I removed one of the brushes on my KitchenAid K45SS, cleaned it and the motor started (it had died)- so far so good. Then I tried to remove the second brush, assuming it also needs cleaning, but the spring came out without the brush. How do I reach in and pull it out?

rather than doing a motor tear down to take out the brush holders, try this. first turn the mixer on it's side. (Use a folded towel to avoid breaking the knob from either the lock or speed control) then tap the machine to see if it will dis lodge.if not a very small drill bit drilled into the stuck brush will usually work. drill a little way in and stop the drill, now pull out and the brush should come out with the drill bit. You may ahve to do it once or twice to get the brush out but it works for me the couple times I had stuck brushes. Dont push the drill hard let the bit do the work. Let us know if this helps.

Download a Copy of the Kitchenaid Service manual.

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

You may have to remove the Motor Housing and use a small screwdiver
to completely remove the brushes or all portions of them if they are broken.

The brushes aren't contacting the commutator on the motor. Remove both screws, insert a small phillips screwdriver into the exposed springs and simply push down until you feel resistance. That should fix it.
Good luck!

What everyone is forgetting or they just don't know is that...The K45 introduced by Hobart in 1962 and was replaced in 1978 by the K45SS are two completely different machines. With completely different wiring systems. The K45 is wired together with wire nuts and the K45SS used connectors on the Speed control switch. All of the websites posted above are for the K45SS (Stands for Solid State) The manual for he K45SS is easy to get from Kitchenaid as the mixer electronics did not change from it's introduction in 1978 to 1986 when Hobart sold the Kitchenaid division to Whirlpool. The K45 on the other hand is a product and property of Hobart NOT Whirlpool or the Kitchenaid division of Whirlpool. The K45 Manual ... well I just can't find one! They way wires are routed is totally different in the K45 from the K45SS so the diagram in the K45SS manual does not help. Also the brushes in the K45 were square not camphor-ed like they are in the K45SS so there is no right or wrong way to insert the brushes in a K45. Whereas; in the K45SS there are four ways to insert the brushes in their holder and three of them are wrong. The K45SS brushes go into a completely different brush holder than the K45. The K45SS is the same today in 2012 as it was in 1978. The K45 is the same only from 1962 when Hobart introduced it to 1978 when it was replaced with the new Solid State model. prior to 1962 it was the K4-A model and it was different entirely. So if the people asking for help say their mixer is a K45 we should be asking for clarification as to a K45 or a K45SS.

No fuse inside. Sounds like the phase board has failed.

Anthony,

Based on your description, it sounds like those identical springs are a part of your motor brushes. Normally, they would be attached to the motor brushes (depending on model), which are located behind the 2 slotted round access caps about mid way, front-back on the cover assy. My hunch is that the spring(s) may have gotten dislodged during a previous dis-reassembly and had came in contact with the armature and a grounded component causing a short and circuit overload ( breaker trip). I suggest that you locate the appropriate diagram for your mixer and ensure that your brushes are assembled correctly - all parts accounted for. You can get diagrams and parts lists from various online vendors, such as: http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/modelsearch.aspx?model=k45ss Use the 'Motor and Control' diagram as a reference.

Good luck!

DZII

You sure boo boo'd. Just kidding It's important that the brushes go in the same way they came out and in the same holes because of the contact patter and curvature wear. The trailing edge of the brush is longer than the lesding edge Which is which? If you were totating something clockwise, the 12 would be the lesding edge and the one would be the trailing. So, the longer of the wear curvature would go on the one(1) side and the shrter towards the twelve. Now, how do you know which way it was rotating? The commutator is the part the brushes ride on, Those copper bars. Look closely and you can tell bby the black tracings which was the leading of rotation. There is usually mor on tracings ontrailing edge of the bar so. The trailing edge of the brush would be on the same side as the black tracings on the copper bar. Of course, Unplug it before messing with it. and make sure the brushes are seated and not binfing in the holder. Use an attachment to rotate the motor once or twice(unplugged) in order to set the brushes. Good Luck, Ned

Look carefully at the bruch, it should have a cupped chape that matched the curve of the armature. If it went in wrong, you may have wither broken the brush, or messed the armature. You can get new brushes online from many parts retailers, just google you part number and the word "brushes"

The motor slides in from the rear, which in held on by just a couple of screws. I would check the brushed first to be sure they are not worn. They are the two big plastic slotted screws to either side. I have seen them actually melt from the heat as they get worn. You may need to clean the armature with a glass brush when cleaning them.

Check and make sure the brushes are in correctly. There is only one correct way. The brushes are tapered and need to go in with the taper bypassing the little notch inside. They hard to see but, they are in there, Good luck.