KDS-18 - looking for info on the door seal

Does this look like what your problem might be? (Link)

As far as the leak around the bi-metals that open the detergent dispenser doors, the bi-metals don't leak. The door pins or hinges that are spring loaded from the back side can leak, as well as the gasket that surrounds the whole dispenser. Try tightening up the screws surrounding the dispenser and then try some Zoom-Spout oil or Tri-flow oil on the inside where the springs loaded doors pivot and a little dab on the inside pivot area too. Then work the dispenser doors, closing and opening them by tripping the doors manually by moving the bi-metals with a small pointed object, like a toothpick or something similar. Do this when the machine is not running, of course. Then run it with powdered detergent (not gel or packs/tabs) and watch it. Use a paper towel or old bath towel to wipe up any excess oil and/or water that might run down on the back side of the dispenser. Be careful if it's running. 120V is directed through those bi-metals during the dispense segment of the timer as voltage is directed through the bi-metal from the motor to make it bend. If you ground it out you could be shocked and never short the two leads to the bi-metal together. The voltage travels through the bi-metal and is the load. If you short it by touching the leads together, touching the leads with you finger or a wet rag you will have an unpleasant experience.

This might stop the leak. If it doesn't you might have to disassemble the dispenser doors by removing the cotter pin. This will cause the dispenser doors to fly out into the machine's tank. You might want to hold you hand over the doors so they don't fly into the tank. Sometimes old plastic breaks easily. I've never done this personally but I've been told there are tiny "O" rings on the shafts of those doors or in the body of the dispenser. Somewhere in there. They may have deteriorated beyond usefulness. If you decide to remove the whole dispenser, be very careful. The rubber seal under the dispenser can be torn easily and there is usually rust under there that you will have to clean off the door and gasket. This can be a risky move and that gasket is really hard to find. You can get the oils at Ace Hardware and most likely the "O" rings too. This is the best advise I can give you. I hope it helps. PB Blaster is a good penetrating spray for old screws and gaskets but it stinks to high heaven, so be prepared if you use it.

You can download the service manual for a KitchenAid KS 18 series off of Automatic Ephemera. That might help you for other things in the future.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO beekeyknee's LINK

This post was last edited 07/19/2016 at 02:50


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Post# 889765 7/17/2016 at 17:57 (2,831 days old) by frogkid11 (Richmond, Va)
Checkrate/Likes Hi everyone! I just found a very nice KDS-18 for sale locally for cheap. I brought it home, hooked it up, removed both front panels (the door and kick panels) so I could watch her operate. I found 2 areas that leaked after running the entire suite of cycles: 1) she has some leaking around the actuator arms that open the detergent dispensers inside the machine and 2) decent water leakage right above the hinges when looking at the door without the panel installed. I know how to fix the little o-rings for the detergent dispenser but I have found that there is a fairly skinny, long seal that runs along the inside of the door at the bottom which is totally loose and somewhat frayed. I believe this skinny seal (again that runs the length of the base of the door and inside the tub) is my problem with the leaks right where the door hinges. Does anyone have a seal or know a part number that I can use to locate this seal? Thanks in advance for all of your help and advice :-) !!

Post# 889774 , Reply# 1 7/17/2016 at 19:50 (2,831 days old) by frogkid11 (Richmond, Va)
Checkrate/Likes *CORRECTION - I believe it's a tub seal not a door seal* sorry for the confusion but I believe the seal I am looking for that is shredded in my machine is called a "tub seal". It appears that this seal is basically a round channel and since mine has shredded spots, the water is getting in it and then being channeled to the open ends (which are right near the door hinges) just like water through a straw. Does anyone have any experience replacing this seal? TIA!

Post# 889861 , Reply# 2 7/18/2016 at 12:08 (2,830 days old) by frogkid11 (Richmond, Va)
Checkrate/Likes *Anybody? Bueller?* Just checking to see if anyone has any experience or advice with this seal. TIA !

Post# 889945 , Reply# 3 7/19/2016 at 01:23 (2,830 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)
Checkrate/Likes Does this look like what your problem might be? (Link) As far as the leak around the bi-metals that open the detergent dispenser doors, the bi-metals don't leak. The door pins or hinges that are spring loaded from the back side can leak, as well as the gasket that surrounds the whole dispenser. Try tightening up the screws surrounding the dispenser and then try some Zoom-Spout oil or Tri-flow oil on the inside where the springs loaded doors pivot and a little dab on the inside pivot area too. Then work the dispenser doors, closing and opening them by tripping the doors manually by moving the bi-metals with a small pointed object, like a toothpick or something similar. Do this when the machine is not running, of course. Then run it with powdered detergent (not gel or packs/tabs) and watch it. Use a paper towel or old bath towel to wipe up any excess oil and/or water that might run down on the back side of the dispenser. Be careful if it's running. 120V is directed through those bi-metals during the dispense segment of the timer as voltage is directed through the bi-metal from the motor to make it bend. If you ground it out you could be shocked and never short the two leads to the bi-metal together. The voltage travels through the bi-metal and is the load. If you short it by touching the leads together, touching the leads with you finger or a wet rag you will have an unpleasant experience. This might stop the leak. If it doesn't you might have to disassemble the dispenser doors by removing the cotter pin. This will cause the dispenser doors to fly out into the machine's tank. You might want to hold you hand over the doors so they don't fly into the tank. Sometimes old plastic breaks easily. I've never done this personally but I've been told there are tiny "O" rings on the shafts of those doors or in the body of the dispenser. Somewhere in there. They may have deteriorated beyond usefulness. If you decide to remove the whole dispenser, be very careful. The rubber seal under the dispenser can be torn easily and there is usually rust under there that you will have to clean off the door and gasket. This can be a risky move and that gasket is really hard to find. You can get the oils at Ace Hardware and most likely the "O" rings too. This is the best advise I can give you. I hope it helps. PB Blaster is a good penetrating spray for old screws and gaskets but it stinks to high heaven, so be prepared if you use it. You can download the service manual for a KitchenAid KS 18 series off of Automatic Ephemera. That might help you for other things in the future. CLICK HERE TO GO TO beekeyknee's LINK This post was last edited 07/19/2016 at 02:50

Post# 889966 , Reply# 4 7/19/2016 at 07:51 (2,830 days old) by frogkid11 (Richmond, Va)
Checkrate/Likes *Thanks Brian!* I appreciate your response and yes, that is the exact strip I have pulled out of my machine but it's in such worse shape that the one in that post. Mine literally is shredded in the middle and the channel is completely open. I am 100% sure that water is getting into that seal strip and being channeled out either end. I also noticed that while running it with the front panel off, steam was coming from under this same area and directly in the middle where this seal is damaged the most. I found one online that is new in the package and am waiting for it to arrive so I can replace it. I'll keep this post updated on what happens. Thanks for the info on the dispenser. The problem with mine, apparently, was the little o-rings on the metal of the arms for the doors because I replaced them and no more leaks from the dispenser. Thanks again for your response!