KUCC151LPA2 KitchenAid Trash Compactor - Instructions

Many of you with the KitchenAid trash compactor now that there's a faulty Actuator part the continues to break, and most likely have replaced this several times. I was glad to see that KitchenAid finally redesigned a part hoping to solve this problem. Overall, installing the new part went well. The new part does require you to pull out your compactor from the cabinet so you have access. After removing the top and front panels, you'll replace the switch and then install the new pedal that activates the switch, needing to drill a couple holes to secure it. Other than that, it's very simple. Only advice is to read the instructions a couple times to get yourself familiar with what needs to be done...then you'll have a much easier time and feel more confident before you start.

Took out old gears replaced with new very easy with your dirictions.

Follow the included instructions carefully (read it all through first) and this was a quick and simple fix if you are reasonably handy with a screwdriver and drill. It took me about 45 mins. You have to pull the unit out from under the countertop and then remove a series of small screws in order to get behind the front panel. Putting in the new actuator switch was a little cumbersome simply because there are other wires you have to work around but it's still very straightforward. After you reinstall the front panel, you attach a new foot activated button that presses down on the new actuator switch. You have to drill 2 small holes in the front panel sheet metal to attach this new button but a perfectly sized paper template is provided and it worked great. Last easy step is to replace the rubber door sweep so that the new button can be accessed with your toe. In effect, the compactor is now operated by pressing your toe against the new button on the lower right side below the door. It is a nice improvement over the old method of lifting up on the lever that you normally step on to open the door. Easy to install.

To repair the o.e.m. actuator lever, Whirlpool supplies a redesigned actuator switch. It requires dis-assembly of the front panel which takes time since you must first remove the trash compactor from the cabinetry. Once the front panel is off and you've removed the old switch, installing the new switch requires drilling two holes. Do not use the recommended drill bit -use an oversize bit to match the core diameter of the new screws. The new switch works brilliantly if done right. It just takes time.

replaced the large gear and put it back together.

It was an updated revision part kit...and it went so smooth ....recommend that anyone looking to repair appliances utilize PartSelect....I know I will be ...Thank You

I attempted to fix the problems many time because of what I thought was a high cost. Your online reviews convinced me that it was well worth the cost. The instructions were very good and anyone who can read, use a screw drive, should be able to accomplish this job. It could be intimidating, but you can do it. And you will be glad. Follow the directions and you will have no problems.

bought new gears, pulled it out and replaced the gears. wasn't very hard. I did expect a jenn-air to be better built (plastic gears really!) but for 30 bucks it is all better.

The repair was a breeze, a piece of cake, a walk in the park, a day at the beach. The part arrived quickly and installation was fast and simple. A week earlier I had the misfortune of ordering these parts from another supplier. One of the parts obviously was not correct, so I called customer service. Although the operator was polite, she insisted that the part I received was the right one (even though it was 2 inches too narrow). I looked up the part at PartSelect.com and ordered it. It arrived the following day, and fit perfectly. Thanks, PartSelect.com.

I took the hex screws out with a nut driver and then punched out the role pin in the pinion gear (the little gear) and replaced it along with the large gear, less than 15 minutes. I was surprised how fast (day and a half) the parts were here.

Took the bent one out, put the new one in. The repair was not the story, the story was that we ordered the part on Monday afternoon and it was delivered on Tuesday! And the shipping was less than $8.00. Fresno to Elk Creek in less than 24 hours for that price was amazing!

We only had part of the model number and I was able to narrow it down to less than ten by using an SS as two of the last letters. I looked at the handles and counted the squares from one hole to the other for the size. It was perfect and installed in less than 5 minutes.

Replaced the limit switch. This did not alter the problem. Took off the On/Off/Start switch and dissasembled. I found the the Start switch was stuck in the on position. I reassembled the switch mechanism assuring that the Red "ON" indicator moldings were correctly positioned and reassembled everything. The Compactor now works properly. Need to add "Check the Start switch" to diagnosis.

Looking at the information I found online it was either one of 2 things the directional switch was bad, or the drive gear was broken. I replaced the directional switch 1st since that was the easiest and that did not solve my problem. I put it all back together and thought about it for a little while. After a couple of days. It occurred to me that I could see the ramrod's spinning as the plunger goes down, then when the plunger reached as far as it would go. The ramrod's would stop spinning. I reasoned that the problem had to be somewhere between the motor and those rods when I opened up the bottom of the trash compactor, Iran the cycle again and I could see that the drive gear was still spinning, but the chains to the ramrod's were not spinning. Once I saw that I realized that the sprocket that was attached to the drive gear had broken. The sprocket is metal and the drive gear is plastic and they fit together perfectly, but through age or stress. The plastic have become rounded and no longer fit perfect on that nut when you applied a good deal of pressure. I didn't have the tool that I needed to replace the small drive year. I think you need some kind of a punch to get that pin out. So I left that one in place loosened the nuts that hold the motor in place to create some slack in the chain chain came off the new drive gear one on. I tightened the motor back up in the correct position is reassembled everything and it's working perfect again.

Compactor ram was stuck in the down position after hearing a loud bang during a compacting cycle. Removed outer compactor casing to determine cause, only to find gear housing underneath the compactor that contained drive chain and gear assembly. Primary gear had split neatly in half. Determined the appropriate part needed with partselect part finder (of course, an entire kit, and not just the gear), had part shipped and had compactor repaired in three days. The actual repair and reassembly of the compactor took less than a half-hour. Consisted of removing chain tension from gear hub by loosening four sheet metal screws holding motor assembly, removing circlip and old gear hub from chain and shaft, replacing gear hub with new part, lubricating the gear mechanism, and reinstalling in reverse order.