66514739110 Kenmore Trash Compactor - Instructions

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.

Ordered new door hinge and used available You Tube Video. to assist in installation. Not a very difficult job, however that did not solve the problem. Then in an attempt to complicate the solution, I again removed the door and took the entire inside cover off. The entire latch mechanism fell on the floor. It took a very long time to determine how the latch mechanism was placed. Finally with the help of a neighbor the latch was placed back into position, the glass and screen replaced and finally all the plastic molding seated and screwed tight. Guess what the latch now seated correctly and appears to work correctly.

Laid appliance on side - removed top sheet metal cover and bottom sheet metal cover. Broken delrin ring gear was on bottom of bottom cover (housing). Gear had broken off of its hub, which also was the sprocket chain drive for both acme screws driving the compactor platten. Motor had to be loosened so that the chain could be removed from the old sprocket hub, and the new delrin ring gear - with new sprocket hub attached - could be mounted on its fixed spindle. With new delrin gear/chain sprocket mounted, the motor had to be spaced and tightened to allow 0.010 inch lash between the gears. The only instructions included with the new gear was how to do this - by placing a piece of paper in between the pinion gear on the motor, and the new ring gear, and then tightening the motor into place. This was done, the sheet metal covers were re-installed, and the compactor works just fine. There is a design flaw in the original (KitchenAid) engineering of the gear, however, and I expect that in the next four years this will probably happen again.

Thanks to Parts Select and their detailed instructions it turn out great! Replacement Parts fit Great!

Kitchenaid had a problem with its footswitch. It was a flimsy piece of metal that pushed in a switch. The flimsy metal part is no longer produced, and they have a replacement kit. The instructions provided that you pull the frame apart, but I was able to do it by coaxing out the old switch, reconnecting and inserting the new switch, and then drilling and screwing in the new switch actuator. The old switch activated the unit when pushed in, the new switch activates the unit when let out.