KitchenAid KSM150PS Artisan Series Stand Mixer - Page 5 - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

What cover?

Check the carbon brushes, under those black screws, one on each side of the motor about half way along.

Probably needs a new phase board, that's the small PCB under the back cover at the top with all the wires coming out of it.

Unfortunately that's a big labour job and almost zero parts job. The case needs to be split so you can get inside it, the screw that the lever pivots on is either loose or the lever arm is bent, it will be one or the other.

Try and get some CRC into it, lots of grunting, pushing and wriggling and it should move. Then clean it all out with a paper towel, maybe a LIGHT rasping in the beater hole with a nail file or similar, you just want to shine it up not really make it bigger. Strangely flour gets in there and over time tightens the hole up.

KSN150 Artisan does not have a crank handle. look under your mixer for a white tag that has the model number on it and get back to us, we can help

The gear system contains a ceramic gear that is designed to break if if the gears are over stressed. This is to prevent the motor from burning out. Think of it as a mechanical fuse. I would say you were kneading dough and broke the gear.Don't stress, take it to a appliance repair shop and it can be easily fixed.

What part number did you order for the beater and what is the model number for the mixer? Also is the mixer brand new, or did you get it used and it just started happening?

Gray film may be a result of tarnishing. The metal beaters are made of a burnished aluminum material. The burnished aluminum may not be washed in a dishwasher, cannot be left to soak in a sink, and must be towel dried immediately after washing as opposed to being air dried. If this has been done incorrectly, this may lead to tarnishing of the beater, which can be described as a "grey film."

The most likely answer is that you need a new speed control switch and there is a possibility that you may need a new worm gear. Can you give a more detailed explanation? What happened last time you used the machine?, what was happening when the problem occurred? What caused you to open the back cover? what else did you inspect or take apart or open up? Please send more info.

The kitchenaid warranty is exactly 365 days from date of registration "No Questions Asked" on day 366 you have no warranty and you gotta pay. Now the good news; first check the wall socket, I know it works but check it anyway. then check your plug, did you step on it while you were working on the machine? The plug often falls to the floor during work and can get underfoot, you may have broken the plug it'self. next you will need a parts list for your model from Kitchenaid's website. http://www.kitchenaid.com/customer-service/manuals/My first suggestion is to try a minor adjustment of the speed control switch, they often get out of sync when you do something to the machine. You can find several videos of this on the youtube site. "Adjusting the speed control switch on kitchenaid mixer"If the two or one of the top 2 screws on the speed control switch move it can shut the machine down just like an on/off switch. Did you remove the back cover during your adjustments? Did you remove and replace the carbon brushes on the side of the machine while working on the machine? If you did you might have put them back in incorrectly, if you did they will also act a a shutoff switch. If you did not take them out then DON"T as there are four ways to put the brushes back in and only one way is correct and there are two brushes to deal with. Has work ever been performed on the mixer before? Because if all you did was to adjjust the beater height screw then nothing should have effected the normal operation of the mixer. So if there is anything that you did but did not include in your description of work you performed then please let us know. We strive to give accurate solutions but... as I am a KA tech I do not have any other solutions with out the machine in front of me. Just so you know you can fix this yourself.

In the Artisan mixers the problem can be caused by two different parts. First the speed control plate. When you remove the end cover from the mixer the first thing you see is the speed control plate. There are 3 screws on this, two at the top, one on the bottom. Try adjusting the top two screws, to adjust, turn in the control plate adjusting the screws an equal amount. Also check to see if the control plate spring is unhooked. Remove end cover, and check control plate spring. If unhooked, attach to bottom of the control plate and squeeze the spring end.It can also be caused by incorrect wiring, check the wiring, the last page of the service manual will be a wiring diagram for your mixer. Here is a link to the service manual. http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mendingshed/kitchenaidservicemanual.pdfLast, if the control plate is properly adjusted, the control plate spring is hooked correctly and the wiring is correct you will need to replace the speed control phase board. With the line cord disconnected, pull the t-bar contacts to open and insert a piece of paper between them so they cannot close. Reapply power-the mixer should just run or buzz trying to run. If it operates at full speed, the phase control is defective and needs to be replaced.Thank you,ColleenCustomer ServiceMendingShed.com800-339-9297

The bad sparking can be several different things. The bad sparking at contact points or burned contracts on the switch can be caused by a faulty phase control or wrong wiring. Open the mixer, check wiring, if that is correct remove an replace the phase control board.If the bad sparking is at the motor brushes this can be caused by worn motor brushes, rough commutator, faulty armature or shorted motor field. First remove the brushes and check that they are not worn to less that 5/16'. Replace with new brushes if excessively worn. If Brushes are fine remove and check armature. you will most likely have to replace the motor/armature assembly.Thank you,ColleenMendingShed.com800-339-9297

The Service manual will walk you through removing the old speed control lever in an artisan mixer, and how to put it back together correctly. Here is a link to the service manual: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mendingshed/kitchenaidservicemanual.pdfPay attention to pages 7 and 11 as these cover the removal and replacement of the speed control lever.Let us know if you have any questions.Thank you,ColleenMendingShed.com800-339-9297

