Kitchen aid mixer

[EatenByLimestone]

This happened when I was mixing dough a bit ago. It doesn’t make noises that loud with small loads like banana bread and such.

I decided I didn’t want to tip toe around bread making any more and see what’s actually happening in there.

YouTube came through again! There’s a channel called MrMixer where he shows how to pull the mixers apart and put them back together. He sells the replacement parts too, at what looks like a decent markup, but I’m thankful for the videos! There’s no telling what it’d cost to send a mixer off, parts and labor, then get it back. The guy has to eat too! This mixer was a wedding present. That makes it 20 years old. I don’t want to buy a new one!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Wondering about my life choices… what did I get myself into, lol

 

[EatenByLimestone]

There was only one wearable, non metal gear in there. It only shows a little wear. I guess I really over loaded it, lol.

The guy said to watch out for the sharp drive gear. He was right!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I’m going to regrease with white lithium and put it back together for now. Parts aren’t expensive. I think I’ll pick up an assembly for $50 and a new, spare gear for $25. I’ll drop the new assembly in and then fix the old one. If the gears are that sensitive, I may be swapping them often now that I’m kneading dough. It’d probably take me an hour to swap them out now that I know what’s involved.

Google shows the gears much cheaper, but the guy did go through the trouble to show me how to fix this. No idea if the gears are the same quality either.

 

[Whitenuckler]

This happened when I was mixing dough a bit ago. It doesn’t make noises that loud with small loads like banana bread and such.

I decided I didn’t want to tip toe around bread making any more and see what’s actually happening in there.

YouTube came through again! There’s a channel called MrMixer where he shows how to pull the mixers apart and put them back together. He sells the replacement parts too, at what looks like a decent markup, but I’m thankful for the videos! There’s no telling what it’d cost to send a mixer off, parts and labor, then get it back. The guy has to eat too! This mixer was a wedding present. That makes it 20 years old. I don’t want to buy a new one!

I remember them going on sale about 20 years ago. I bought one as a present also.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I’m going to regrease with white lithium and put it back together for now. Parts aren’t expensive. I think I’ll pick up an assembly for $50 and a new, spare gear for $25. I’ll drop the new assembly in and then fix the old one. If the gears are that sensitive, I may be swapping them often now that I’m kneading dough. It’d probably take me an hour to swap them out now that I know what’s involved.

Google shows the gears much cheaper, but the guy did go through the trouble to show me how to fix this. No idea if the gears are the same quality either.

Is that food grade grease?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

White lithium was recommended. If it was food grade, it’s old enough that it wouldn’t be now.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It’s a good point though. I’ll order some and strip it down again when the parts come in.

 

[begreen]

White lithium was recommended. If it was food grade, it’s old enough that it wouldn’t be now.

Not an issue. The grease should in no way come in contact with the food. It is compartmentalized in the head of the mixer.

I've dealt with a few of these mixers in our community Fix-It Cafés. They are well-made and nicely serviceable. We have come across a couple that had factory defects, but have been able to repair with workarounds.

 

[Duds13]

My wife had one that was pretty old and got very loud while mixing then the gears eventually stopped. Ordered some new parts and replaced what I thought was the issue but couldn't get it fixed. Ended up replacing it. The new ones are much lighter so we're not expecting it to last nearly as long. Time will tell.

 

[kborndale]

I feel like kitchen aide is quite overpriced. I have a Cuisinart stand mixer which is basically the same. KitchenAid attachments fit it. I've had it over 5 years and it gets quite a bit of use and is still working good as new. A new KitchenAid goes for $500 while the Cuisinart is $250. Often times you are just paying a premium for the name.

 

[Duds13]

I feel like kitchen aide is quite overpriced. I have a Cuisinart stand mixer which is basically the same. KitchenAid attachments fit it. I've had it over 5 years and it gets quite a bit of use and is still working good as new. A new KitchenAid goes for $500 while the Cuisinart is $250. Often times you are just paying a premium for the name.

The 4.5 quart Kitchenaid is $279

 

[kborndale]

The 4.5 quart Kitchenaid is $279

I'm comparing the two 5.5 quart models.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I'm comparing the two 5.5 quart models.

General PDP Template

www.canadiantire.ca

I bought a couple of the Kitchenaid ones on sale at Sears 20 odd years ago. These sort of things you only buy on sale. Half price is a good sale.

 

[Dajolu]

Should these things be serviced/re-greased at any particular intervals? Or do you wait till it starts making noise? Ha. I have had mine for probably 12 years. Doesn’t get used to much. A few times a month I guess.

 

[EbS-P]

I was given a refurbished 6 qt for my 21 st birthday 22 years ago. It has seen its fair share of hard work as the family kept growing. Now it won’t do enough dough for a pizza night. But I really tried for a few years. It walked it self off the counter more than one. The head need to be reinstalled on the stand with lock tight. It’s been relegated to back up 6qt mixer. I guess now I could make enough dough for pizza night.

