KUCS02FRSS0 KitchenAid Trash Compactor - Instructions

After reading on your site how easily this problem was solved, we ordered part, received it in 5 days, and truly just screwed into place. Compacted immediately!

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

provide or encourage a 1/4" box wrench and a Phillips screw driver along with drill and appropriate drill bit. Tape to hold in place template before drilling...critically helpfull

This is the third time that I have had to repair the actuator on this unit. The first two times I did it, it was a really simple fix-two screws and done. And it was inexpensive. However, obviously this fix didn't last because the piece of spring metal kept breaking. Fortunately, Kitchen Aid redesigned the actuator to use a new pedal mechanism and a different type of switch. This new actuator seems much beefier and I expect it will last for the life of the unit. The bad news is it is a pretty complex fix. Disconnect power, slide unit out, remove the top, remove the front panel, remove the switch and the old actuator, drill two new holes in the front panel and install the actuator, reinstall the panels and the new kick plate, slide the unit back in, level the unit and attach it to other cabinets, reconnect power. It was about as hard to do this part install as it is to install a new compactor. If you can install a compactor, you can install this part.

I removed the unit from under the kitchen counter by first pulling the trash drawer all the way out and lifting it out of the track and setting it out on the floor. I then slowly pulled the compacting unit out and unplugged the cord from the electrical outlet. With the entire unit out in the floor I took a nut driver and removed the screws from the top plate and the screws from both sides at the bottom of the front housing. This allowed access to the directional switch. Two screws on the right side of the switch have to be removed to remove the switch along with two holding plates on the left side of the switch. The switch can then be accesses for removal. Several wires are attached to the switch and should be removed one at a time and installed to the identical identical location on the new switch. The new switch can then be installed by aligning the holes and reinstalling the holding plates. When this is done the front frame and top plate can be replaced with the nut screws. Plug back into the electrical outlet and see if it works. In this case it did exactly what it was doing before I started. So either I did not reinstall the directional switch properly or I am in the one percent rather than the 99 percent that should successfully solve the problem as suggested in the trouble shooting guide. I will now recheck the installation of the directional switch nd then check the bottom of the unit to see if the gears or chain drive are broken .

I had replaced the actuator lever several times before and was very happy to see that they finally fixed an obvious design flaw. The installation of the modification kit is fairly involved and does require removing the compactor and partially disassembling it. However, the instructions provided are very clear and the job was completed with no complications. The fix they have devised looks like it will permanantly fix the issue. I'm very happy not to have to deal with the broken actuator issue ever again.

All I really needed to do was to take the front facing off and put on the new container, but I took the opportunity to do a complete overhaul and cleaning. It now work like a new compactor.

I installed the new bracket, however not the new switch that came with the kit as the old switch was fine. The one key which threw me for several hours is, you must replace the switch, located in the compactor. The new switch is normally open when compressed, the old switch is closed when compressed.

Pull unit from under counter (Held in place with 2 screws) Use nut driver to remove top and front panel. (I didn't remove the control panel from the front panel which probably made access more difficult) Locate the directional switch near the top of the unit and remove two screws, being careful not to lose a small metal plate into which the screws thread (similar to a Tinneman nut). I moved the wires one at a time from the old switch to the new as I am color blind and have trouble with wire colors. Fit the new switch in place, being sure the switch lever is positioned against the metal tab that operates it. Screw the switch in place and then reassemble the compactor.

The instructions were pretty straight forward. I did not expect to receive the foot pedal and switch as mine was still ok. However, I find that everything works with less effort than before. I did have to trim the new toe guard as it hit the actuator button when opening and closing the compactor.

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.

After removing the compactor from under the counter, and unplugging it, I did the disassembly. The replacement parts were easy to install. Two holes had to be drilled to mount the switch, but that was not difficult. Overall, the instructions were easy to follow and the parts all fit.

Went well but took time. Instructions adequate but not detailed.

This replacement kit did solve the problem but required replacement of a number of parts because the switch and actuator functionality had been redesigned. Fitting the kit of parts requires that you have to slide the compactor away and out of its location (might be a bit tricky if it's beautifully integrated into a designer kitchen)so as to remove the front cover. Some heavy leather gloves could be helpful here since there are several sharp edges on the pressed steel carcase of the unit. Once free the kit replacement is relatively easy (for the average handyman/woman), following the simple instructions provided. You will need to drill two new holes in the front plate (template provided) so an electric drill and a sharp drill bit (for metal) will be needed. Most important - the kit worked; and with a more reliable component than that replaced.

followed the instruction sheet. Instructions should be expanded to tell novice more about each step. Instructions should point out that the old switch is not easy to remove, and may break during removal. Instructions should point out importance of noting which of the two switch wires are connected to which temminal on the new switch. Instructions should warn installer that the metal console and compactor frame are very sharp and can cut hands and fingers-use gloves during switch removal and re-installation. Instructions should note that drill size should be larger. I used 7/64", and still needed to enlarge hole for screws to insert. Instructions need to emphasize that the new actuator pedal assembly screws supplied have a very small phillips head slot. If the hole drilled is not large enough, there is a possibility of stripping the screw slot.