Dishwasher Circulation Pump Repair Part II: One Year Later

Just over a year ago, I repaired and attempted to improve my dishwasher circulation pump. I've had a lot of people asking how it was holding up, so today I took it back apart to assess things and do a bit more tinkering on it.

[shiningstar]

I watched the original video and now this update and I am very impressed! There is no way I could ever fix the problem that you fixed and I wish all parts were made as well as your fix. Thank you for sharing!

[JeremyBage]

I watched this video more than a year ago trying to fix my dishwasher. It is still running great but I went a different route than anyone else that I have seen online. I found stainless steel flange bearings that fit in the o-rings just like the graphite bushings. Part# SMF105-ZZ, 5x10x4mm. The bearings flange isn’t as thick as the original bushings so I cut nylon spacers (1/2”x.194x1 before cutting)to account for the difference.

[franbenson]

I want to thank you for the repair videos as my dishwashers is doing the same thing. I don’t have a lathe so i will be buying bearings to repair. I can’t believe some SOB would make comments about your kitchen, didn’t they come here to learn how to repair their machine? Please don’t get discouraged with this crap as for most of us are very appreciative of your videos which take much time to create. You could have just fixed your machine and posted nothing!!! Thanks, Fran

[gene]

My whirlpool dishwasher just crapped the bed. I am a aircraft mechanic and thought how hard can this be? so I troubleshot it down to a bad circulation pump. I was looking for the procedures required to replace it myself( youtube is great). Great video I just ordered the bearings off your link. TNX for the help and doing all the legwork. And for the record my wife was watching the video and commented to me "his kitchen is filthy" then you came out on the next followup video and commented "some dick called my kitchen dirty" CLASSIC karma I call her out :)

[carlosmacia]

Awesome video. We used your information to take our pump apart as we were experiencing the same issue and we found the impeller completely loose inside. The threads were all worn out probably caused by an incorrectly installed impeller at the factory (not tight enough) - poor quality control, Whirlpool. Since we couldn't purchase the impeller separately (a shame) we had to order a new pump from ebay for $62. Thanks for taking the time to make and post these great videos.

[anthonybunniss]

I machined 2 bushings out of a solid bar of oilite bronze material. I purchased a 5 MM reamer which made the bore about a half thousand over the shaft size. The shaft isn't exactly 5 MM but oilite is difficult to machine to tight tolerances but I lucked out and it has been working fine.

[rwsjr]

Same exact problem, less than four year old dishwasher. I’ve already purchased a replacement part but will retain the old part for possible repair. You should consider selling those replacement bushings on eBay as there does seem to be a market. Even with a markup, these would be less expensive and more durable than replacing the entire component.

[chrisdooley]

Just thought I would add a data point. I went through the same process as you, except my first fix was bushings made out of a set of brass speaker posts (what happens when you pull stuff apart at 10PM just to take a look and then start ransacking your junk drawers for kludge parts). Like you, I eventually got around to making something out of bronze, but that was because I experienced a second failure. The second go round, I didn't put the kick plate back on right away. Without the soundproofing, I heard the root cause, which was an intermittent failure of the diverter pump. When the diverter got stuck between positions, the back pressure set up a cavitation wobble that eventually toasted the bushings.

[sewndebisdream]

Youre so talented! Your kitchen wasn't bad at all. Looked clean. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!

[nguresearch]

Thank you for the great videos analyzing the source of the problem and working through possible solutions. Great you did a 1-year later video.

[barrettpeterson]

Great news guys, I found a temporary fix for the graphite bearings. It thought about just rotating the bearings 180 degrees so the magnet would pull the shaft into a area of the bearing that is not worn. I pulled the bearings out and reinstalled them with the worn spot (has lots of scratches, measures thinner with callipers) away from the stationary magnet. The bearings were a little tough to get out. I used a large screw like the Youtube guy. It chipped a little. I had to get the bearing wet to get it to go back in with the rubber o-ring. It worked! I have been running the dishwasher for 2 days now. I am not sure how long it will work but this fix was free.

[pyrokamileon]

We moved into our house about a year-and-a-half ago and the dishwasher has never worked, I did not feel it was a big issue though because I'm used to doing dishes by hand which is how we used to do it in the apartment before we bought our house. Anyways I recently decided to take a look at a dishwasher and this pump seems to be our current issue, after replacing a clogged and horribly gunked up drainage hose that is! Thank you very much for documenting your adventure with this dishwasher because it seems like I am in the same scenario, I don't know how well I will be able to mimic your path and all this but I am an amateur DIYer myself and I love watching other people's adventures and how they get things done! Thanks again 👍🏼

[JasonSmith-qxzh]

They need to put you on their board for substantial improvement repairs of appliance and maintenance, cause with yur video they can really see how important it is to make quality inter main parts.

Cool ! Can you please make me a pair of those amazing bronze bushing for a fair price ?

[Davek]

Thanks a lot man I used 2 of the plastic bearings we will see but it's working now.

[kenheavlow]

Just found your video and it made me think. Same exact issue with the bearing. I did find the motor assembly on amazon for ~$50. After putting in the new pump in, it didn’t work. After countless rechecks on how I put it in, I came to the conclusion the new unit was faulty. So I thought, try taking the bad part off old and replacing with the part from the new. The old pump worked but just got stuck. So I switch out the grey housing of old and new. Old drive mechanism and new pump housing. Guess what is working.

Awesome job on the bearings, why wouldn’t they make it the correct way in the first place.

[misterthilo]

I'm very fortunate to have a friend with his own machine shop at his house and a stick of brass. He made me a couple brass bushings per your recommendations. I had ovaled out graphite ones and a scuff on the housing just like you had. Things look much better on the inside now. Reassembled everything and turned it on - water leaked everywhere! I think I didn't do a very good job of reassembly, I'll have to try it out later on another day. Also left the motor gasket at his house, so darn.

[itsmeee]

Thanks for the videos! I ran across you when my 2 year old Whirlpool dishwasher (builder installed) died. I was so tempted to just buy something nicer but the idea of throwing something so new into the trash was eating me up. I ended up just replacing the pump but this video really helped me understand what was probably going on inside and next time if it happens again I'll take it apart and see if I can make a more permanent fix like you did.

[anotheruser]

Thank you for the instruction Sir! I have now repaired mine and it's a whirrin' in the background. Unable to go without a dishwasher waiting for parts I kludged it differently. First, my impeller was heavily scarred and scored especially at the front end bushing and needed strong polishing on a drill press with 2000 grit paper. I purchased a 3/16" id 1/4" od x 3/4" long 'aluminum spacer' at 'the hardware store', cut off 2ea approx. 1/4" long pieces, de burred and tapered one end, drilled out the carbon bushings to 5/16" (removed the egged out portions), lubed with lithium grease, and with the spacers on the impeller shaft pressed them into place. Was too tight initially so more persuasion was applied. Extremely ghetto but now I have time to figure out how to order the 3D printed parts mention elsewhere in the comments.

[jackh]

Super, straightforward and very helpful video.
Thank you