Do I have to unplug it to turn it off (and plug in to turn on). In the off position it moves.

The starting position for those top speed control plate screws with the lock nuts it 8 full turns in when you fit the plate. Correct adjustment begins in or out from that point. The bottom screw should have been left where it was to start with as that is for adjusting the start position so that when the lever closes the switch contacts to start the mixer the plate only starts moving when the lever moves to the second click. Try and get the bottom one roughly right and then work on the top ones. Turn it to the first click on the speed lever and then EVENLY adjust the 2 top screws to have the planetary turn 13 to 15 times per 15 seconds. Lock up the lock nuts and then check that the bottom screw is in the correct position with speed increasing a small amount as the lever slips into the second click.

This model as configured for NZ will not start unless you move the speed control from the off position to any one of the speeds. In other words it will not start if you turn it on at the wall when the speed control lever is already in any on position. You must start from the off position first. I have also seen one fail to operate because the power wires from the speed control to the motor had come slightly unplugged inside the housings.

When you said "the speed switch doesn't want to stay in the off position", you meant to
say "the speed switch in the OFF position does not turn OFF the mixer", or "the speed
switch physically cannot be moved to the OFF position"?

In any case, try to adjust the mixer speeds.
Obtain a copy of the K45SS Repair Part List from Kitchenaid.com.
Remove the screw holding the End Cover and locate the three screws from the Control Plate.
All three (2 top left and right, and 1 bottom) must be adjusted.

1. Loosen the lock nuts enough & Turn the 2 top screws clockwise until they cannot be turned
anymore. Leave the bottom screw alone for now.
2. Use a dab of white paint or paper whiteout to mark the positions of the Phillips screws.
3. Plug in your mixer and Set the speed selector to "Stir".
4. Turn each top screw One full turn couterclockwise (alternating between Left and Right)
Keep making one full turn at the time (for both left and right) until the motor starts running.
5. Put your hand near the Agitator shaft and allow it to brush your finger slightly. Use your
watch or clock and start counting the number of times the shaft touches your finger in
60 seconds. The correct count should be 60 RPM (Rounds Per Minute). If it is less
or more than 60, give each screw 1/4 turn counterclockwise or clockwise and start counting
again. Now tighten both lock nuts.
6. Set the speed selector to "6" and turn the bottom screw either clockwise or counterclockwise
to achieve a speed of 180 RPM.

For your reference, the planetary RPM's for the 5-qt. tilt-head Artisan Stand Mixer are as follows:
Stir speed - 60
Speed 2 - 95
Speed 4 - 135
Speed 6 - 180
Speed 8 - 225
Speed 10 - 280

Make sure your Beater can slip in and out of the Beater Shaft
easily. Do not force the beater onto the Shaft if the shaft is bent.
If it cannot be removed easily by hand, use a soft rubber mallet
(not a steel hammer) to slightly tap the beater so it can be moved
up and down the shaft or from side to side. Then you can easily
turn the beater left and remove it from the shaft.

From Kitchenaid Manual:
To Attach Flat Beater, Wire Whip, or Dough Hook
1. Turn speed control to OFF.
2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.
3. Tilt motor head back.
4. Slip beater onto beater shaft and press upward
as far as possible.
5. Turn beater to right, hooking beater over pin on shaft.
6. Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

To Remove Flat Beater, Wire Whip or Dough Hook
1. Turn speed control to OFF.
2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.
3. Tilt motor head back.
4. Press beater upward as far as possible and turn left.
5. Pull beater from beater shaft

I determined that the switch that controls whether the mixer is on or off is controlled by a copper bar with a contact. The contact got fused to the copper bar, possibly due to a short. Since the contact got fused to the copper bar, the circuit was always connected, so the mixer was always on. The solution was to 1) unplug the mixer, and 2) take a screw driver and gently pry the contact away from the copper bar. When the mixer is in the off position, the copper bar and contact are no longer in contact. When the mixer is on, the copper bar and contact make contact. My mixer now works just fine. Yea!

Unplug first. Mixers can detach from the bowl base. You may have a lockout either in the latch mechanism or in the beaters. Try removing the mixer head from the base and the beaters from their sockets. Then plug in and try switch. If not working, unplug and attach beaters. Replug and try. Then attach to base and try again.

Make sure speed control does not have safety feature requiring to press in before turning control.

Good Luck.

Unplug, remove the beatters and try again. If still no go, unplug , insert one beatter and try using beater to turn in oppodit direct . Then, if you were able to move it. install second beter and try again. If the evil thing runs, let it run free for several minutes to clean up any gear burs or alignment issues. Good luck and never grab the beaters with the mixer plugged in.

When an appliance reaches the age that yours has it may be prudent to bite the bullet and purchase a new one. good luck

Hi. All of you have the same problem. The electronic speed control board needs to be replaced. This board can be installed without much trouble. The board is modular, remove the old board and install the new one. The wiring is connected by a modular plug.

Goto www.kitchenaid.com enter your model # and search for the parts manual. These drawings will assist you with the task at hand.

If this solution has assisted you, please rate it. Good luck! ricardok45

Unplug the appliance. Take it to a well ventilated area and spray some alcohol in the slot where the switch is while trying to move it. This must be done with the appliance unplugged and the appliance must be thourughly dry when you plug it in. Use canned air or if you have one a compressor.