The speed control doesn't work well

Hiya,

I am sorry to hear you are having trouble with your speed on your mixer.

I have added a link below for a help video on adjusting your speed on your mixer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM3t46afGcc

I hope this helps you!!

The RR of your model number stands for reconditioned, your actual model number is K5A, I believe that the side trim band says Hobart on the side, if not you may have a new trim band (Generic type) put on during the reconditioning to pretty it up. In any event in the back of the mixer is an end cover, at the top is a small Phillips head screw, remove it and lift the end cover up and slightly out, (because there are two small and fragile clips on the back that can be easily broken off, they help hold the end cover in place so up and out ) once the cover is removed you will see a black and copper plate with three chrome screws on it in an upside down triangle shape, the two top screws are for adjusting speeds from stir to 6, the lower one is for adjusting speeds from 6 to 10, Turn the screw on the top left to the left a quarter turn while the mixer is in the stir position. it should start turning. if not turn the screw on the right a quarter turn, the mixer should start, if not turn back the other way (both top screws a half turn) if it machine does not start then there is a strong possibility that it is the bottom screw, the bottom screw can and sometimes does get turned in or out due to the pressure caused by contact that it makes with the speed control switch bar attached to the side speed control switch, so let's try that one, turn it counterclockwise or clockwise (no more than one full turn) a quarter turn at a time, if it is the bottom center screw causing the problem then it should start within a full turn, try not to turn the screw in either direction more than one full turn as you can really screw up your speed settings. Don't panic I am probably making it sound more difficult than it really is, just remember that a little is a lot. I am a KA tech and every machine that I have worked on that has a low speed not working correctly it has turned out to be these 3 screws.


If your machine goes to high speed from the get go no matter where you put the speed switch, well that is another problem, but if your machine is not working on lower speeds when set to the lower speed and it does work at higher speeds when the switch is set to the higher speeds then it is the 3 adjusting screws on the speed control plate. hope this helps if not let us know

First the K45SS does not have a hall effect sensor. the pro series the epicurean seines and the pro series 5 use them, The K45ss system uses a phase control board a speed control plate and a governor for speed control. the governor rarely goes out the phase control board is a likely culprit but the system would work only in high gear if it was bad. I agree with the guest above in that it sounds like the retaining nuts on the adjusting screws of the speed control board have worked themselves loose and the adjustment screws themselves have vibrated out of proper position.

Get a copy of the Repair Part List for your model at Kitchenaid.com
Download a Copy of the Kitchenaid Service manual.

http://www.kitchenaidparts.be/centers/servicemanual/mixer.pdf

Adjust the mixer speeds (if necessary):
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

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

You need to adjust the mixer speeds.
Obtain a copy of the KSM150PS 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

The K45SS is very similar to the 5-qt. tilt-head Artisan Stand Mixer.
You need 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

you can try to use some oil free contac cleaner on the speed switch. if that don't fix it put a new speed control switch in it.

No change available. The motor speed if fixed and the 3 speed transmission has fixed gear ratio's. Look at the new HL300 model. It has a stirr speed which is slower than first speed.
Does your mixer havea safety cage? If not, you will need to install one before too long , or the machine will not comply with current safety standards. Put the cost of the safety kit towards the HL300.

The speed control is a governor setup, it's purely on and off, as the weights on the motor shaft spin faster, they press against the contacts, and when they spin a fast enough speed, it turns off current to the motor, which makes it slow down, and current gets turned back on.  That way, you get a pretty consistent speed on a setting no matter whether it's lightly loaded or whipping something fairly heavy.  If you can turn the motor shaft by hand, then you don't have anything binding, but you might have gotten the speed control out of adjustment.  give it another go.