If the mixer will not shut off with the switch knob this usually is caused by the switch not correctly being adjusted with the control link and cam assembly.You will need to bend the fixed contract until the switch arm properly engages. See the service manual: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mendingshed/kitchenaidservicemanual.pdfPlease let me know if you have any questions.Thank you,ColleenCustomer ServiceMendingShed.com800-339-9297

The KSM5 and the KSM150 are different mixers. They are both 5 quart mixers and use the same gearing and motor. However the bowl design is different. The KSM5 is a 5 quart bowl lift, which means the bowl locks into the arms of the mixer and raises towards the head of the mixer, where the ksm150 mixer is a artisan mixer, which is also a 5quart mixer, but the head of the mixer tilts back and the bowl twists into the base ring to lock into place. These two mixers will take different bowls and beaters.Thank you,ColleenCustomer ServiceMendingShed.com

there is 6 oz of a food safe lubricant in the motor housing that is held in by a gasket around the front of the gear housing in the top of the mixer, the gasket is leaking the separated liquid of the grease. The grease because it is a vegetable based product separates over periods of non use and the gasket gets soaked and releases the liquid into parts of your mixer and it drips it's way out when you use it. the best thing to do is install a new gasket and remove the old grease then repack and add a new gasket. There wasn't that easy?? problem is that most people don't know where to buy the KA approved grease and gasket (ebay about 17.00) and most people don't know how to take their mixer apart to do this, (youtube has about four really good step by step videos on how to do it) BUT!!!! there is a trick that often works, seriously!!! get a towel and spread it on an open work space, grab your significant other or any one that will tolerate you when you get this way you will need their hand. Now turn the mixer upside down (no I'm not being sarcastic) turn it upside down, now have your partner hold it while you reach down and plug it in and turn it to speed Two, and hold the mixer like that for two minutes, (that's why it's better to have a really good friend help you they won't tell you how nuts you are doing this, but!! continue. After two minutes turn the mixer off and turn it right side up and turn it on again for two minutes, then do it all over again upside down then right side up, do this at least three times. the drip is now fixed. You think I'm nutz right??? Wrong!!! What you have done is re-mix the gear grease, the liquids are now re-mixed with the solids or gear grease base material. It should last about a year or so. My suggestion is to do this once or twice a year if you are not going to use the mixer for long periods of time. The separation usually happens when the mixer goes for long periods of time without use. the grease is designed to work for five or ten years without being replaced. however the gasket is made of fiber and the weight of the motor head pressing down on it for a few years of say 17 pounds causes it to compress and allow the liquids to leak out. So to fix that you take of the drip ring off (round silver thing that attaches to the planetary ) then drive out the little silver pin in the planetary shaft and pry off the planetary. you will then see five flat head screws that hold the motor head to the lower gear case, thightem them up and re-assemble the mixer then remix the grease, you have fixed your drip problem without spending a dime and it will stay fixed for years as long as you have no other issues arise during it's life. Hope that helps you.

The possible problems could be in no real order>>>1. your power outlet in your house2 the power cord to the mixer broken or shorted3 the speed control plate inside the mixer needs adjusting or replaced4 the carbon brushes inside the motor head of the mixer need replaced5 the armature a motor part6 the stator a motor partThe first four are easy fixes the last two will require a full tear down. but there are lots of things to test first. let us know.

The possible problems could be in no real order>>>1. your power outlet in your house2 the power cord to the mixer3 the speed control switch inside the mixer4 the carbon brushes inside the motor head of the mixer5 the armature a motor part6 the stator a motor partThe first four are easy fixes the last two will require a full tear down. but there are lots of things to test first. let us know.

Yikes!!!!Can you tell us what you were making last time you used the machine? Do you do pizza and other doughs a lot. The KSM150 is a 325 watt mixer with lots of power so; 1 first lets go back to the outlet and try anything that can show fast results like a hair dryer to test the outlet.2 The cord from the mixer, do you unplug it by pulling on ti? Or do you use the plug itself when unplugging. Do you have and know how to use a volt meter. If yes to both3 Remove the rear cover and you will see a black and copper plate with a whole bunch of connectors on it. the left two bottom black and white terminals are the power for the mixer, turn the mixer on and test the terminals to make sure the machine is getting power, if not replace the power cord. You will have to open the machine and take it apart somewhat to replace the cord. 4 it could be the speed control plate itself (Most likely) there are three screws on the plate in an upside down triangle, turn the one on the bottom left a little bit while the mixer is on if it is the adjusting screws it should start again with less than a half turn. 5 Look at all the terminals to the speed control switch and make sure that they are connected if any one of them has come off then the machine won't work. There can be other problems but this fix is the most common. Let us know if this does not work and we can go into it a little more in depth. If you leave the machine on for a minute or more does it start to smell (burnt smell or hot electric) If you have a warranty (still within the first year of purchase ) get in touch with Kitchenaid they will send a new mixer with out question. If you are out of warranty then we can fix it, one step at a time, or you could take it to an authorized service center, if you live close by to one. Let us know.