Repairing a Kitchenaid mixer?

[larsks.livejournal.com]

Our Kitchenaid mixer tried and failed to eat a measuring cup the other day, and is currently inoperative. I'm looking for someplace local that would be able to repair it. Alternatives are taking it to the Kitchenaid service center in Salem, which seems like a heck of haul, or shipping it off the factory, which is potentially expensive. Any suggestions? I tried Dell's Appliance, but they don't do mixers. Thanks for your help!

Comments

[ron_newman]

"home repair" is not really the right tag for this, but I'm putting it on anyway just so this post doesn't get totally lost.

[lemonlies.livejournal.com]

I ended up bringing my mixer to the service center in Salem and would recommend the location. Though it was a haul, the gent did a good job on it and I haven't had issues since.

Unfortunately, I have no alternative suggestions, though.

[tober.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, K-A mixers (at least comparatively modern ones, very old ones do have all-metal drivetrains) contain a nylon gear or two in the drivetrain and if the beater ever gets obstructed, the usual result is just that that gear strips its teeth and nothing else is damaged. If you're at all handy you should be able to disassemble the head of the mixer and order replacement parts. Indeed, I'm pretty sure that K-A offers a "rebuild kit" which is inexpensive and contains replacements for wear-prone parts (plastic gears, motor brushes, etc). Sorry that I don't have a better recommendation for a repair shop.

[lindalee.livejournal.com]

When I was in a similar position, the closest place I was able to find was the one in Salem. Sorry!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I'm pleasantly surprised at how many people bother to fix items like these. My assumption is that anything that costs less than $300 is not worth fixing, but I am glad to be wrong.

I'll remember that if our Kitchenaid mixer ever goes. Our breadmaker broke after 10 years a while ago, and I didn't bother to replace it. But it was all worn out in lots of ways and a new one was only $70.

[mmouse9799.livejournal.com]

Kitchen-aid mixers are about $300. They're great professional quality stand mixers, not a $25 replacement appliance.

[electrictruffle.livejournal.com]

I cannot recommend a local repair place, but if you decide to go down the DIY path, I can recommend the Mending Shed http://www.mendingshed.com/kitaidparts.html and Action Small Appliances in Seattle.

Best of Luck
ETR

[larsks.livejournal.com]

It's always worth checking the cost of the repair. If it costs $100 to replace and only $5 to repair (and it's something you really like), then it's worth repairing, despite not being all that expensive in the first place.

KitchenAid mixers are pretty pricey, so if I can fix it with some elbow grease and a nylon gear then I'm feeling pretty lucky.

It remains to be seen if I'm handy enough to take the mixer apart myself. The alternative (ship to the factory and pay for the repair) makes the repair cost substantially higher, which may change the repair/replace equation somewhat.