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Jammed KitchenAid Trash Compactor.
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!
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
All 4 compactor buttons were missing. The bag kept getting pulled down when we'd run the compactor.
I just used the accompanying screw to attach the buttons to the 4 holes in the drawer. Simple stuff.
I do think I read that the Jenn-Air bags used to come with precut holes, and the bag wold slide over the buttons, holding it in place. I jus get the bag lined up and pulled over the drawer, and cut the holes myself. It works perfectly.
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
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.
1)Pulled the unit out remove the top and bottom covers. 2)Disconnected the drive chain by removing the sproket from the motor. 3)Unscrewed the drive rod on the side that worked and removed the ram. 4)Reassembled and used the bin for trash while waiting for the part. 5)The nut came with clips included (this was not noted in the order but is vital) removed the stripped nut by breaking the old clips. 6)Installed the new nut, clips on the ram. 7)Installed the ram onto both drive screws. I had to hold the 'top sensor' switch up to reverse the screws to lower the ram. 8)Rinstalled the top and the appliance. 2 thru 4 dealing witht the chain, sproket and screw were fairly complicated operations.
Pushed button, made a buzzing noise, nothing happened.
Laid compactor over on its side. REMOVED 5 SCREWS holding cover plate to expose gear drive. Found that large drive broke in half. Used screwdriver to start split ring then pliers to pull it off the rest of the way.Take off the washer . Next I needed to losten the 4 nuts holding the drive motor. This allowed me to slip the rest of the drive gear off the drive shaft. It was then a simple matter to put the new gear back on the chain then slide the whole thing back on the drive shaft. Replace the washer then slip the split ring back in place and seat it home with the pliers. Retighten 4 nuts on motor support. Put cover back on with 5 screws 2 in front 3 in back Pushed button it worked.I must mention that this was a Sears compactor but when I went to their online parts they no longer supported it. I found Part select and they suggested I look at a Kitchenaid compactor and after checking out the picture it looked the same,Iordered the part and it was the same. Thanks I guess I'll come to you first now.