5871710591 Kenmore Dishwasher - Instructions

DISASSEMBLY
- Switch off circuit breaker for dishwasher.
- Remove lower front covers from washer to observe motor (for later steps) and to clean-up water.
- Remove top and bottom dishracks.
-You may want to take pics of the placement/orientation of components in the following steps as you disassemble them for reference during reassembly.
- Remove spray-arm base from pump housing.
- Remove and discard impeller— put a screwdriver in the impeller grooves to prevent it turning as you loosen the screw.
- Remove impeller, O-ring, and blade. Discard impeller and O-ring, but keep blade (I couldn’t find the O-ring; it had probably disintegrated).
- Remove pump housing, pump plate, and gasket.
- Use two flat-head screwdrivers on opposite sides of the rotor to pry it off the motor shaft. Be cautious not to damage the area around the motor shaft—wood can be used to protect the area and provide better leverage. If the rotor can’t be removed, a chisel or hacksaw can be used to split it before prying it up— be cautious of the motor shaft when splitting the rotor. Discard the rotor.
- Locate the upper seal, note its orientation (cup-side-down), remove it, and discard it (my upper seal was in the recess in the bottom of the rotor).
-Drive the shaft-key (small metal tab) out of the shaft groove using a hammer and flat-head screwdriver and discard it— the new rotor has a molded-in tab that will slide into the groove in place of the shaft-key.
- Remove ceramic ring from motor shaft and discard it (my leak was caused because the ceramic ring was broken in half).
- Use a flat-blade screwdriver to pry loose the lower seal—before removing it from the shaft, note its orientation (wide-side-down). Be caution not to damage the area around the motor shaft—wood may again be used for protection and leverage.

CLEANING/PREP
- Clean shaft with wire brush, white vinegar, and a rag (you may not need the wire brush if the shaft is in good shape, but my motor shaft was heavily corroded/rusted and I needed to smooth it to prevent it damaging the seals). Clean groove in motor shaft with flat-head screwdriver and rag.
- Use a rag and white vinegar to clean motor shaft recess and pump housing seat. The bottom of the motor shaft recess must be clean and smooth for the lower seal to seat properly.
- Clean pump plate, gasket, blade, pump housing, and screws with white vinegar and a plastic-bristled brush.

ASSEMBLY
-Wet new rubber seals, new ceramic ring, and new rotor with water to help them slide into place.
-Refer to pics taken during disassembly as needed for the following steps.
- Place new lower seal (wide-side-down) over motor shaft in bottom of recess.
-Push new upper seal (cup-side-down) into recessed area in the bottom of the new rotor.
-Push new ceramic ring into upper seal (cup-side) in bottom of rotor.
-Align groove on motor shaft with tab in rotor (a mark on the outside of the rotor shows the tab’s location) and seat rotor on the motor shaft by hand. Verify that the motor turns when the rotor is turned by hand. If not, remove the rotor and reposition it so that its tab slides into the groove in the motor shaft.
-Place gasket, pump plate, and pump housing in position. Start pump housing screws, but leave them loose.
- Place blade and new O-ring on rotor.
- Place new impeller on rotor and insert screw. Tighten moderately — overtightening could cause leaks. Hold the impeller by hand to prevent it turning as the screw is tightened— do not use a screwdriver to prevent the impeller turning.
- Finish tightening pump housing screws.
- Seat spray-arm base on pump housing and insert/tighten its mounting screws.
- Switch on circuit breaker for dishwasher.
- Start washer and watch motor to verify that shaft seal is not leaking. Run a full cycle to rinse the new parts and remove debris and vinegar residue. Continue to observe motor shaft area for leaks during cycle.
-Replace lower front covers.

I removed the whole spray assembly and replaced the base by removing the spray arm and re-attaching to the new wash arm support and diffuser assembly. When re-installed into the dishwasher, it works like new!

All you have to do power down the unit, then disconnect the power connections at the element and remove the old nuts and replace them with the new ones and tighten. Don't tighten too much, the element has a rubber seal that just needs the nut to snug it up.

Removed the old rollers with with screw driver. Used the original screws and washers, and reinstalled the new rollers. Had been having trouble with top dish rack metal slides popping out of the old rollers. I not that the replacement rollers are slightly larger and have slightly deeper groves for the slides. Have not had the new rollers installed long enough to see if they remedied the problem. Will know in a few weeks time. So far, so good.

After I received the Motor Shaft Kit I removed the spray arm tower and removed all screws, the center screw would not come out of the impeller, was stripped. Used a hammer and chisel to split the center of impeller and was able to remove. Also had to split the bottom impeller because it would not come out. All the parts that came in kit fit perfectly. Thank you Very much.

I removed all of the clips, that held the rubber seal inside the basket. I then replaced the new rubber seal with new clips. Very easy. The instructions were very helpful.

Never worked on a dishwasher before but quickly learned that on this particular one, it's only this thin little brass nut that tightens down the element from the underside of the washer. If not tight enough, water drips right down onto the electrical connections. In this case water began to drip and the heat from the electrical current began melting a clear rubber shield thing. Luckily I was home during the cycle and figured out the problem. Great website that seems to have all necessary parts for my washer. Quick shipment!

I pulled out the dishwasher removed the two heating element insulated wires and removed both threaded brass nuts and replaced them both. Problem solved. Luckily I have a local parts and repair store with a repairman that knows every part of every appliance ever made (no kidding, I have yet to stump him with a part or question). He did not have the parts, told me to go to partselect.com order two nuts, replace them both at the same time, and fix it myself because its an easy repair and not worth paying hundreds of dollars, if you can use a wrench. He was right, and partselect.com had the right parts, at the right price, easy to find and order, and I can impress the wife with my repair skills. Thanks again!

Both heating element brass nuts had a split in them. They had fallen off the heating element and were hanging on the electrical wires. I removed the wires from the heating element and removed the brass nuts from the wires. I then screwed the new nuts on the heating element and reattached the wires. problem solved. I want to thank you for having the parts I needed as Sears had discontinued them for this Kenmore appliance.

Spotted the source of the leak at the first heating element under the dishwasher. Removed the brass mounting nut and it was cracked. Replaced with new part from PartSelect.com and the leak was fixed. Apparently the heating element gets so hot it tends to crack the mounting nuts, which results in a leak. Delivery time for part said 3-5 days - mine arrived one day after ordered!

power off, take off kickplate, unplug 2 wires and unscrew broken nuts, put new nuts on, plug wires back in,(run dishwasher one cycle to make sure no leaks) put kickplate back on, power on.

Ditto the other comments. Easy, great savings. Perfect. Thank you!

This dishwasher has a plastic bolt that holds the actuator on. The action loosens the bolt and it wobbles and eventually comes off. After enough attempts the bolt will strip and need to be replaced. I took some 3M loctite this time to hold it in place. It is 24 years old, but still kicking

Used a deep 13 mm socket to remove the old nuts, one of which was split which is what caused the problem. I installed the new grommets with the aid of a little olive oil and then I had to wiggle the element very slightly (more olive oil on the heating element where it slips in the grommet) while pressing down on the element. It slipped into place and then I reinstalled the new nuts and the wires and it was done. One word of caution the stainless mounts that hold the heating element are very sharp on the edges. If you use gloves and move them very easy to prevent damage to the mounts it will be easy to replace the grommets and the nuts.

Got the parts in a DAY! Wheels were broken and worn causing top tray to slip off runners- new wheels were easy to put in-used the screwsfrom the old ones and banged out the job in about 20 minutes, including letting my son help. Thanks Partselect, you've hooked a new DIY'er (my son)