TF4500XLP0 Whirlpool Trash Compactor - Instructions

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

changed out the big gear that was broken

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.

I removed 3 screws from the back and 2 smaller screws from the sides. I removed the broken handle, installed the new handle and inserted the 3 screws. The 3 screw hole aligned perfectly. The replacement part did not have predrilled holes for the 2 side screws so I drilled the holes and inserted the 2 smaller screws. Job done in short time.

took longer to pull it out and put it backunder the counter then to pull the panel take the chane gear & drive gear off and put it back together

very easy to fix. all it took was pulling the compactor out to unplug,take off the removable front nob, unscrew two screws located just below the front panel.using needle nose pliers to remove the actual switch, unplug the wires conected to the switch and put the new one on the same way. It almost took me longer to write this discription than it took to fix!

Removed panel and replaced it...

Replaced handle. Very Easy.

The repair was simple and expensive for a little piece of plastic that was the wrong color and only color available. We have a white trash compactor and had to order a black one. The hardest and most time consuming part of the repair was painting the handle. In order to paint a Black Plastic handle white we had to use special primer and special paint. Before using the primer, we had to wash the plastic handle with paint thinner, then rinse and let dry completely. Other than the cost and the aggravation, it was fine. And it was less than buying a new one. : )

take 2 screws out on top cover with key switch. remove two screw holding directional switch. remove wires, one at a time, and place on the new switch. put new switch in place with two screws. put front cover on with two screws and test. works like a charm.

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.

Followed PartsSelect instructions, the Compactor was appoximately $1000. when I purchased it. The kit was $26.14. I will forever be a customer of this company. Thank you, Brian

Used visuals from partselect web site to dismantle the trash compactor , remove broken power nut , order new nuts. Only took a few days to receive new nuts. Replaced nuts , put back together and now works fine.

Ordered three parts, however if I had read your repair page more thoroughly I could have avoided buying the top of cycle off switch. Oh well... This thirty year old trash compactor is back in business running like a new one. My one recommendation? READ YOUR FAQ PAGE. It will save you money.dan

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 .