Tis the season


 
LMichaels

LMichaels

TVWBB 2-Star Olympian
Well, it seems it's the season for people to have broken their mixers. So themixerdoc is buried in work LOL. 2 on the bench, with a 3rd with appointment for next week, and 2 more in shipment to me. Though, those are resale machines. One a Susan G Komen commemorative in limited edition pink, other just a "plain jane" white "Classic".
Seems people do tons of baking on the Holidays and break something or burn them up :D It's ok. Papa needs the $$$
 
Just had a person ask me if I sold parts. Had to let him down. I don't. Because there are a few variations within models. I.E., this person had a larger 6qt lift bowl machine. Asked me about buying a motor. Well, there are at least 3 variations (maybe 4) for those machines, and at least 3 different speed controls. And in partial cases they're not interchangeable. So, it becomes a crapshoot. In some cases as well, like with the tilt machines and some lift machines I can replace the speed control BUT, it requires a new return spring, new actuator and new control lever to retrofit. Hard part is you can't tell by SN (at least I can't). Also if some of you had seen how many machines I have gotten over the years people have bought parts for, tried to install, totally messed them up, and then bring me a box with piles of parts wondering "can you fix it?" "I watched a YouTube video" :D
Actually think I am gonna start charging extra for the "I watched You Tube" crowd LOL
 
LMichaels said:
Oh yeah, gotta love the Kennedy.
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I spent a LOT of time being a rep in Chicago and the time to get to see Larry will be worth the side trip. Stopping for something anywhere as a treat is a bonus. I‘ve no road fear in the Windy City! Nor suburbs, I did it well before any of this GPS childishness!
Larry knows what I mean, be flexible around there and don’t worry! You’ll get there…Tuesday!
 
I just think it's freaking cool that Larry can fix these. I covet my KA.

Larry, any discount for tvwbb members? 😀
 
I didn't even realize you could break a KitchenAid mixer! Just got one for my wife for Christmas, the classic. Was $100 off on Amazon, $230. Seemed like a decent deal and she's wanted one for YEARS
 
Tim Campbell said:
I just think it's freaking cool that Larry can fix these. I covet my KA.

Larry, any discount for tvwbb members? 😀
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Yep the family & friends. I do take care of people I know and my repeat customers as well.
The "Classic" as it's called has been the same design since about 1945. That basic 4 to 4.5 qt has been going strong all these years with no real changes other than slight refinements. When they first came out as the K4 they were marketed "door to door". In particular to families who were just becoming "electrified" but were designed to work on both DC and AC with voltage from 80V to 145V either AC or DC. So families who were using wind machines to charge banks of batteries could buy one and get wonderful home baked goods. Around 1975, they changed it slightly to use a "solid state" speed control. Sort of a rudimentary pulse width modulation. Using a mechanical governor and a solid state rectifier board to be able to use the same motor, but allow for cooler running, and then only AC current (even though internally it was still a DC machine). And it is the same to this day. It's strong and durable. And even most of the internal components are all still made in the US as is the actual machine built in Ohio. Excellent products.
But yes they can be broken. But it takes a lot to hurt one
 
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LMichaels said:
Yep the family & friends. I do take care of people I know and my repeat customers as well.
The "Classic" as it's called has been the same design since about 1945. That basic 4 to 4.5 qt has been going strong all these years with no real changes other than slight refinements. When they first came out as the K4 they were marketed "door to door". In particular to families who were just becoming "electrified" but were designed to work on both DC and AC with voltage from 80V to 145V either AC or DC. So families who were using wind machines to charge banks of batteries could buy one and get wonderful home baked goods. Around 1975, they changed it slightly to use a "solid state" speed control. Sort of a rudimentary pulse width modulation. Using a mechanical governor and a solid state rectifier board to be able to use the same motor, but allow for cooler running, and then only AC current (even though internally it was still a DC machine). And it is the same to this day. It's strong and durable. And even most of the internal components are all still made in the US as is the actual machine built in Ohio. Excellent products.
But yes they can be broken. But it takes a lot to hurt one
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It sure feels robust, and of high quality
 
Eric-NH said:
It sure feels robust, and of high quality
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The weakest link in that machine (all of them actually) is the garbage grease they use in them. IDK why they insist on using the crap they put in them but it's totally awful. It breaks down, leaks out, fails to actually lube the internal parts. They claim it's supposed to be "food safe" but I guarantee you if it went in your food it would make you quite ill.
 
LMichaels said:
The weakest link in that machine (all of them actually) is the garbage grease they use in them. IDK why they insist on using the crap they put in them but it's totally awful. It breaks down, leaks out, fails to actually lube the internal parts. They claim it's supposed to be "food safe" but I guarantee you if it went in your food it would make you quite ill.
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I have actually given some thought to dismantling, cleaning, and regreasing our KA mixer. It's now 24 years old and it's never been greased. It's not heavily used but it's got some miles on it. Every time we use it I think to myself, "grease might be getting a little dry in there..."

I'm the type of person that used to clean and repack car wheel bearings every year or two. But that was back when you COULD repack car wheel bearings.
 
Yeah, the fact I see them so old sometimes with the awful stuff they used, is a testament to how well made the machines actually are. Of course I'm not sure when they started using this "stuff" in there today. As some I open that I know were never touched (like when I opened my mom's old machine from the 60s) they used something more akin to basic wheel bearing grease.
Re, doing it on the surface it looks pretty simple and actually it is. Where people get into huge trouble is when they get back by the speed controls. That can be very intimidating and to set accurately needs a tachometer. There are also trouble areas to watch for and they vary by what model it is. If I remember this coming week I may do some photos and short YouTube
 
John G (Boston) said:
I have actually given some thought to dismantling, cleaning, and regreasing our KA mixer. It's now 24 years old and it's never been greased. It's not heavily used but it's got some miles on it. Every time we use it I think to myself, "grease might be getting a little dry in there..."

I'm the type of person that used to clean and repack car wheel bearings every year or two. But that was back when you COULD repack car wheel bearings.
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Several years ago, I actually picked up a Hobart mixer (almost identical to KA - uses the same parts, but with gears instead of electronic control inside) from the curb. Sure enough, the grease was very dry. I didn't disassemble it 100%, but I took off the parts that were easy enough to get apart and got the old gunk off with paper towels. Buying food safe grease from Amazon was easy enough, and I regreased it as best as I could.
 
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