[waltech]

I want to access the motor and gear housing of a Kitchen Aid K45WSS (Classic) mixer to see why although the motor turns there is no movement to the mixer orbiting arm. It sounds as though the gears are either not engaging properly or maybe the teeth are stripped. My problem at the moment is that I cannot see how to gain access. I have removed the cup-shaped cover from the back and the four large machine screws from underneath the motor housing. Still, the top part of the housing seems firmly anchored. I tried prying gently along the seam and did not feel any separation. I'd appreciate information on how to gain access so that I can visually inspect the condition and meshing of the gears. I have worked with various types of electronics over the years as well as done mechanical repairs on motors and engines so I feel comfortable with this task - but I must be missing a crucial screw, pin or whatever. Thank you for your help.

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Here is a link to the breakdown of your mixer model K45WSS.

[waltech]

The parts diagrams were helpful, but too small for me to see what I believe I need to see - namely, what holds the upper shell of the housing onto the frame below. I have removed four screws from underneath plus the cuplike covering at the back of the housing. Still, the motor/gear housing seems firmly secured. Applying pressure to the opening between the housing and the frame below seems to meet the "immovable object." Seemingly, there is a screw, pin or other fastener I am not removing, but I do not know where to look. Suggestions are most welcome.

[waltech]

The Kitchen Aid customer service rep gave me the 800 number for a repair service. The responder there said there are five more screws to remove from underneath the planetary gear housing (the rotating part with the shaft for the beaters). To get to them, one must remove the housing from the shaft. First, remove the pin securing the housing to the shaft and then (as I understand it) pry the housing off the shaft. Thus far I have not been able to see how to do the latter. The bright, decorative ring seems immovable when prying from the edge, and I cannot find a fulcrum for leverage to extract the housing from the shaft. Probably the repair services have a special tool or procedure, but I have no knowledge of them The nearest repair shop to me is probably 1,000 miles - and there is no way to know now whether it would be cost effective to repair this unit. So, it appears I have run out of resources. It is most unfortunate Kitchen Aid does not provide disassembly instructions for someone like me.

[waltech]

To gain access to the interior of the mixer where the gearing is housed, one needs to take the following steps: (1) Remove the bright metal ring around the circumference of the planetary gear housing - the part the beater shaft projects from. This involves inserting a thin blade between the edge of the ring and the body of the mixer, and then prying the ring away from the body. Careful inspection may reveal one of five places where there is a gap in the mixer body to accommodate one of the five screws one is trying to access. A thin screwdriver blade inserted into that gap gives a fulcrum to pry upward. (2) With the ring removed, the next step is to lift the gear housing off the center shaft. Remove the pin that holds the shaft to the housing by driving it out with a center punch or small nail. Now insert a screwdriver blade into the area above one of the five screws at the periphery and pry upward. (3) If the housing does not begin lift, apply a lubricant such as Liquid Wrench to the top of the shaft and through the holes on the side, and let this penetrate for several hours. Tapping lightly on the top of the shaft will help with this. (A mixer in use for a long time may have a bit of rust on the shaft or dried food ingredients.) As the housing lifts, change to a heavier screwdriver, etc. (4) Once the gear housing is removed from the shaft, remove each of the five bolts around the edge, and lift the planetary assembly out of the housing. Be careful not to pull out the jelly-like grease. Set aside the washer from the shaft. (5) Removing the four large bolts underneath the mixer body at the end nearer the mixer base allows removal of the base plate installed between the planetary gear assembly and the mixer motor housing. Now it is possible to inspect the gearing. What I discovered in my own situation was that the worm gear assembly's ring gear had fractured (it seems to be plastic) and required replacement. (6) This is a matter of removing screws, installing the new assembly, and then re-assembling in reverse order. When the mixer is again in operation the grease will fall down into the area of the gears to provide lubrication. Thanks to the repair tech in MI and the one in GA who gave me help with this project.