6651396580 Kenmore Trash Compactor - Instructions

There were no instructions that came with the parts kit other than how to set the spacing for the gear lash. There were parts in the kit which I have no idea what they are (4 inch long plastic pipes?. Having 4 years experience with Sunbeam appliance repair was an asset. The old melted and broken gear came off easily with a few strikes of a hammer on a flat blade screwdriver. The replacement gear was a perfect match and the scroll pin was put in with a little gusto effort (tight fit as it should be). It would be great if just one gear or the other could be ordered....

Removed the gear cover at the bottom of the compactor. Loosened the slack on the chain. Replaced the gear drive. Replaced the gear cover. Worked like new. No major obstacles.

Simply slid handle into door compartment at top, and put in the 2 screws to hold it in place. Very easy to do.

After inspecting to make sure the actuator was functional and that power to the unit was not an issue I was able to find that one the drive gears cracked in half and made the compactor inoperable. It was easy to remove the bottom casing with a nut driver. This casing covered the drive gear which operated the ram. After slightly loosening the gear mounts and I was able to replace center gear and re-attach gear chain and re-tighten. Then replace bottom casing and the compactor was back in action. Huge savings!

So impressed with this Company. Was about to buy new trash compactor, because we couldn't find a handle for an old Frigidair. Found website and on Friday ordered part (only $57...a new compactor would have cost $800). Part arrived ONE DAY LATER and was immediately easily installed by taking out old part which involved unscrewing it and installing the new one using the existing screws. THANK YOU.

Removed bottom and replaced gears

replaced power nuts

the bearing were the perfect match and instructions helpful. sysem is rolling smoothly

refloored the floor and so the unit would not come out. had to cut tile, broke edge off of formica counter but once the unit was out a piece of cake. 6 self tapping screws removed , right on the top, two screws holding the cover for the power nuts, replaced broken nut, leveled ram, replaced nuts and ready to slide back in. After thought, I had one nut on hand from a few years earlier. I ordered two new nuts and now i am going to pull the unit again and replace both nuts. thought being a longer period before having to do this again. The unit was put in in 1981 and used continuously.

Had to first raise the screw plate that compacts the garbage. Then had to turn the compactor over and remove screws holding the bottom plate on in order to get to the gears. Once that was done I removed the worn gears and the chain drive and replaced with the new gears and the chain. Put the unit back together and works like a new one. A $35 dollar fix for a unit that sells for around $900 today. Thanks to partslect for being able to help me with the parts needed. Not only did I save on a new unit but by doing this myself I saved around $100 in labor charges.

changed out the big gear that was broken

Replaced drive gears.They arrived in a kit from Parts Select with instructions.They fit perfectly and the compactor works like new.

The part was suppose to come with instructions, but did not. However, it was easy after reading the comments on-line, and discovering that the front cover had to be removed in order to expose the whole switch and wires. I did drop one of the mounting screws down the front of the compactor and was not able to recover it. So, I had to make a trip to the hardware store for a replacement. They couldn't match the remaining screw but I found 2 similar ones with lock washers and nuts that worked just fine. I saved a $90 service charge and probably double the cost of the switch by doing it myself.

The part that doews the actual compacting would not move correctly. The machine would not stop because the part never contacted the spring loaded switch. I had known about this for about a year, but put it off until it stopped working altogether. I ordered 2 power nuts and rec'd them in B.F.E. Alaska in about 5 days. I quickly replaced the parts and the machine works like brand new again. I estimate this compactor to be at least 10 -15 years old and replacing the occassional part once in awhile is a lot cheaper than buying a new compactor.

First off....I was surprised at how inexpensive the drive gear kit was. As others commented, they fit perfectly and I believe will fit other manufacturer's models since there is a lot of cross branding. The Drive gear replacement itself would be easy as described by others so I won't repeat that. However replacing the plastic tubular "ram stops" on the screw drive was a challenge since there are no "helpful hints" in the blog. To do that you have to work from the top and sides. Needed to remove the two gear cams where the screw drives are seated on the bottom of the unit, then (working with the unit on it's side)you have to raise the whole (heavy) plunger that is attached to the drive screws high enough to remove the old tubular ram stops and bushing and replace. To raise the plunger assembly out from the top you have to remove the sheet metal top plate of the unit....and....importantly remove the control panel on the front where the switches are. There is a limiter switch that has a metal arm which engages a plate on the plunger to stop the unit when it reaches the top. You need to remove that switch to be able to raise the plunger assembly high enough to get the new parts on the screw drive. Put all that back together and then go on to the gear replacement as described by others which was straight forward. Very messy job with all the grease and garbage residue. I am pretty handy figuring these things out, and there may be an easier way, but next time I will call a pro or replace the whole compactor.