66513949K015 Kenmore Dishwasher - Instructions

We ordered a new lower spray arm. I was impressed that we could get one considering the age of our dishwasher. There is a gear under the rotating part of the spray arm that I turned counter clockwise. Then the old one lifted off easily.
I couldn’t find any good instructions for installing the new one. I tried reversing the process I had used to remove the old one. Finally, after I put it in place, I put my hand in the center of the spray arm and pushed down firmly. I felt it snap into place.

Replaced door balance link kit and door opens easy does not squeak or slam down.

Get a piece of stiff wire (medal close hanger) cut a Short piece and take a tool and roll a half circle on each end making the link length you need then attach the lanyard to the spring

For some reason I wasn't able to pull the dishwasher all the way out. Had my wife with a smaller hands and arms reached in and attached the spring with the link end onto the dishwaster anchor point. I then put on both nylon rollers. The link anchor point and rope went over the upper roller first. I then struggled and managed, with lots of pulling, to get the rope over the lower nylon roller. All went well with reattaching the water and drain lines. Plumbing in tight spaces is made for small people. This old body does not bend like it use too.
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The hardest part was pulling the unit out. Ours required the electric to be disconnected. First turn off breaker, then disconnect electric, then remove the 2 screws in the sides that keep it in place (located on top for non-stone counter). Slide unit out. Next remove the spring and connect the loop from the link to the spring. The other end of the spring goes in the hole next to the rear leg. Pull the string so there is enough slack to loop the spring aroung both pulleys and then slide the end over the hook on the bottom of the door. Use the other side as a guide. Slide unit back, hook up electric, replace mounting screws. Turn on breaker.

Remove two screws then the two toe-panels. Use a flashlight to locate spring and the hole in the metal frame near back of unit about an inch off the floor. Look at opposite side of unit to see how the working link is routed. Place correct end of the link over one end of the spring and wrap a piece of tape around nylon clip and spring end (just to save frustration of having it fall off while you attempt to complete this task). Tie a loop in the end of each end of the piece of string you supplied. Loop one loop around the spring end with the link clip and feed the other end of the strings loop out the front of the dishwasher at the bottom near the lowermost pulley. Reach under the dishwasher and hook the spring to the frame. Keep tension on the string and feed the link cord out the front of the dishwasher near the front bottom near the lowermost pulley. Loop the exposed end of the self-supplied string around the center of the flashlight handle. Have an assistant pull firmly on the flashlight/string stretching the spring (not too much to over-stretch the spring, but give yourself a little slack too). Serpentine the link cord around the two nylon pulleys. Make sure the rope side of the link clip is toward the back of the dishwasher. Place the link nylon clip over the metal door lever and into the appropriate slot. Have your assistant slowly release tension on the spring/string. Reach under the dishwasher and remove the looped string from the spring end and remove the string. Replace the toe-panels. I did the right side this way, the left side is up against a wall and I might have had additional problems, but it is hard to say since I did not replace the left link. I thought this easier than removing the dishwasher, inlet and outlet as I have done that several times and it can be a pain as well. Good luck!

cut power to dishwasher. removed screws all around door panel to get front panel off, leaving top two screws for last. unplugged latch set, removed it. set new one in. screwed top 2 screws in. fit door panel back on. pulled out latch hook from stationary top piece and clicked new on in place.

My husband managed, with some difficulty, to finally replace the broken spring and associated door balance kit. He first ordered the spring from this site. Then, after he had laboriously rolled the dishwasher out about 12" - using flat pieces of wood as support, while he lowered the dishwasher onto his homemade rollers - he realized that the corded door balance kit was also broken. So he rolled the DW back in and ordered the part. This site sent an improved door balance kit, and then he went through the same process again. He had to fish the spring back all the way to the very back of the DW and hook it through a hole, using a rod and masking tape (bad DW design, he says). Then after he rolled it back, he noticed a leak in the incoming hot water connector, at the copper pipe compression fitting. Fortunately, a local plumber, with the right tool and expertise was able to quickly fix that problem. (The plumber explained that compression fittings commonly begin leaking if even slightly moved.) Bottom line: A+ for this site, C for KitchenAid design. He says he'd undertake it again, in spite of the hassle.

We followed the video instructions, at times running to the computer to check the video.. The hardest part was getting the door to slide back on.. Thank heavens for the video.

Hardest part of job was sliding dishwasher out. Put in wood floors so limited free space. Had to lower fron foot pegs first, then remove 2 screws from top that held unit steady. Once dishwasher was out a good 16" cords were easy to replace. Did not replace bracket that came with kit. Cords attach to heavy duty spring.

Remove power. Remove drain line from sink. Remove hot water line at connection. Remove 2 screws that hold dishwasher to countertop (on top). Pull dishwasher out. Find spring as it has shot to the back when the nylon cord link broke. Hook Spring back in. Attach cord loop end (hard plastic) to spring. Attach other end to door hook. Now stretch spring to loosen cord and slip around pully system. Push dishwasher back in and rehook all connections.

I've had to do this repair at least twice before over the last few years so I stand by my original assertion that the door "balance link kit" reflects very poor design. Well, maybe the design would be okay if the materials were not prone to breakage. However, a simpler spring-only mechanism would have been more reliable. The current design uses string embedded in plastic that latches to a hook area for both sides of the door (frame). The string is threaded around a hub and then to a spring that is in turn connected to the chassis at a rather distant point which also adds to the difficulty due to requiring greater access to the dishwasher sides. It would be much better if the repair could be done without necessitating removal of the entire unit from the cabinet cavity first. I noted that this time around there's been a redesign so that the hub is no longer a round fixed knob but now includes a rotatable wheel. So perhaps there'll now be less wear on the strings that with the prior design! -- D.A.D

Removing the door was straightforward. However, when the door panel was removed, I grabbed the door and my finger touched and pressed on something on the right side. This is an optical collector which focuses 3 lights (red, blue, green) into a visible slot. After I reinstalled the door, the lights were not visible. I had to disassemble the door a few times and bend this optical collector into the right position. Basically, I bent the collector into the door, so I needed to bend the collector away from the door. And now, everything is fine.

Once the cord broke, the stainless steel door became very heavy (eventhough the other side cord/spring combo was intact). My order came within days. The repair kit came with two complete sets (left and right sides). The repair was simple. I used the unbroken side as a guide to fix the broken side. I used all parts from the kit. The part of the repair that required time was to disconnect the electric, plumbing and drain lines. In order to pull the diswasher from the cabinet. Just remember to turn the water back on when you are finished!

Thanks to all the people who video their repairs and such. Found the part number from whirlpool online resource then ask you tube for video of anyone who had this issue with this part and video taped their repair. Found video then went online to see where can I purchase this part. I chose Part Select. The part came in within a few days. Went back to video and watched as I replaced the part. Not one issue came up. If only all issues in life could be solved so easily.