As long as you don’t burn up the motor and switch they last a long time. You might try the new spiral dough hook?

 

[Whitenuckler]

Should these things be serviced/re-greased at any particular intervals? Or do you wait till it starts making noise? Ha. I have had mine for probably 12 years. Doesn’t get used to much. A few times a month I guess.

If it is really hot when you use it, and the grease is really leaking out, then you could repack the gears. Other than that, try not to overload it. The old Kitchenaids probably had 1000W motors, and all metal gears, but I'm sure these days they have 350W motors and plastic gears.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Not an issue. The grease should in no way come in contact with the food. It is compartmentalized in the head of the mixer.

I've dealt with a few of these mixers in our community Fix-It Cafés. They are well-made and nicely serviceable. We have come across a couple that had factory defects, but have been able to repair with workarounds.

You are forgetting that they leak grease. I know that for sure as ours leaks.

"
Why Food-Safe Grease is Necessary

• Incidental Contact: Due to the design of stand mixers, there is a possibility of grease migrating from the gears into the mixing bowl, especially if the mixer is old or heavily used.
• Safety Standards: The industry standard for this application is NSF H1 certified grease, which means it is safe for use in food processing environments where incidental contact with food may occur. It is harmless if accidentally consumed in small, FDA-prescribed quantities.
• Non-toxic: Standard industrial greases (like H2 lubricants) are not suitable because they can contain ingredients that are not safe for consumption if they come into contact with food. "

 

[Whitenuckler]

You are forgetting that they leak grease. I know that for sure as ours leaks.

"
Why Food-Safe Grease is Necessary

• Incidental Contact: Due to the design of stand mixers, there is a possibility of grease migrating from the gears into the mixing bowl, especially if the mixer is old or heavily used.
• Safety Standards: The industry standard for this application is NSF H1 certified grease, which means it is safe for use in food processing environments where incidental contact with food may occur. It is harmless if accidentally consumed in small, FDA-prescribed quantities.
• Non-toxic: Standard industrial greases (like H2 lubricants) are not suitable because they can contain ingredients that are not safe for consumption if they come into contact with food. "

https://www.hubert.ca/product/PEO.321683?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19683253425&gbraid=0AAAAAD_hm41rVJJsJipd90FcEq3sm1B_e&gclid=CjwKCAiA64LLBhBhEiwA-PxguwvvJgP24bsPjghBQF26XGxUm7gsupQZtGrbAYZ7dL1kzPDNbjd8aBoCxZsQAvD_BwE

Here is my tube for brewing beer.

Probably the reason they will leak is due to the food safe grease.

 

[begreen]

In other words, Vaseline petroleum jelly?

FWIW, we've owned a couple Kitchen Aid mixers with zero leakage. I also haven't seen this on those that I have repaired. If they did leak I would also be concerned about microparticles of metal and plastic in that grease.

You are forgetting that they leak grease. I know that for sure as ours leaks.

Sounds like seals need replacement. I would do that asap.

 

[begreen]

Looking this up, I found this is the grease recommended by Whirlpool and Kitchen Aid for their mixers.

MicroLubrol Gear and Bearing Grease for Kitchen Mixers 4oz Jar 114g Jar

MICROLUBROL® Gear and Bearing Grease is a grease suitable for gear mechanisms in kitchen food processing equipment.

www.microlubrol.com

 

[Whitenuckler]

In other words, Vaseline petroleum jelly?

FWIW, we've owned a couple Kitchen Aid mixers with zero leakage. I also haven't seen this on those that I have repaired. If they did leak I would also be concerned about microparticles of metal and plastic in that grease.

Sounds like seals need replacement. I would do that asap.

To be honest I never worried about it. I just made sure to store in on a piece of cardboard. It could have been the bearings too leaking. They would also be food grade bearings. We are just talking about a small discharge not a pool.

 

[begreen]

Could be as simple as the Oring at the base of the shaft needs replacing. There's also a drip ring on the planetary gear.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The upper gear box is pretty well gasketed, but it does leak. That’s why they have that little chrome ring around it. There’s also an eccentric that moves the paddle around the bowl. That one isn’t sealed. I think the grease separates with age, and if it gets hot, I bet the heat helps it too.

If I don’t find the durability I want, I’ll pick up a commercial Zacme.

https://www.amazon.com/ZACME-8-4QT-Commercial-Mixer-Certified/dp/B08V5BFLRY/ref=asc_df_B08V5BFLRY?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539427790201&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=104838&hvtargid=pla-4584138897631141&psc=1&msclkid=6b2e888408be1e61e809e1e5718f2f58

 

[Whitenuckler]

Could be as simple as the Oring at the base of the shaft needs replacing. There's also a drip ring on the planetary gear.

Well, I don't live in the same place as the mixer anyway. I mix my bread with arm and hand horsepower and spoon. After that first mix, I get both hands on it. You right though, I could have investigated the mixer leak. I just thought it was normal after a through torturing trying to mix dough. Now with my hand made sour dough, it's all done by hand. I don't have a mixer now.