Cuisinart DL 11: Cracked plastic drive shaft

The shaft is spinning inside the sleeve. So is should not be hard to remove. With a DLC-7SP, I grabbed the spindle with some pliers, channel locks might do well and put a handle of a screwdriver between the pliers and the top deck and pried. Second attempt and it pulled up easily. Place the screwdriver beside one of the top deck screw covers to transfer force directly to the motor. Otherwise top deck would probably break.

Clean the old shaft to remove any contamination.

New one can be driven on with a hammer and block of wood.

My old Cuisinart has this problem because the motor shaft and the corresponding socket on the cutter are worn. The shaft has jammed in the cutter. To un-jam it, stick a bar of wood behind one blade of the cutter (I use the wood handle of my dough whisk) and give it a light, sharp tap with a hammer. Check after every tap to see if it is loose, if not do it again. You want to tap against the back side of the cutter, not the cutting edge side. The socket on your cutter may be cracked, allowing it to open up and slip (and jam) under the stress of cutting. You'll probably need a new one. If the motor shaft is also worn, that can also be replaced. The new part is about $10. I got a few more months of life from my cutter by reinforcing the inner socket with a thin plastic tube from the barrel of a syringe.

Many people have had this problem. When I called Cuisinart, they said, oh sure we will send you the part and instructions. When I called because there were no instructions, I got another story about how I needed to send it back because that repair is only made at the warehouse. I have found other places online where people just chip and pick at the plastic until it comes off. Short of sending it back and paying the shipping I don't know what else to say. My husband is chipping and picking as we speak.

I just called Cuisinart customer service. Depending on your model, it sould be under warranty. They sent me a new shaft sheath immediately with no expense.

I had the same problem: Cuisinart sent a "replacement" sheath for my DLC-8E which turned out to be the wrong one. When I replaced mine,which was cracked, none of my blades would fit over the new sheath! I "solved" the problem by purchasing a new DLC-8E motor base on Ebay for only $9.99!

The Motor Shaft Cover parts are not shown on the Cuisinart website under parts, but they are available if you call Customer Service. These parts are quite inexpensive (often $3 + s&h). Have your model number ready, and they can get the right one out to you.

Cuisinart does, in fact, have the replacement bowl parts for the DFP-11

Sure, you can find it on amazon, here: Amazon com Cuisinart Motor Shaft cover. Hope this was helpful. have a nice day

I phoned the 800 number at Cuisinart (800-243-8540) and the person who answered the phone explained to me what to do: Fill the bowl with the hottest tap water I have (but not boiling) above the entire blade (including the part that fits over the shaft). He said to pulse a few times, then try to pull it off, but not to expect it to work right away. He said to do this until it comes off and that it could take 1/2 hour. I did what he said, and the blade came off after the first pulses. But also, the water was pouring out all over the counter--leaking between the bowl and the base (possibly because my old work bowl is also cracked, but I'm not sure).

I was told that the problem would happen again, and that I needed replace the blade and the shaft (which is cracked, as he guessed), both of which are available from Cuisinart.

Go to the cuisinart website and you can buy replacement parts. You will have to buy the entire shaft not just the top but it is still good!