20 Most Recent KitchenAid KSM90 Ultra Power Series Stand Mixer - Page 5 Questions & Answers

Get a copy of the Repair Part List for your model at Kitchenaid.com
Download a Copy of the Kitchenaid Service manual.

http://www.kitchenaidparts.be/centers/servicemanual/mixer.pdf

It covers your model.

Get a copy of the Repair Part List for your model at Kitchenaid.com
Constant pushing of the beater onto the Agitator shaft (40) can cause
it to be pushed in too far into the Planetary (33). With the beater in place,
use a rubber mallet to slightly tap the edges of the beater and push the
shaft out until you can see the retaining clip.
Now you have enough clearance on the shaft to push the beater upward
and twist it to remove it.

Get a Copy of the Repair Part List from Kitchenaid.com.
You need to adjust the mixer speeds:

Remove the screw holding the End Cover and locate the three screws from the Control Plate.
All three (2 top left and right, and 1 bottom) must be adjusted. Make sure that the Control
Plate is not damaged in any way, contacts are not charred or burnt,etc...

1. Loosen the lock nuts enough & Turn the 2 top screws clockwise until they cannot be turned
anymore. Leave the bottom screw alone for now.
2. Use a dab of white paint or paper whiteout to mark the positions of the Phillips screws.
3. Plug in your mixer and Set the speed selector to "Stir".
4. Turn each top screw One full turn couterclockwise (alternating between Left and Right)
Keep making one full turn at the time (for both left and right) until the motor starts running.
5. Put your hand near the Agitator shaft and allow it to brush your finger slightly. Use your
watch or clock and start counting the number of times the shaft touches your finger in
60 seconds. The correct count should be 60 RPM (Rounds Per Minute). If it is less
or more than 60, give each screw 1/4 turn counterclockwise or clockwise and start counting
again. Now tighten both lock nuts.
6. Set the speed selector to "6" and turn the bottom screw either clockwise or counterclockwise
to achieve a speed of 180 RPM.

For your reference, the planetary RPM's for the 5-qt. tilt-head Artisan Stand Mixer are as follows:
Stir speed - 60
Speed 2 - 95
Speed 4 - 135
Speed 6 - 180
Speed 8 - 225
Speed 10 - 280

I had your same issue with the speeds. I think you need to adjust the speed through the speed control panel.
Open the back spherical cover on the Kitchenaid KSM90, the area with one screw on the top. You should see the speed control panel, a black and gold square connected to wires. There should be three large silver screws - two on the top, left and right - and one on the bottom. If you turn the top two screws clock wise the machine slows down at lower speeds. When you adjust the bottom screw, the higher speeds are effected. This process is called "tuning" and you can find an online video how-to through sites like Youtube.
As for the squeaking, you maybe replace some of the grease inside of the machine. Food grade gear lube would do if you are up for the challenge, but kitchenaid also sells a grease for their stand mixers for a pricey $20. It isn't hard to put in new grease and clean out the old but requires a lot of disassembly.
~ I am not an expert but a hobbyist. This advice is only my opinion based on limited experience. ~

be sure motor brushes are inserted in the holders correctly; as 1 side of carbon brush has a shaved corner; and must be inserted as such. you will need a flashlight to shine into holder to see the shape of holder. i've seen this many times.

Make sure your Beater can slip in and out of the Beater Shaft
easily. Do not force the beater onto the Shaft if the shaft is bent.
If it cannot be removed easily by hand, use a soft rubber mallet
(not a steel hammer) to slightly tap the beater so it can be moved
up and down the shaft or from side to side. Then you can easily
turn the beater left and remove it from the shaft.

From Kitchenaid Manual:
To Attach Flat Beater, Wire Whip, or Dough Hook
1. Turn speed control to OFF.
2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.
3. Tilt motor head back.
4. Slip beater onto beater shaft and press upward
as far as possible.
5. Turn beater to right, hooking beater over pin on shaft.
6. Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

To Remove Flat Beater, Wire Whip or Dough Hook
1. Turn speed control to OFF.
2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.
3. Tilt motor head back.
4. Press beater upward as far as possible and turn left.
5. Pull beater from beater shaft

Make sure your Beater can slip in and out of the Beater Shaft

easily. Do not force the beater onto the Shaft if the shaft is bent.

If it cannot be removed easily by hand, use a soft rubber mallet

(not a steel hammer) to slightly tap the beater so it can be moved

up and down the shaft or from side to side. Then you can easily

turn the beater left and remove it from the shaft.

From Kitchenaid Manual:

To Attach Flat Beater, Wire Whip, or Dough Hook

1. Turn speed control to OFF.

2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.

3. Tilt motor head back.

4. Slip beater onto beater shaft and press upward

as far as possible.

5. Turn beater to right, hooking beater over pin on shaft.

6. Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

To Remove Flat Beater, Wire Whip or Dough Hook

1. Turn speed control to OFF.

2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.

