Thread Number: 77710
/ Tag: Vintage Dishwashers
Australian GE Potscrubber Dishwasher |
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Post# 1017297   12/8/2018 at 04:05 (1,966 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hi Guys,
We have decided to start using an old GE Potscrubber dishwasher that we have had in storage for some time. We hooked it up and it ran through a cycle with no issues except for a small leak where the tub vent tube had perished at its base (this was easy to fix) and another near the drain pump. It looks as though the rubber inlet piece has gone hard and brittle and isn't sealing. Is this part available to buy anywhere ? I have marked the part on pic #6. Also any thoughts on the age of the dishwasher ? I think late 1970s to early 1980s. It looks very different from US Potscrubbers of the era. I suspect it might have been designed for the European market and so were sold here being 220-240V. Thanks all. Appreciate the assistance. Regards, Tim |
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Post# 1017300 , Reply# 1   12/8/2018 at 05:38 (1,966 days old) by wilkinsservis (Melbourne Australia)   |   | |
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GE had sold an American style Potscrubber in the 1970's , permatuff interior, central wash tower etc but by 1980 they were rebranding these more European style machines with stainless steel interior etc I believe they were still assembled in Australia. My parent's first dishwasher 1982 was the Vulcan version. Not the best design but did enough of the job to be a marked improvement over having to hand wash.
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Post# 1017370 , Reply# 3   12/8/2018 at 17:48 (1,965 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
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Post# 1017415 , Reply# 4   12/9/2018 at 03:45 (1,965 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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@wilkinsservice and @Brisnat81: Thank you for your insights on the Potscrubber which isn't really apparently ! Your knowledge of our Australian appliance makes and models is really impressive to me. I know now to search Dishlex and Vulcan parts as well. So have I got it right that Vulcan and GE both marketed Dishlex based dishwashers and the Dishlex dishwashers in turn were based on a Euro design ? What Euro make did Dishlex base its models on then ?
@bajaespuma: Thanks for your reply. I feel you American customers always get the very best - the best quality, the most stylish, the biggest range and the most features. Just my observation. *** I had more of a look at the Potscrubber leaking drain pump, removing the pump to study it more closely. I originally thought it was leaking from the impeller housing cover and so I made a new seal, however, it did not fix it. I now believe it is leaking from the impeller shaft seal so looks as though I need to find a new pump. |
Post# 1018070 , Reply# 6   12/15/2018 at 01:03 (1,959 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hi Nathan,
Thanks for your advice and apologies for the delay in responding. I've found a pump that I think will work. It's in the mail so fingers crossed. Funny how we all remember those Dissssshhhhhhhlex commercials from the 80s. I'm no stranger to loud dishwashers as I also use a Kitchenaid KDS-17. I rather enjoy the sound it makes as I imagine what's going on inside. Regards, Tim |
Post# 1024968 , Reply# 7   2/17/2019 at 23:14 (1,894 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hi All,
This weekend I installed the replacement drain pump that I found online. I had to make two spacers from timber as you can see in the photo. However, it is quite a good replacement fit. Also when the machine was transported to me, it had been dragged on its feet that were not screwed up against the chassis and so the original feet were either missing or bent, and their threaded hole in the chassis deformed beyond reuse. I found four new feet at the hardware store, straightened out the chassis metal as best I could and used U-nuts around the chassis metal to screw the feet into (second photo). I ran it through a few cycles and the leaks have gone. I did notice that the wash pump makes a cyclic whine while running. I found that if I open the door for a short period and then close it, the noise goes away and the pump sounds much better. I wonder if air is getting trapped in it somewhere since it starts running while the sump is still empty. Opening the door causes the then full amount of water to settle and displace the air. Just a theory. Any ideas ? Also so far haven't been able to find much in the way of spare parts here or in Europe/UK. Does anyone have any suggestions ? Thanks everyone ! Tim |
Post# 1026789 , Reply# 9   3/10/2019 at 22:11 (1,873 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Post# 1035288 , Reply# 10   6/14/2019 at 00:01 (1,778 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hello Everyone,
I have finally installed the GE Potscrubber in my Sydney property and it has cleaned many loads of dishes now without a problem (apart from shooting light things out of the cutlery basket - I have since reduced the pressure of the lower spray arm). It cleans and dries everything beautifully. I also picked up some Dishlex Mark 8 parts on Ebay so hopefully I will be able to keep the Potscrubber cleaning for many years. Here are a couple of pictures. I also want to extend a big thank you to all the wonderful people on this forum who contributed in different ways to this project. Tim
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Post# 1035290 , Reply# 11   6/14/2019 at 00:02 (1,778 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Post# 1035316 , Reply# 12   6/14/2019 at 02:14 (1,778 days old) by Brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)   |   | |
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Hi Tim. It looks terrific. What are the three option buttons? Low heat, cool dry and potscrubber/pots and pans? I don’t think the Mark 7 had the 14 min fast wash. Cheers Nathan |
Post# 1035447 , Reply# 13   6/16/2019 at 06:29 (1,776 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hi Nathan,
Thanks so much for your reply. You are right, the options are Power Saver / Element Dry, Warm Wash / Hot Wash, and Potscrubber / Normal. I don't normally use them - I just pressed all the buttons so the lamps would be illuminated for the photo ! The shortest wash is when the timer is started at "7", however, I haven't timed it. Warm regards, Tim |
Post# 1035792 , Reply# 15   6/20/2019 at 12:14 (1,771 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hi Nathan,
Thank you for the names of the Dishlex cycles. I much prefer the clarity of those to the symbols used on the Potscrubber. The reason I thought 6 and 7 could be short wash cycles is that their symbols are a cup/saucer and glass respectively - i.e. those cycles could be used for lightly soiled items if desired. However, I have checked and you are right that the detergent dispenser does not open if you start at 6 or 7. Regards, Tim
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Post# 1036735 , Reply# 16   6/30/2019 at 03:28 (1,762 days old) by aussie-plugs (Melbourne, Australia)   |   | |
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Hi Tim, Were these actually made here by Dishlex AU and rebadged as GE, or by the design parent of the Australian Dishlex family of the 70's, SMEG Italy? On the outside, they look like the Italian machines - it gets hard to tell! Cheers, Nick |
Post# 1037771 , Reply# 17   7/10/2019 at 18:50 (1,751 days old) by mit634 (Sydney)   |   | |
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Hi Nick,
Thanks for your question, although I am honestly not sure of the answer. I haven't found any indication on the machine as to whether it was made locally or imported. Otherwise, I agree that the control panel has a very Euro feel. There are some Australian members of this forum who are far more knowledgeable than I am who might be able to advise. Otherwise, I have added a photo of the compliance plate in case it helps anyone Regards, Tim
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