When cleaning out our dishwasher recently I removed the lower spray
arm, which clicked out easily. Since putting the thing back together
though I have noticed that the things in the lower basket do not clean
properly and after removing the lower spray arm once more I can see
that there is a gap going around the connector where I might expect a
rubber seal to go. If this has broken it may explain why the things
in the bottom of the dishwashers are not being cleaned as water may
the escaping and the pressure of the spray may not be enough.

Does anyone know if it is usual for dishwashers to have rubber seals
around the connectors for the spray arms?

Cheers,

Dave.

wrote in message
...
When cleaning out our dishwasher recently I removed the lower spray
arm, which clicked out easily. Since putting the thing back together
though I have noticed that the things in the lower basket do not clean
properly and after removing the lower spray arm once more I can see
that there is a gap going around the connector where I might expect a
rubber seal to go. If this has broken it may explain why the things
in the bottom of the dishwashers are not being cleaned as water may
the escaping and the pressure of the spray may not be enough.

Does anyone know if it is usual for dishwashers to have rubber seals
around the connectors for the spray arms?

Seals, yes, rubber no.
You have probably lost a nylon thrust washer, have you checked the filter?
Did you clean the arm and wash junk down into the jets?

In article ,
writes:
When cleaning out our dishwasher recently I removed the lower spray
arm, which clicked out easily. Since putting the thing back together
though I have noticed that the things in the lower basket do not clean
properly and after removing the lower spray arm once more I can see
that there is a gap going around the connector where I might expect a
rubber seal to go. If this has broken it may explain why the things
in the bottom of the dishwashers are not being cleaned as water may
the escaping and the pressure of the spray may not be enough.

Does anyone know if it is usual for dishwashers to have rubber seals
around the connectors for the spray arms?

Never that I've seen. The friction would stop the spray arm
going round. Check the holes in the arm aren't blocked,
particularly any on the sides or angled ones which propell it round.
Check it spins freely by hand -- that's a good thing to check
when you've loaded the machine and are just about to switch it
on. Check it's going around. Sometimes you can hear it, otherwise
open the door a few times (not too quickly or you'll get sprayed)
and make sure the arm isn't always in the same position.
(Dishwasher detergent is corrosive -- wipe up any splashes and
wash it off yourself.)

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 09:38:10 UTC, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

(Dishwasher detergent is corrosive -- wipe up any splashes and
wash it off yourself.)

Just to add...friend of mine works in a burns unit and they get quite a
few cases due to this stuff!

--
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http://www.diybanter.com

Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
writes:
When cleaning out our dishwasher recently I removed the lower spray
arm, which clicked out easily. Since putting the thing back together
though I have noticed that the things in the lower basket do not clean
properly and after removing the lower spray arm once more I can see
that there is a gap going around the connector where I might expect a
rubber seal to go. If this has broken it may explain why the things
in the bottom of the dishwashers are not being cleaned as water may
the escaping and the pressure of the spray may not be enough.

Does anyone know if it is usual for dishwashers to have rubber seals
around the connectors for the spray arms?

Never that I've seen. The friction would stop the spray arm
going round. Check the holes in the arm aren't blocked,
particularly any on the sides or angled ones which propell it round.

Agreed - and if all that checks out it's worth running a wash cycle with
one of those "dishwasher cleaner" tablets or bottles. Poor performance
can often be simply the result of grease and crud building up unseen in
pipes etc, so you should rule that out.

David