Popper won't heat up

If it heats up, your popcorn may be old and dried out. If it doesn't heat up and the stirring rod does not turn, check your power cord for defects. Procedure: plug in the popper (check both ends of the cord!), turn it on, and gently wiggle the cord right at the plug or where it goes into the popper, and watch the stirring rod to see if it moves. If it starts and stops as you wiggle the cord, you've found the break in the cord. Repair it or replace it (West Bend lists it online for $5) and be more careful with the cord in the future (never unplug by yanking on the wire, always pull on the plug itself).

If the stirring rod turns and there is no heat, the thermostat or thermal fuse is probably open. This can happen in some poppers if the air vents are blocked on the bottom. Remove the obstruction from the vents, let everything cool off, and try again. If it does not heat up from a cold start, there may be a blown thermal fuse inside. If you decide to replace the thermal fuse or thermostat, it MUST have the same temperature and current rating as the original.

For the price of the unit versus shop rate... tose it and start over would be my choice.

The thermostat built into the kettle stops the kettle from heating at a prescribed temperature. usually around 425 F. This is hot enough to smoke and cause instant burns, but is the required temp for popping popcorn.

I do not know of a "thermal fuse" built into popcorn machines. Mechanical thermo stats are not flawless. they can and do malfunction, either too cold or too hot. the model popper you have is not adjustable, or repairable.

If you are tripping a electrical circuit breaker that is a different problem not related to kettle heat. It is a symptom of an overloading problem of your outlet, or a ground fault in the popcorn popper.

the heat coil shorted the fuse blew; throw it away

this video should help http://www.expotv.com/Back-to-Basics-Disney-Popcorn-Popper/2f-fPq

Is the heater heating? Please check it ... Plug it into the outlet ... and put your hand GENTLY on the burner to see if it heats up. Of course, if it gets hot ... remove your hand.

I suspect the heater is not functioning 'pop'erly ...


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First, if you have another cord like this one (for example, a coffee pot cord) plug it into the popper and see if it works.

If it's not the cord, it's probably a blown thermal fuse inside the unit. Could be a heating element broken as well. If you don't have appliance repair experience, I would take it to a repair shop.

I once tried to get parts for a West Bend popper with no luck. I just kept using it without the stirrer.

I would say from a pure economic standpoint, you're better off getting a new one. I don't know that one brand is any better than another -- it's just potluck from my experience.

Most likely the motor will have to be replaced. This is probably a case of where buying a new popper is cheaper.

Did you find the piece to your popper? I just dropped mine on the floor and broke it, so if you still need that little piece, I have it.