Portable dishwasher unicouple packing repair?

Hi everyone!

The lovely sixties Roto-Rack, still the apple of our eye, is now the apple of our eye in the living room, and the Maytag JetClean is pinch-hitting, due to some unicouple-related events.

The original unicouple tossed its ball bearings down the drain when the original collar (already fractured) snapped apart; no great loss, since the hoses were almost rock hard, and it wasn't very pleasant to use. So, naturally, I swapped in the perfect-match unicouple from another D&M portable, and all was good.

That is, until something happened (file under "when someone else runs the dishwasher, and stuff inexplicably happens") to the new unicouple, such that it now can't seal properly against the faucet adapter.

The Maytag works fine with the faucet adapter, so I know the adapter isn't the issue. The D&M, however, sprays water out from around the collar, but the bearings and collar are fine, so I suspect it's the wide, rubber packing seal that's further down the unicouple barrel.

I've never seen a definitive way to replace these. I'd love to, because unicouples cost more than the machines do, and installing one in this model is not all that much fun.

I've seen people use O-rings, with varying degrees of success, but they tend to be awfully tight, it seems. I'm trying to find a repair solution that doesn't require a lot of careful jiggling afterward to attach to the faucet, because otherwise, said Other Person will not run the dishwasher when it's full, which means I'll have to run it--WAIT, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.

No, actually, I'm concerned that someone will very likely press upward against the faucet with great force to seat the now-overly-tight unicouple, and I'll come home to a faucet with the spigot broken off.

Anyhow, I'd prefer to avoid having to purchase a whole new unicouple on account of some POS $0.04 rubber bit. Can anyone steer me in the right direction, or has anyone had luck with this? It seems almost like--since the early sixties--no one has intended for that packing to be serviceable and replaced.

Either that, or I'm not looking for the right thing when I Google.

Thank you all in advance!


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 865349 2/3/2016 at 13:59 (2,998 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Hi everyone! The lovely sixties Roto-Rack, still the apple of our eye, is now the apple of our eye in the living room, and the Maytag JetClean is pinch-hitting, due to some unicouple-related events. The original unicouple tossed its ball bearings down the drain when the original collar (already fractured) snapped apart; no great loss, since the hoses were almost rock hard, and it wasn't very pleasant to use. So, naturally, I swapped in the perfect-match unicouple from another D&M portable, and all was good. That is, until something happened (file under "when someone else runs the dishwasher, and stuff inexplicably happens") to the new unicouple, such that it now can't seal properly against the faucet adapter. The Maytag works fine with the faucet adapter, so I know the adapter isn't the issue. The D&M, however, sprays water out from around the collar, but the bearings and collar are fine, so I suspect it's the wide, rubber packing seal that's further down the unicouple barrel. I've never seen a definitive way to replace these. I'd love to, because unicouples cost more than the machines do, and installing one in this model is not all that much fun. I've seen people use O-rings, with varying degrees of success, but they tend to be awfully tight, it seems. I'm trying to find a repair solution that doesn't require a lot of careful jiggling afterward to attach to the faucet, because otherwise, said Other Person will not run the dishwasher when it's full, which means I'll have to run it--WAIT, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. No, actually, I'm concerned that someone will very likely press upward against the faucet with great force to seat the now-overly-tight unicouple, and I'll come home to a faucet with the spigot broken off. Anyhow, I'd prefer to avoid having to purchase a whole new unicouple on account of some POS $0.04 rubber bit. Can anyone steer me in the right direction, or has anyone had luck with this? It seems almost like--since the early sixties--no one has intended for that packing to be serviceable and replaced. Either that, or I'm not looking for the right thing when I Google. Thank you all in advance!

Post# 865354 , Reply# 1 2/3/2016 at 14:08 (2,998 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)
Checkrate/Likes 5 *"File under . . ."* LOL -- sounds similar to when Dave's crazy sister would visit here (she's officially been 86'd) and the dryer, the furnace and its thermostat, and dishwasher would all go haywire. I still maintain that she's the one who caused the infamous Thundering Thermador to begin applying film in earnest onto all of its contents. Shirley you can't be serious about something almost rock hard being unpleasant to use. ;-P

Post# 865415 , Reply# 2 2/3/2016 at 20:52 (2,998 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes 6 *Shirley you can't be serious* I surprised myself as well, but 'tis true. (And don't call me "Shirley." ;-) )

Post# 865447 , Reply# 3 2/4/2016 at 06:54 (2,998 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *Unicouple Repair* WP used to sell a kit that had the rubber seal, four balls and the collar all included. I may dig around and see if I still have a kit or could find the Pt# for the kit. The WP kit fit all the older UC used on KA, MT, FD, D&M etc. but not GE-HP that used a smaller UC. I also have a few dozen complete assemblies most of which are new that we took off convertible DWs when we installed them when they were new or nearly new. Nate call me if you want me to look for any of this, John.

Post# 865460 , Reply# 4 2/4/2016 at 08:38 (2,997 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes The little Neoprene ring that is flat, not rounded like an o-ring, in my WP-made Kenmore's unicouple has to be moistened before it is attached to the faucet to effect a proper seal so I run a bit of water into the opening and then attach it to the special dishwasher faucet on my sink deck.

Post# 865469 , Reply# 5 2/4/2016 at 10:15 (2,997 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *E-mail sent* John, I sent you an AW.org message. Thank you so much! Tom, that's the bugger that apparently failed. I can't figure out how exactly, but the proof is in the pudding. Or the puddle. I always moistened it before attaching it to the faucet, but I may need to do some refresher courses for the household. :-)

Post# 865525 , Reply# 6 2/4/2016 at 15:45 (2,997 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes 3 Today was parts pick up day and the guys at Tibles helped me find the number of the seal. That is what it is called. It is 910218. It has a price of $4.09 and is available from RepairClinic.com. Actually it is available from WP with that part #, too. They just did not cross ref it over from the old number. Hope this helps. I ordered three just to have on hand.

Post# 865584 , Reply# 7 2/4/2016 at 22:21 (2,997 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *My hero!* You saved the day! We're ordering a bunch to have on-hand. A thousand thanks to you!!

Post# 865615 , Reply# 8 2/5/2016 at 05:44 (2,997 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes 1 You are most welcome. I will convey your thanks to the parts experts at Tribles, Beltsville.

Post# 922533 , Reply# 9 2/20/2017 at 09:39 (2,615 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes *910218 Coupler Gasket* I noticed a bit of dripping from the faucet coupler so I took one of the seals I bought last year and had stapled into the owner's manual and installed it and it seals beautifully. I noticed some mineral buildup on the neoprene sealing surface of the old one so I might try cleaning it with an acid cleaner to see if it can be rejuvenated. Duluth Trading Co. sells a wonderful "dental tool kit" which has wonderful curved and angled picks which make extracting seals and gaskets so much easier and safer than trying to improvise with what you might have around the house or shop.