Kitchenaid 4-C Mixer = Toast?

[michaelman2]

I have my grandmother's Kitchenaid 4-C Mixer and was using it this morning to cream butter and sugar, then batter for a cake. I noticed that the motor was very warm and that is smelled like an appliance that had not been used for a while (it has not been turned on in several years).

Everything worked wonderfully, the butter and sugar were not a problem. I then tried to turn it on for the flour to be added and it would barely move. I transferred the partially mixed batter to another mixer and all was fine. It still will turn on however the whip/whisk barely turns.

I had decided to use the 4-C mixer because I was going to be mixing a recipe that was my grandmother's recipe from years ago. Figured her mixer would be the best for her recipe.....

 

[norgeway]

I use one

Exactly like it, I think you can get these fixed fairly easily, there are restoration shops listed on the internet, though ive never had any dealings with them.

 

[michaelman2]

Thanks Hans!

Thank you. I am seriously contemplating, taking it to one of the restoration shops. Glad to know all is good with you!

 

[chachp]

Restoration Shops

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">I have used two that were very good but unfortunately not taking new jobs at the moment.  Years ago there was a man in the UK who did amazing work.  His website was mixerfixer.com.  Last I heard he was ill so I don't know what ever happened to him.  His name was Phil. </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">He did three of my mixers and they were amazing when he was finished.  He did repairs and restorations. </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">More recently I used someone at nelsonezy.com.  His work was good but his paint work was not as good as Phil's in my opinion.  At one point his site said they have suspended taking on new work. I just logged in and saw they aren't doing this work anymore.</span>

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">I have found a few others on line that have impressive websites but all seem to say they are booked up for a long time. </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">This one looks good: http://www.themixermaster.com/Home_Page.html but they also state not accepting work at this time. </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">I have one exactly like yours that I would like to have restored.  If I find anyone I'll let you know and would appreciate the same. </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">I suspect these are a lot of work and they must not make enough money on them to be worth their while.</span>

 

[michaelman2]

Thank you Chach. Deal!

 

[rp2813]

If you're inclined to take a stab at diagnosing the problem and it turns out to be a relatively easy fix, you may be able to find a cheap parts donor machine on line and make the repair yourself.

 

I don't know how much the 4C differs from a K45 in its fundamental mechanical design, but I know there is a K45 repair guide available for download in the AE library.

 

[appnut]

The 4C isn't as robust as a K45.  The 4C was intended more to compete with value conscious--albeit you still got KA quality.  Not intended as heavy duty as a K45.  The instruction guide says not intended to make bread dough and similar heavy stuff. 

 

Mike, I have a 4C that's all metal--brushed chrome or SS that Kelly found while on a trip to visit his daughter and granddaughters in Kansas.  There's photos of it making cookies.  He knew I didn't have a mixer at the time, and never had had a stand mixer.  So he sent it to me.  And this alone, I deeply cherish the mixer.  About 6 months to a year after I got it, it began acting peculiar.  It would begin to slow down the longer it was on.  And sometimes it's sporadic at slow speeds.  I now use it for lighter duty stuff like simple cake mixes, pumpkin pie filling, whip small batches of egg whites or whipped cream and the like.  I have 2 beaters and 2 bowls--metal and glass--that Kelly also included.  I became so enamored with KA mixers, I ended up splurging for a Pro 600 almost 2 years ago.  I'd love to have the 4C restored to its proper working order some day, but it's such an intense sentimental item to me, I almost fear to let it out of my house because I don't want it screwed up, if I could only trust someone.