The motor head will not stay locked when mixing dough. it seems to me that the hole in which the locking mechanism fits is slightly out of line. is that just a factory messup or is it somthing i can fix?

Push the head down before pressing the button on the mystery mixer. There is probably dough under the hook with it pressing the head up and is locking the catch.

You can pull out the dough around the dough hook to make it easier.

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Make sure that the hinge pin is locked up firmly with the grub screw that is accessed with machine upside down on a towel. It is right up the middle of the pedestal. Next fit bowl & flat paddle and adjust head height with the screw that you can see when the head is raised up. The screw is right in by the middle of the hinge for the head unit. Screw it in (clockwise) a bit to lower and anti clockwise to raise. You want to screw it in enough to just hear the paddle tinging on the bowl and then anti clockwise the screw so it just clears. 1/4 turn from tinging is roughly it. If the head is still not locking down you may need to run a rat tail file through the locking slot to allow the lock better engagement. This is a last resort, if you file too much it is permanent and cannot be reversed so don't do it until everything else has been done properly. It's not a big job for your local Kitchen Aid service agent to sort out for you.

Well I afraid that you will not like the answer. The locking latch on a tilt head mixer can only be fixed replaced or repaired by taking the motor head apart. The bottom from the top.

1 remove mixer from stand
2 remove silver drip ring
3 remove rear end cap
4 remove locking pin in the planetary
5 remove planetary
6 remove nine screws in bottom of mixer
7 separate top from bottom of motor head
8 do not tear gasket or you will have to replace it (buy on line)
9 inspect locking latch and tighten or replace as needed
10 check gear grease and replace if all hard or all runny
11 reassemble

Sorry this is not an easy fix but it is do-able. You will need throw away rags a nice flat work space and some patience. I f you have never done a mechanical fix to anything it should take you about two hours, if however you are mechanically inclined and not afraid to tackle new projects should take you about forty-five minutes. let us know if we can help you.

The blade sounds like it's jammed somehow perhaps simply with some food matter.
Ensure the mixer is not plugged in then try removing the bowl, locking the mixer in the down position and pushing up hard on the blade to try and dislodge it. If it comes free and lifts up then try wiggling and rotating it normally off the mount.
Sometimes with use the attachments can become slightly warped requiring more force to lift them before rotating off the mount.
I once used my own Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook attachment to make a whole wheat bread dough. When I was done the hook was a bit bent from the hearty dough. There was also some flour in the mount causing it to jam. Removing the hook attachment proved difficult but not imposable.
Good luck.

Hello Flyfishing19,

The problem that you are experiencing is due to the torque that is put on the head while mixing dough. The lock is still working fine, although it is getting wear. You can replace the locking mechanism. However, it will work for a while longer. If you want to change the mechanism post back to this thread and I will be happy to locate you one and explain how to change it.

If you're still having this problem, here's what I did a few minutes ago that fixed it. Lift the head, then turn the screw that connects the head to the base to the left. You're basically unscrewing it. That screw regulates how high or low the beater is. Unscrew it a little at a time, and lower the head and try to lock after each turn. The head will gradually get in a more locked position. Keep turning the screw till the head finally locks in all the way. Read the "beater to bowl clearance" section in the manual.

kITCHEN AID ARTISAN 325 WATTS TILTING HEAD PIN CAME OF WHILE MIXING DOUGH. HOW IS THE EASIEST WAY TO INERT PIN BACK OR LINE UP THE HOLES TO INSERT PIN?.

FRANKAMOR

pour a little wesson oil into the attachment holes and work the release while inserting and removing the attachment. Make sure the unit is unpluged. The oil will lubricate the lock mechanism.

This sounds like an issue of beater to bowl adjustment, which can come out of alignment naturally over time and with use of the machine.

If the flat beater is striking the bottom of your bowl, this may cause the locking mechanism to loosen and may cause the mixing head to "bounce" during use.

Your Use and Care Guide will cover the "beater to bowl adjustment," which you can do at home in a few minutes with a flathead screwdriver.

Mine is stuck too and it's so annoying. I used terry cloth and hammer the bowl to knock the bowl down (1-2 times and not too hard). I think the bowl is up a bit and over locked when doing bread dough.