6651398181 Kenmore Trash Compactor - Instructions

Replacement handle fit perfectly, removed the old one by taking out two screws. I was glad that the part was still available, although a little pricey, because the unit has to be at least 25-30 years old or more.

Took top off of the unit, then the 2 protective covers, Lifted Power ram out. Installed protector and new gear nuts. Reassembled... Done job. Great schematics and part list from Part Select./ Good delivery time as well. Will use again.

-Removed the forward sliding rail screws...lifted the rails up several inches to access the wheel assembly...bent back the steel tab to access the nuts holding the wheels to the frame...replaced the wheels and bent back the steel tabs to original position. Trash bin now rolls out completely as before

changed out the switch and that fixed the problem

I removed the unit from under the counter. After removing all of the bits of old trash and making sure the chain and gears were not slipping or striped, I knew it was the power nuts on top of the ram. After all of these years they were worn out, almost smooth inside where the threads are. They were easy to locate on your website. I received them in 2 days (faster than expected) and in 10 minutes the unit was back together and working well. Today was the first bag to be taken out after the repair, it is much heavier than the previous ones, a sign that we are now packing much more trash in a single bag!

Removed 4 screws and the foot release to attach the new guard. Replaced the foot pedal and 4 screws and was done.

Removed 2 screws, pulled out old handle, inserted new drawer handle and replaced the 2 screws.

The drawer handle that was delivered was black and not brown. Black was the preferred color because the old handle was black.

Someone pulled a Conan on the compactor handle and broke it loose--no one admitted doing it but I have my suspicions. Since the compactor was installed during the first Bush administration, I assumed that the part would be unavailable. I tried to glue it with the latest "super" bond epoxy/space shuttle goop and it would not hold. A friend tried to plastic weld the crack--it worked until Conan showed up again and ripped it loose. I was ready to look for a new compactopr but since it had an insert that matched the custom cabinets--that I knew would not fit on a new unit--I looked on the internet for a part.
The part number was entered, the part was in stock and the order placed on Sunday afternoon. The part arrived on Tuesday and was installed in less than two minutes. It was the high point of the week.

Removed 2 screws holding the old part on. put the new part in place, re-attached 2 screws. Good as new.

The first panel I received was scratched and had to be replaced. I called PartsSelect and they sent a replacement.

An easy replacement that made the compactor look like new, that is important since we will be selling the house.

This new one from part select I think fit better than the original so all I had to do was install the handles as the depiction on the packaging showed and install it. Less than 1 minute.

I held up on the compactor ram as i loosened the two screws on each of the two retaining cups. I then unscrewed the threaded bushings and lifted the ram out of the unit. I then cleaned the surface of the tracks on which the ram guides up and down and applied a thin layer of silicone grease to those surfaces as well as the threaded rods. . I placed the ram back into the unit and held it in place as i replaced the threaded bushings and their respective caps. Unfortunately i neglected to move the limiting switch that stops the ram when it reaches the top of the cycle and I broke the lever that contacts the ram and subsequently activates the stop switch. so i removed the ram and removed and inspected the switch. It was broken beyond repair so i ordered a new switch from the same place I purchased the threaded bushings and am waiting for them to arrive. Lesson learned, pay attention to the sequence by which the original parts are removed and understand how the system functions so that you can remember to put it back in the right order.

First thing I did was put the unit on its side and removed the bottom to access the broken plastic gear that moves the chain that drives the compactor up and down...There I was able to manually move the chain by turning the nut with pliers and moving the piston up (painfully slow) until I could at least use the bin for trash while I waited for the replacement part to arrive. Once I had the part I loosened the four bolts that allowed the drive gear to move a little and slacken the chain - I then put in the new gear - make sure you have the proper spacing and washers - my replacement kit didn't have any washers so I resused the old washers and all seems to be working well!

pulled it out, turned it upside down, and removed the gear, then replaced it, turned it back up and pushed it back it worked.

Put the parts in and reinstalled it back in it place