I have an opportunity to purchase a 1966 Hobart N50 mixer. Concerned about the age and was told by the seller that it was taken from an elderly persons home and wasn't used for a long time. They say that all 3 speeds are working but I'm trying to gauge the risk due to age and not being used. What types of questions should I ask or look for when I am evaluating it? Appreciate any help you can provide!

Shell Darina 2 grease, is now called Shell Gadus S2 U1000 https://www.mil-specproducts.com/Documents/1525_gadus_s2_u1000_2.pdf

The gear has not really changed. It is a fail-safe gear designed to break before the motor is damaged by the transmission being jammed.

As to whether it will last, I can't say. I know of no other sources for the gear other than keeping a watch of Ebay.

you would have to have it made not available

Try the library. That's where I found it. If you want I can make you a copy if they still have it.

Ron

Go to www.hobartservice.com, register, then go to select "food machines" in the Product Group, then "mixers"and look for the Discontinued Products, then find the N-50 mixer drawings, they are all there, even the old ones. Look through the "exploded" drawings for your extra parts. It seems to me that the tech who put this together should know if they belong to this mixer or not. Does he work for Hobart? Or is he a repair person who states that he knows how to repair Hobart products. If he does'n't work for Hobart, these parts may have been on his bench BEFORE he looked at your mixer. A true Hobart Tech has access to specs on ALL models and the ability to access the Service Manuals. If you find this solution helpfull, please rate it. ricardok45

Hi Anne. Call your nearest Hobart parts place. The parts guys will be able to tell you the age and which plant it was manufactured in in the USA. Another source is the hobartservice.com website, look for discontinued products under the food machines group, then select mixers and browse until you find the file that dates machines. One thing to watch for when buying is oil leakage that appears to come from the bottom of the stand. This indicates that the transmission grease is partially separating the oil out of it and it's leaking out of the rear bearing and dripping down. If the leak seems excessive, pass on the purchase. This drip could also indicate excessive wear on the bearings. Also run the mixer in all speeds, if is sounds like a tank approaching, it probably needs a rebuild.

Some of the N50's were packed with a white grease. It tends to seperate. So the oil portion finds it's way out. It sounds like it is getting into the motor case, and is running down the inside of the column. Hobart now uses a brown clay based grease --- Darina 2.

If the amounts are small, and the mixer is not excessively noisy, I wouldn't be concerned. If you wanted to fix it, the transmission would need to be removed, cleaned, and repacked. For a Hobart tech, 3 hours labor, $45 grease, plus parts.

First, there is a double set screw (one on top of the other - if they are both there) towards the back of the planetary.

Remove the first screw, it should have a normal tip, not pointy. Run the mixer in 1st and adjust the screw, first out then in. Then repeat in 3rd. You should clearly hear a difference.

If not, you probably need to repack the grease in the transmission. The proper grease is called "Darina II". It's expensive ~ $35 per mixer.