How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6012229 / WP8268340 Spray Arm Bearing

Replaced the upper spray arm seal 

I want to thank those people who wrote their story about their dishwasher. My Kenmore dishwasher stopped cleaning the dishes and left a film on the dishes. Also the top shelf hardly had any water to it when the cycle stopped. My soap dispenser would not empty completely. The soap dispenser on the door would open ok, but at the end of the cycle there was still 1/3 of the soap left in the dispenser. I ordered the Chopper Assembly, replaced it and my dishwasher works like it did when it was new (its 13 yrs old). Also thank you for the very good video on how to replace the Chopper Assembly. I am a very happy customer! 

The old sprayer hub had worn to where one side was worn through and the other edge was still almost as thick as the new one. I think the sprayarm bearing had worn through at some point and was no longer providing protection between the moving parts. I replaced both parts and the dishes seem to be much cleaner. Another forum mentioned that water pressure could be lost through 'gaps' like that and cleaning would be effected. I also had to clean soap scum out of some of the ports on the middle spray arm. This allowed the arm to spin better during cleaning. Another item I replaced was the spray tube that goes up the back of the tube and has the flapper valves for the center rack in it. Those had become calcified and would not close anymore allowing water pressure for the center spray arm to be lost. Replacing the flapper valves seemed to help with cleaning as well. Dishes come out nice and clean now. I also fixed a minor leak near the front right-side of the door. I had to tighten the large plastic nut that holds the float assembly in. It was about 3/4 to 1 turn loose and caused the leak. Tightening the nut cured the leak. 

Fix went fine. Found a piece of a frying pan handle lodged under the accumulator assembly. Removed and noise fixed. Your video was extremely helpful in showing exactly how to disassemble without damaging various plastic parts! 

Looked up the symptoms on the Internet. Seems like a good cleaning of the dishwasher was in order. This included the inside as well as removing the cover on the bottom of the dishwasher to clean out screens and the food grinder. It was simple. Just need some patience. 

Chopper screen was completely blocked. Chopper blades separated from the shaft. Retainer ring came off of the shaft but was able to re install the chopper assembly. Worked fine after cleaning the screen and reassembly the lower spray arm. Lower spray arm hub tab broke when removing so purchased a new one with a new bearing. Appliance Part Pros video was excellent and very helpful. 

Discovered stripped threads on lower spray arm and replaced it with a new one. Also replaced spray arm seal,spray arm bearing,spinner kit,and food chopper. (chopper was clogged) Now it works like new! 

First time I took it apart and cleaned out the filter and debris under the screen. Still didn't clean properly so I realized I needed to look at the chopper assembly. That was mangled and not even attached to the motor shaft. Watched several youtube videos that gave me enough info to proceed. I did need to buy a special star shaped socket set. Needed t15 and t20 I believe. 

I replaced the spray arm seal and center manifold. The old seal looked slightly worn and the old manifold mating/spinning surface was thinned out. 

I found the parts that I needed through your website. Part of the order arrived within a few days. The balance of the parts did not arrive after two weeks, so I called customer service with my order number and they arrived within a few days. I will definitely be back. Thank you.