Whirlpool dishwasher WDT730PAHB: Side mounting help

[buckyswider]

Hi all, installed a WDT730PAHB  dishwasher a few months ago.  Never complete the side mounting (it's a stone countertop) so finally getting around to it.  

Anyhow, I can't really figure this out.  It doesn't *quite* go back far enough into the cabinets to leave enough reveal on the cabinets to screw the brackets through to the cabinets (the red part of the cabinet in the pic is the cabinet door, not the frame).  I see in installation models for other models that there is a cutout in the sheet metal and a plastic plug inside the rim for one to remove the plug, and then drill a new hold in the bracket, screw from the inside of the d/w through the "plug hole" and through the bracket into the cabinet.  This d/w has the cutout in the sheet metal, but there is no plug on the plastic on the inside.  

Can I just drill through the plastic and leave an open hole?  Is that area "dry" by virtue of the door seal, or would I run into leakage problems later on?  I wonder why that plastic plug doesn't exist in this model?

And on a related note....I would *love* to mount this a little further out than I'm being forced to.  There's absolutely no indicators on the face of the unit- only on the top edge, which is totally hidden under the countertop lip when it's placed this far back.  I guess that's what you get when your d/w breaks in the middle of a supply-constrained pandemic and the choices of black appliances are few and far between....

[Terry Carmen]

See figure 37 on page 17 of the installation instructions. It shows where to break off the mounting tab for a plastic or stainless tub.

I would not be drilling holes in the tub, but make sure you pre-drill the holes in the cabinet for the side mount. Otherwise there's a really good chance of splitting the wood.

If the dishwasher won't go back far enough, the hoses and/or wires aren't routed properly.

[Stanton]

I'm having the same problem with my Whirlpool dishwasher, model WDP540HAMZ. I have broken off the mounting tab, so the holes on the mounting tab line up with where the holes should be on the dishwasher, but there are no holes in the tub of the dishwasher. There are holes in the frame, but not in the plastic tub. As I've looked through forums, I have seen this question asked a few different times but have yet to see a complete answer. The replies always refer the OP to the user manual or an installation video. Problem is that both the installation manual and the installation videos assume that you have a hole in the tub. There is no hole in the tub. It seems like the only option is to drill holes. Are there plugs you can buy for the holes once they are drilled? Thanks!

[Terry Carmen]

3 hours ago, Stanton said:

WDP540HAMZ

You broke the tabs off too far back. The scoring line for metal and plastic tubs is different and is listed in the installation instructions.

You can replace the mounting tabs. They're part number WP8269145.

[SheriG]

One side mount screw fell out and it’s clear that the particle board right there has held too many dishwashers over the years. Are there an alternate holes in the dishwasher so we can simply move the side mount brackets up or down, or is this going to be more complicated? 

[Terry Carmen]

18 hours ago, SheriG said:

Are there an alternate holes in the dishwasher so we can simply move the side mount brackets up or down, or is this going to be more complicated? 

I don't believe there are alternate side holes. If the cabinets were solid wood, you could stuff in some toothpicks and elmer's glue then screw in the dishwasher, but with particleboard, usually the particleboard just cracks more.

You can try something like this: It doesn't re-use the same side holes: https://www.lowes.com/pd/EASTMAN-Universal-Dishwasher-Mounting-Kit-Countertop-Mount/1001421324

 

[SheriG]

One side mount screw fell out and it’s clear that the particle board right there has held too many dishwashers over the years. Are there an alternate holes in the dishwasher so we can simply move the side mount brackets up or down, or is this going to be more complicated? 

[SheriG]

Whoops don’t know how I reposted my same question! There’s just granite immediately above the dishwasher. Amazon sells an adhesive top mount bracket which everyone says doesn’t work as it but does if you glue it yourself. Getting involved with the granite at all seems scary but maybe I’m just being a chicken. How will it come off and what are the residual effects when it’s time to replace this dishwasher?

Would it be a nightmare to repair the hole in the particle board with plastic wood or something then just remount the same way?

Had called Lowe’s first and appliance guy said there was an adhesive bracket that can mount anywhere along side but I’m not seeing anything like that

[SheriG]

This thing is the glue one

https://www.amazon.com/Granite-Grabbers-Dishwasher-Mounting-Brackets/dp/B002UQ107O/ref=sr_1_2?crid=D4LVYUWI6UAY&keywords=Dishwasher+replacement+adhesive+mount&qid=1702137717&sprefix=dishwasher+replacement+adhesive+mount%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-2