a plastic bag got caught around the screw and the flange on the nut broke so it couldn,t raise one side so the door was jamed at an angle
I pulled the unit out and tipped it over . I pulled the pan off the bottom then i could put a box end wrench on the screw that was jamed then tuned the screw to loosen the door . i then removed the plastic bag that was wrapped around the screw and put the new nut on and all fixed
Unscrewed old one. Slide new one in. Screwed in two screws. Done. The handle ended up being black, even though the part was listed as brown.... that is good, because the original part was black. So glad you had the part. It was pricey, but way less than a new trash compactor!
Removed two screws on back of pull out door. Pulled up on handle, came out easily, slide the new one in, replaced the screws and done. Less than 5 minute repair.
Remove the compactor drawer. Remove the front cover from the controls. TAKE A PHOTO OF THE WIRING TO THE EXISTING SWITCH! Remove the screw from the side of the switch and pull the switch out from the machine. You have to look very carefully at the switch to see the color labels on each prong of the switch. Attach gray wire to top prong (GR), red wire to middle prong (R) and so forth. Compare your work to the photo you took. Replace the switch, front plate and drawer. IT WORKS. YAY. Warning, my husband is dyslexic and attached the wires in reverse order and the compactor did not run at all. So, be sure you match wire to label.
REMOVE COMPACTOR DRAWER REMOVE SCREWS ON FACE PLATE REMOVE SCREW NUTS ON PART (SOCKET) SAVE HOLDING PLATE WITH SCREW NUTS TAKE PICTURE OF WIRE CONECTIONS (IN CASE OF POOR RECALL USE PLYERS TO PULL CONECTOR OFF OLD SWITCH REVERS INSTALL TOTAL 25 MINUTES
took appliance out of cabinet, found the problem to be two nuts on the big screw bars that drive the compaction machine up and down. These things were wore out. We replaced them and turn the electricity back on and tried the compactor and it worked perfect. Of course here was to top cover that had to be removed and reinstalled . all in all it wasn't to difficult. A new machine cost 1100 dollars. This old one bought in 1988 cost 350 dollars. so thank God this fixed it.
Removed drawer Pulled out from cabinet Unplugged power cord Removed top cover Removed front panel Put front on 2x4 block Unscrewed leveling legs Used 9/16" socket to remove old rollers Installed new rollers installed front panel installed top panel Plugged in electric cord slid back into cabinet inserted drawer tested Works as good as new
With nothing in the KitchenAid Instructions nor anything on the internet… I had to go it alone. Actually quite simple… I laid the unit over on its front and removed the 5 screws holding on the bottom plate. This exposed the motor and drive train which turns the two compacting screws on each side. The main drive gear was broken. Taking a wrench to the main drive… I was able to free up the jam… a piece of glass from a broken bottle.
I went to the internet and did a search on KitchenAid Trash Compactor Parts and discovered PartSelect.com… They had me enter the Model Number of my unit and a parts diagram and list came up… I found the gear I needed… ordered it and in two days it was here. Instructions came with the gear on replacement and in no time I was back in business.
I was impressed with the simplicity of KitchenAid’s Compactor, and the ease in which I was able to get my part from PartSelect.com!
Only needed a flat blade screwdriver and a socket set to remove the top and the "cages" that held the power nuts. Failed to properly restrain the ram but didn't effect the repair. Installed the new power nuts outside of the unit then placed the ram assembly on the worm screws and all was well. Applied grease to the worm screws after assembly.
Once I discovered that the ram was down, I had to determine why. Opened up the bottom and discoverer the drive gear was broken. Ordered the parts kit and made the repair. Did not know what the other parts in the kit were for, but it works.