How Do I Grease My Kitchenaid Mixer?

The Kitchenaid stand mixer stands alone.

When Hobart owned KitchenAid and made the solid-state stand mixers K5SS, K45SS, and KSM90, they named the mixer part that turns the beater the "planetary gear." This is the major gear assembly of KitchenAid stand mixers, augmented by the attachment hub, and its housing of shafts and gears. These older Kitchenaid mixers employed a plastic gear that was designed to fail, protecting the mixer from overheating and burning up. Regreasing the mixer will likely take a few hours but will save hundreds of dollars in repair costs and is detailed here in three sections: taking the mixer apart, applying new grease and reassembling the mixer.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips screwdriver, small, #0
• Phillips screwdriver, medium, #1 or #2
• Medium blade screwdriver
• Small utility knife
• Popsicle sticks or other scooper
• Wheel-bearing grease from NAPA or Sears
• Degreaser, or brake cleaner
• Paper towels/clean up rags
• Two small soldering or old toothbrushes
• Plastic baggie
• Rubberband

Instructions

Taking Apart the KitchenAid Stand Mixer

1. 

   Use a Phillips screwdriver for the screws on back of the mixer.

   Unplug the KitchenAid mixer from the wall. To ensure nothing gets on the plug, wrap the plug in a small plastic baggie.

2. Remove the two Phillips head screws at the back of the mixer to release the metal band that runs around the mixer. Use a Phillips screwdriver for the screws on back of the mixer. Lay the mixer on its side, with a towel or cloth underneath the mixer to protect both it and the work surface.

3. Remove the groove pin that holds the planetary gear assembly to the center shaft. Use a 5/32-inch punch to remove the groove pin, thus allowing you to remove the planetary assembly cover. Pry the planetary gear cover down and off the shaft using two flat screwdrivers. Unscrew and remove the five screws on the perimeter of the gear assembly which hold the internal gear assembly to the gear case. This area will be re-packed with grease upon re-assembly.

4. Unscrew and remove the four large screws that secure the base to the top portion of the mixer. Use a large Philips screwdriver. Remove the attachment hub bevel gear from the gear case and motor housing by pulling it out of the attachment hub. The attachment hub is the topmost portion where the silver KitchenAid cap covers the hub for KitchenAid attachments.

5. Unscrew and remove the four large screws that secure the base to the top portion of the mixer. Use a large Philips screwdriver. Remove the attachment hub bevel gear from the gear case and motor housing by pulling it out of the attachment hub.

Packing the KitchenAid Mixer With New Grease

1. Clean out the gear case. Remove any and all old grease from the gear case, using a putty knife and/or screwdriver to scrape out the old grease. Pack the gear case with six oz. of new grease.

2. Remove the three Phillips head screws from the worm gear assembly that secures it to the top housing. Lift out the worm gear assembly. Check the worm gear, the shaft and pinion. The shaft and pinion has 11 teeth on the K45SS; on all other models, it has 10 teeth. Lightly oil or grease it. Drive out the groove pin with a punch so that you can replace the gears if necessary.

3. Pack the attachment housing with new grease. Use a plastic spatula or putty knife to fill the housing with clean, new grease.

Reassembling the KitchenAid Stand Mixer

1. Reassemble the gear assembly, being sure to replace the fiber washers where they originally were located. Also reassemble the worm gear, shaft and pinion.

2. Place the worm gear assembly and bearing bracket on the gear case bottom cover, making sure the two dowels fit into the base of the bearing bracket. Securely tighten the three screws that hold the bearing bracket.

3. Clean the gasket cover of the gear case. Replace the gasket cover by securing it over the dowel and pressing the gasket down.

4. Reattach the top and bottom mixer sections, being careful to line up the shaft in the upper gear housing. Do not force the pieces together; they should assemble easily. Return the internal gear to the gear case cover. Replace it by aligning notches with the holes in the gear case and screwing in the five screws to secure it. Be sure the teeth of the internal gear are filled with new grease.

5. Secure the top and bottom mixer sections with the four large Phillips screws. Reassemble the planetary gear housing, being sure to lightly grease the shaft and all gears. Attach the reassembled planetary housing to the mixer by driving in the groove pin that secures it and replacing the drip cup on the gear case.

Tips & Warnings

• All planetary gear assemblies in KitchenAid stand mixers are the same, with the single exception of very early K5SS models that had a lead weight.

• Wheel-bearing grease may cost as little as $4 per tub (2010 prices) and is far more economical than the many food greases that are offered for re-greasing.

References

• Mending Shed: Download KtichenAid Stand Mixer Repair Manual

Resources

• Neil Crockett: How to Make Repairs to a KitchenAid Stand Mixer