pump/motor for the MT for $76...Repairclinic wants $237!

I was just looking at the energy guide on KA's website comparing the two models...at 4 loads/week and $1.09/therm natural gas, a new now model costs $25/year. Mine will cost $42/year for the same. Big deal, $17 more per year in energy cost. I never use heated dry, my water is around 145F.

Now water... Pots/pans - 9.75 gallons 82 minutes*

                          Normal - 7.75 gallons 70 minutes*

                   Light/China-5.25 gallons 58 minutes*

                    Rinse/Hold -2.25 gallons 14 minutes*

*heating delay may alter total wash time

I'm planning to gradually repair/replace items on the MT and put it in storage for any future emergency, or I just might convert it back to a portable and have two, as I've always wanted. It will be stored in a heated basement, but is there anything in particular I need to do before putting it away?

If this KA lasts as long as Mother's has, I'll be 65...and hers still hasn't needed anything knock on wood! I feel silly, but this is almost as much fun as getting a brand new car...I know you ladies and gentlemen understand. I also thought I was the only one crazy about appliances! I'm considering sending in the KA's warranty card just to see what they would say!

I think that you will like the new KA DW, the Maytag's were ok but they just didn't move the water that KA or real standard tub WPs did,  if you look at the main wash impeller in the MT and compare it the the KA-WP impeller you can see why, the WP-KA impeller is about twice as big as the MTs impeller and they both run at the same speed.

Used door hinges are a perfectly good way to fix your old MT DWs bent hinges. Hinge arms were a weak area for this series MT DW, they just would not take any abuse.

I just installed a used set on a customers MT DW last Friday, the trick is to find a DW where the hinges are not bent to get your hinges from. I have found that you can not straighten bent hinges and have them be satisfactory in most cases.

Keep us posted on how the New KA DW works out.