Thread Number: 91663
/ Tag: Vintage Dishwashers
Kitchenaid by Hobart KDI-16 help - Tampa, FL area |
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Post# 1161825 , Reply# 1   10/16/2022 at 20:33 (557 days old) by qsd-dan (West)   |   | |
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I think you may be in over your head with this dishwasher. The last KD16 that left the factory was released in May, 1971. It's at least 51 years old and probably needs some attention before putting it back into full time service mode. I really wouldn't recommend someone installing one without the knowhow of repairing them.
At minimum, it should get a new seal and impeller kit installed. When this seal leaks, water runs down the motor shaft and into its bearings, quickly taking them out and its new motor time. If the leak is bad enough, water will get slung all around the floor. I've never been inside an old Kitchenaid dishwasher that didn't have broken glass inside the pump or a drain impeller that wasn't at least chipped or worn, if not broken. A new water valve should be installed if the dishwasher was never connected to soft water since hard water deposits plug the inlet screen which will underfill the tank. When these valves get this old, sometimes they just leak or crack due to age and it's not worth destroying your floor or dealing with mold issues. If the machine has racked up some mileage, the wash arm bearing needs to be checked for excessive wear. The upper wash arm support bearing needs to be checked for excessive wear and any "play" inside the upper housing. The soap dispensers need to be checked for leaks around the shafts and new o-rings installed. One of the major drawbacks to the pre 18 series dishwashers is that there's no wash arm under the top rack. One must very carefully load the bottom rack in a way that doesn't block the flow of water to the dishes in the upper rack above. Unless one grew up with one of these dishwashers or is well versed of their shortcomings, the learning process can be a pretty steep curve. |