The stand mixer beater no longer turns: which parts should you check?
Are you craving a slice of cake but your food processor seems determined to deprive you of dessert? Whatever attachment you’ve fitted – beater, whisk or dough hook – it simply won’t mix your batter! Before you rush to the bakery to treat yourself to something sweet, take a moment to read through this troubleshooting guide. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to sort out the problem quickly.
THE POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS FAULT:
WARNING
Before you do anything to your appliance, make sure you disconnect it from the power supply.
There is a risk of electric shock.
Wear suitable gloves if you carry out dismantling.
Risk of cuts.
The food processor is not receiving power properly
Before attempting to carry out any work on your food processor, first make sure it is properly powered:
- At the wall socket: plug in another appliance to check that the socket is working correctly. If a fault is found, the electrical installation will need to be checked and repaired if necessary,
- On the food processor side: make sure the power cable plug is properly inserted into its socket. When moving the appliance across the worktop, the cable connectors can sometimes come loose slightly, to the point where they no longer make a secure electrical connection.
Buy a power lead for my food processor
The motor brushes are worn out
Motor carbon brushes are wear parts that always operate in pairs. Positioned on either side of the motor, they ensure the power supply by means of contact between the graphite and the moving part of the motor, known as the rotor. Over time and due to repeated friction, the graphite wears away. Consequently, when contact is no longer made properly, the motor is no longer powered as it should be, which can prevent the beater from rotating.
To replace the motor carbon brushes on a stand mixer, unscrew them from either side of the motor unit – usually located at the top of the appliance – and then fit the new carbon brushes in their place.
Buy motor carbon brushes for my food processor
Wear on the beater gear pinion
If the motor is running but the beater remains stationary, this may indicate a problem with the gear that drives your accessories. Over time, this part can wear out and no longer make sufficient contact with the beater’s drive mechanism. To check this, you need to dismantle the food processor by separating the upper part from the base. Once you have located the gear, carry out a visual inspection. If the teeth are damaged or worn down, the motor may continue to run without being able to drive the beater shaft.
When the teeth of the pinion are damaged, the part will need to be replaced. Depending on the model, it is sometimes possible to replace just the pinion gear, or the complete assembly known as the motor pinion kit.
Finally, remember to apply a suitable food-grade grease to the new pinion before reassembly to ensure optimal performance.
Find a drive gear for my food processor
The engine is damaged
Have the previous checks not revealed anything? Focus on the motor of your food processor. Remove the protective cover to access the motor unit and carry out a thorough visual inspection: look for foreign objects, traces of moisture or any signs of wear and tear. Also check that nothing is rubbing against the sides of the appliance. If no visual faults are detected, you can remove the motor from its housing to examine it more thoroughly. Turn the blades by hand: they should rotate freely without any resistance. If the motor is faulty, it can be replaced. Please note, however, that some models of stand mixers require the mixer’s rotation speeds to be reprogrammed