3. Tilt motor head back.

4. Press beater upward as far as possible and turn left.
5. Pull beater from beater shaft.

The KSM90 is very similar to the 5-qt. tilt-head Artisan Stand Mixer.
You need to adjust the mixer speeds. Obtain a copy of the KSM90 Repair Part List from Kitchenaid.com. Remove the screw holding the End Cover and locate the three screws from the Control Plate. All three (2 top left and right, and 1 bottom) must all be adjusted. 1. Loosen the lock nuts enough & Turn the 2 top screws clockwise until they cannot be turned
anymore. Leave the bottom screw alone for now.
2. Use a dab of white paint or paper whiteout to mark the positions of the Phillips screws.
3. Plug in your mixer and Set the speed selector to "Stir".
4. Turn each top screw One full turn couterclockwise (alternating between Left and Right)
Keep making one full turn at the time (for both left and right) until the motor starts running.
5. Put your hand near the Agitator shaft and allow it to brush your finger slightly. Use your
watch or clock and start counting the number of times the shaft touches your finger in
60 seconds. The correct count should be 60 RPM (Rounds Per Minute). If it is less
or more than 60, give each screw 1/4 turn counterclockwise or clockwise and start counting
again. Now tighten both lock nuts.
6. Set the speed selector to "6" and turn the bottom screw either clockwise or counterclockwise
to achieve a speed of 180 RPM.

For your reference, the planetary RPM's for the 5-qt. tilt-head Artisan Stand Mixer are as follows:
Stir speed - 60
Speed 2 - 95
Speed 4 - 135
Speed 6 - 180
Speed 8 - 225
Speed 10 - 280

Two things you can do for a 24-year old machine:

1. Replace both motor brushes (Black large plastic Caps on each side
of the Moto Housing). Without these, the motor wouldn't even run.
2. Replace the Worm Gear (the cause of the Rough Loud noises)

Download a copy of the Repair Part List from Kitchenaid.com for
your model KSM90.

Also don't forget to tighten all the screws inside the mixers and use
fresh Kitchenaid Grade Food Grease for all the gears.

It sounds like the Worm Gear is going out. The faster the motor runs,
the more damages the Center Gear is grinding away the teeth of the
Worm Gear. Things start to slow down, and eventually they will come
to a halt. It's time to replace the Worm Gear. Also make sure to use
new fresh Kitchenaid Food Grade Grease with the new replacement.

go to a technician and have the motor rewinded again. because your machine encountered a short circuit so the motor needs to have a new rewind. Hope the other parts are not affected.

Hi, Did you push the beater in so that it clicks. If all is good there, gear box maybe at fault or jammed. Take it to a service center for repair. If you are machanicly inclined (DIY) Take it apart and see why its not turning. Good luck.

Hi dickgadsby,

Please try to move the lever slightly up or down while moving it forward to see if this will free the lever. If not and still lever can't be moved this means that you need to remove the top end assembly to check and replace parts. If you don't have the parts list manual you can download it from Kitchenaid's webiste. Pages 6 & 7 provides an exploded view for the disassembly and reassembly of your mixer. Check Illus Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, which are Pivot screw, Spring washer, Switch lever and stud, and Control plate spring. Once you have disassembled your machine inspect the pivot screw to see if it's loose. If loose, tighten. Inspect the rest of the assembly to determine if something else hasn't broken or gotten out of alignment. If something has broken, you can order replacement parts and install them yourself. You may order parts from repairclinic.com or searspartsdirect.com. Go to this link for it provides instructions on how to disassemble your machine.

Hope it helps.

Thank yu for using FixYa.

If you can still find them in stores they average $225.00. Used ones go for $135 - 200.00 depending on what accessories they have. The full accessory kit can still be purchased today for $129.00 at Home Depot.

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

run under hot water over where the dough hook attatches to shaft. this should free it.

your control plate is worn out. it will need replacement.

I called KitchenAid about this issue with my mixer. The agent on the phone told me they are aware that it tends to happen to some mixers after they sit for some time. Basically, a "lifetime" of grease has been packed into the assembly and it is normal for it to release grease on occasion. I was told to run the mixer at 10 for at least 2 minutes to get it going and I should see a reduction in the oil leak. I had about a tablespoon worth of oil dripping down off the assembly. I was told that if over time it seemed to amount to about 1/4 cup then I should call to see about repairs due to a potentially bad seal. I was also told that the repair for that would most likely NOT cost the same as a new appliance.

This is the end seal of the motor, you can get parts from manufacturer. you will need a service manual, OR go to the manufacturers web site and contact them.

The oil leaks when the grease has broken down. One way to fix this is to take the mixer apart. Click on link to see how.

http://www.neilcrockett.com/mixer.htm

Clean the old grease out and google (KitchenAid mixer grease) and you'll find new grease on amazon for around $17.

Repack and it should be as good as new.

Where exactly is the oil leak coming from? Comment back to this post.

the back cover is the housing that protects the speed adjustment! i THINK that this is the reason your mixer is going so slowly but im not sure, you will have to get it checked out by a kitchenaid repair centre seeing as the same thing happened to mine, they told me it was the speed adjustment.

your speed adjustment will have to be looked at. You can do this yourself but it is not easy, so it's easier to take it to a kitchenaid center where they can do it for you, but dont let them con you into getting a new mixer or anything until you know its broken or something is seriously wrong with it! hope this helps. Luke :)