KitchenAid Blender Gasket

[fan-of-fans]

I purchased a KitchenAid UltraPower blender recently for cheap price. When I tested it, I found that the round plastic piece that the blade sits in spun with the blade, which I could tell it should be. I unscrewed the plastic base from the glass jar and found that the gasket that goes between that round plastic piece and the jar was missing.

Does anyone know the best place to get this part? I am also wondering if I should replace the blade assembly, two of the blades have round notches on them where they bend, it almost looks like they were made that way, but not sure.

And does anyone know how old this one is? KSB5AC4 is the model. It does not look like the current Diamond or Classic models, I think it is one or two models older.

I have seen some models do not have a spout, but mine does and there's a clear cap in the lid that removes to measure and add ingredients.

 

[yogitunes]

ebay...

 

[funktionalart]

I've got this stuff, Cole--

Let me know what you want--In addition to the mentioned gasket, I've also got a complete machine in red (shown here), a spare blender jar in blue (including the lid)....etc. The model numbers are slightly different to what you specify, but gasketry is the same for the jar on all models, I believe.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've got a newish KA blender.

As far as I can tell, you can't remove the blade assembly to change the gasket, at least not with regular tools. Am I missing something?

 

[funktionalart]

Rich~ Newish KA model

Depending on which one you mean, (I'll have to take a pic of my own newish one)I think there is a black flat sided nut on the blender's underside which has to be turned while securing the blade on the inside. I'll take a photo of what I have here for you to compare.

 

[sudsmaster]

OK, well all my Osterizers have been set up so you could loosen or fasten the assembly holding the blade and gasket to the jar without needing any tools.

I see that there's a big hex nut below and above the jar. The one below would probably take a deep socket wrench ok (looks like it's about 1 inch), but the one above has the blades in the way so unless there's a way to keep the shaft from spinning...

Oh, heck, I'll just bring the whole thing to the work shop.

Will check in later.

 

[sudsmaster]

OK, the nut at the bottom of the blade assembly is indeed 1". As is the nut inside the jar.

I was able to engage the lower nut with a six-sided deep socket. I was able to keep the nut inside the jar from turning with the open end of a big 1" wrench, which I held in a vice.

The first thing I noticed is that it's left hand threaded.

But once I had loosened the lower nut as far as it would go, it became obvious that there was no way to remove the blade assembly without also removing the pressed on semi-clear plastic gear that interfaces with the blender motor shaft. I was not willing to do that, since chances are it will destroy the plastic nut and I don' t have a spare handy. I will check the KA website to see if these parts are available. But it does look like KA doesn't want consumers to be removing the blade assembly from the jar for routine washing. This is supported by the drain holes in the collar around the bottom of the jar, which allow water to drain out when the jar is placed upside down in a dishwasher.

 

[sudsmaster]

With some difficulty I located my blender on the KA website. That KA mixes letters with numbers is problematic. Searching for KSB5400B0 came up with nothing. Then I discovered on a 3rd party website that it's really KSB54O0B0...!!!

In any case, KA calls it "Mid-Line" blender. It's a three speed, which I regard as all that a blender really needs anyway. However the jar and blade assembly are not intended to be separated for cleaning - KA says to just run half a jar of warm water with a few drops of detergent to clean the blades. Or put the whole thing in the lower rack of the dishwasher (which is usually what I do).

It's a well made thing, the base is cast metal (heavy) with a .9 HP motor (more than enough). I just don't like having shell out $50 for a jar assembly if all that needs replacing is the blades. Or the gaskets.

It seems to work well enough, although I don't use it all that much (most use has been for blending hot pepper/ginger/garlic/fish sauce for kimchee). Which may be why I was sort of wanting to take it all part for cleaning.

Owners manual: https://www.kitchenaid.com/digitalassets/MLPDF/Use and Care Guide - 9709948.pdf

Parts list:

http://www.kitchenaid.com/digitalassets/MLPDF/Repair%20Part%20List%20-%208212403.pdf

 

[fan-of-fans]

It looks like the blades probably aren't removable on the plastic jars, or on the blade assembly of the glass jar.

I have a small personal Hamilton Beach blender with a plastic jar you can drink out of. It has a small rubber wheel on the bottom of the jar with teeth much like my KitchenAid has on top of the motor. I was able to remove the blade on the HB by holding the blade and unscrewing that rubber wheel. I don't know that it's a good idea to do that often and I don't think the manual gave any allusion to it being able to come apart, but it worked ok. There was a little gunk between the blade and the bearing because I use it mostly for protein shakes.

I guess in these cases washing the jar out is the best you can do. If you could reach down in the jar, you might try running some dental floss or a string between the blade and bearing and see if you can get anything out.

I have not seen a three speed version in that style. My blender looks like the red one posted above except it's all white, and they did have a three speed version of it as well.

And I don't think the blade assembly on mine comes apart either from what I can tell. At least it is easier to clean once it is removed from the jar.

 

[tolivac]

Cleaning fixed blade blender containers-just put a little hot water in the container and a drop or two of dish detergent-then run the blender for several seconds-the suds made will clean the jar and the blades.Then just rinse out the jar and lid.

 

[sudsmaster]

Not hot

KA says to use warm, not hot, water, for in-place cleaning of jar and blades.

 

[tolivac]

I use hot for my Blendtec and VM blenders-no problems.Don't know about KA.For gaskets in old blenders-remember my Dad made on out of an old inner tube for my Stepmoms Oster--worked just fine!Inner tubes can make good gasket material.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Thanks, I just ordered a new gasket from eBay for a few dollars. Should be here this week. Then I can finally use it.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Allen, where I bought mine on eBay the listing said the gaskets were only for the KitchenAid models like mine and that red one, with a push on lid. It stated that parts for the models with a screw on lid were no longer made. I would have thought they all used the same gasket though.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I just discovered my model was made at least as late as 06. I was looking through a JcPenney catalog I have from that year and it shows this Ultra Power blender in metallic chrome/black, red, imperial black, white, almond, yellow, cobalt blue, and tangerine. There are also some other KitchenAid small appliances in there too.