Thread Number: 86874
/ Tag: Vintage Dishwashers
New Old Stock - Kitchenaid KD-12P - first steps? |
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Post# 1114362 , Reply# 1   4/11/2021 at 22:04 (1,082 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 1114366 , Reply# 2   4/11/2021 at 22:55 (1,082 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)   |   | |
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would love to see pics of inside.
if it's never been used it should be a good shape i would think. what we usually do is put some hot water in tub, enough to cover bottom of sump so the motor seal can soak a few minutes before starting it up. i do this on all my machines after not using them for a few months or years. i have 2 of these and also a 14 model, i can tell you that pump seals are no longer available. i bought the last ones here in ohio about 10 years ago and they told me at hobart that there were only several more left around the country at that time. i also read on this site a few years ago that now there are none available. but again if the machine has never been used then hopefully the seal will be like new and last a long time, years! that is the main seal to worry about. it keeps water out of the motor and from leaking out around the motor shaft. its either a gravity drain or a pump model, i have one of each. gravity drain means a valve opens and the water just flows out of the drain line. pumped models will use a seperate pump to pump the water out of machine, seperate in that it is not the same pump that circulates the water thru the spray arm. again since it is new i would hope that the drain valve and/or drain pump would also be in great shape. i just use all my old machines occasionally, rotating them but then i have about 40 old dishwashers, both built ins and portables. i have a late model maytag i use as my main daily machine so as not to put too much usage on my old ones as again parts can be hard to find or impossible. i will say these old kitchenaids really throw some water around! i always have a lot of fun with mine when i bring one out of storage and install it under the counter for another season of use. have fun with yours and hopefully again it will run like new and last a long time for you! |
Post# 1114372 , Reply# 4   4/11/2021 at 23:35 (1,082 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)   |   | |
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flip my machines over and hand turn the motor just to make sure the motor turns freely and the pump seal isn't frozen as i call it. i have had that happen a few times where after sitting it binds up and it takes a bit more force for me to break the motor loose. that's why a lot of us soak the seal in hot water for a good 10 minutes or so before starting the machine. i do this everytime i hook up a dishwasher that i haven't used for say 6 mos. or so.
but i just looked at an extra motor i have for those 12 models and the bottom of the motor is sealed so you can't get to it to hand turn it. you could remove the bottom rack and the big blue cast iron spray arm and take the screws out of the top of the pump and remove top pump cover. then you would be looking down on the wash impeller itself and that could be hand turned to make sure motor turns freely. obviously don't attempt to remove anything else like the wash pump impeller itself. you would only be wanting to turn the impeller to make sure it moves freely. i also sometimes use wd40 on rubber parts like pump seals and bellows as i have always read that wd40 is good for rubber parts. BUT i am not an expert on that, lets see if any of the other folks comment on that idea. i do have an old 18 inch wide montgomery ward machine with a motor that gets louder every year due to bearing wear but the pump does not leak! no seals are available anymore and every year i spray a good bit of wd40 in the bottom of the tub around the base of the pump, enought to hit the pump seal. i have had that machine for 10 years and used it last week, not a leak in site. again lets see what others say here. i would think you would be safe to put hot water in it and soak that seal for 10 minutes and then turn it on. but knowing me and how curious i am about motors and pumps i personally would remove the top of the pump and hand turn that wash impeller a bit just to be sure all is well before wiring it up and turning it on. i would also check the drain valve and solonoid if your model has one and hand operate that also just to make sure it opens and closes freely. but that's just me. hopefully others will comment too and if i have been wrong about any of this i'm sure i'll hear about it! |
Post# 1114381 , Reply# 6   4/12/2021 at 03:13 (1,082 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR)   |   | |
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Post# 1114458 , Reply# 7   4/12/2021 at 18:46 (1,081 days old) by lotsosudz (Sacramento, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 1114505 , Reply# 8   4/13/2021 at 06:49 (1,080 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Hi Great find, You can remove all four frame extensions as seen in your photo #6 and use heavy pieces of wood on each side about 3" high and slide the DW on to the rails. I have seen this done.
Since you have the misfortune to have hard wood floors in the kitchen I would have a shallow metal pan fabricated to go under the DW to catch any slight leaks now or in the future, you could even put a batter operated leak detector in the pan to alert you to any leaks.
These older KA DWs did often leak a little and even a new one this old is likely to leak at some time.
If you remove the frame extensions be careful not to rest the weight the DW on the plastic drain pump on the bottom of the motor, it can be broken easily.
Keep us posted, it should be really fun to use this New DW, it will be like driving a never driven 1964 Chrysler Newport with a three on the column with the standard 383 engine.
Basic, well built with great performance.
John L. |
Post# 1114518 , Reply# 9   4/13/2021 at 09:55 (1,080 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR)   |   | |
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Post# 1115020 , Reply# 10   4/18/2021 at 21:29 (1,075 days old) by dnastrau (Lords Valley, PA)   |   | |
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Just a quick thought: What a great find! Should the motor(s) on this dishwasher be taken apart and oiled before use? I am just wondering if the original oil in the bearings and felt wicks would still be OK after all of this time. Andrew S. |
Post# 1115023 , Reply# 11   4/18/2021 at 21:57 (1,075 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 1115673 , Reply# 12   4/26/2021 at 21:36 (1,067 days old) by rollermatic (cincinnati)   |   | |
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how a pump seal could possibly be fabricated out of cork or rubber. that seal is a ceramic rotary seal that spins with the motor shaft. again, as your machine is basically new it should not be worn.
for the future if this machine ever starts leaking and can't be fixed and you still want a vintage dishwasher i would suggest a later model kitchanaid like an 18-20 series. any needed parts are still out there, i find them on ebay all the time. and the machines themselves are listed on craigslist, ebay, and facebook marketplace. but for now just enjoy that beautiful machine you have and how about an update on whats going on with it! enjoy |
Post# 1115703 , Reply# 13   4/27/2021 at 08:31 (1,066 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)   |   | |
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it's amazing to see a brand new "Cast-Iron-Wonder"! Some really amazing old NOS is still out there! About 7 yrs ago we found NOS 1955 Chambers "In-A-Wall" wall oven in Copper, stored and never used in a deceased couple's garage at their lakeside vacation house, with all it's packing material and manuals still inside, as was true here. It was finally installed last year for the first time in our son's new house kitchen, and it's the center of attention there for sure, with the correct matching gas cooktop that was finally found used.
The advice to soak in hot water is good, I'd make it really hot and let it set for an hour or more, watch out for leaks just due to gravity first. Not sure if any additive like a v mild dish detergent or something else would be a good thing? |