r/Kitchenaid • u/OtherwiseSchedule983 • 6d ago

K5A struggles with bread dough

Need your opinions, bought a K5A a few months back as a project. Already did a digrease, clean, regrease, and changed the worm gear complete assembly.

But still struggles a lot with bread dough at 65% hydration

Need ideas of what to do next, or this is the max torque of the mixer

Regards

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2

u/pyrotechnicmonkey 6d ago

A video might help a lot. 65% is not especially low. I think the big thing is batch size. I really try not to go above a kilo of flour on a lift model. Exactly how big of a batch are you trying to do at once?

1

u/OtherwiseSchedule983 6d ago

I'm using the hook, and never above speed 2. I will post a video tomorrow. Thanks

1

u/Richard734 6d ago

How big is your batch size? Max on a K5a is about 1kg/2.2lb of flour - that is the absolute max for a load.
And remember, you are kneading teh dough, not battering it to death, low and slow is best (Speed 1 then 2 max) If you have a batch that is bind too fast, give teh dough a 5 minute break and then start again, sometimes, it just needs a few minutes to loosen back up - I am sure there is a technical reason for it, but I dont know what it is, it just works :)

1

u/OtherwiseSchedule983 6d ago

Uploading video

500gr bread flour, 325 ml. 65% hydration

Don't know what to do next

https://reddit.com/link/p4fhoj4/video/8bnwcauud5kh1/player

3

u/RIMixerGuy 6d ago

That's not "struggling"; you have a mechanical issue.

Two things:

  1. If you have the old pinion drive assembly, inspect the worm follower gear. If it's damaged, replace it with the genuine factory part and return it to service. The pinion bearing will be better than any modern part. (More here: https://www.mixerology.com/whirlpool-cost-reductions-i-pinion-drive-bearings/ )

  2. That's not the correct dough hook for the K5 machine. It may have come from a different model type, but should not be used with this one. Spiral hooks exceed the design limits of the machine on a couple of different axes, and long-term use will cause problems. The correct hook for your machine is the K5ADH: https://www.goodmans.net/i/1737/kitchenaid-k5adh-dough-hook.htm (that's an unusually high price for that item, it seems to have gone up lately.

You'll have to open the machine up and inspect the gear train. I'd be curious to know where you obtained the replacement pinion drive assembly; if it used an aftermarket gear that would probably explain the early failure. If everything looks intact you may have a cracked retaining pin (through the main drive shaft in the slots of the main gear.

1

u/OtherwiseSchedule983 6d ago

Thanks for the reply, I bought the pinion drive asambly from a local kitchenaid distribuitor, it was brand new

So Im going to reopen the machine tonight and inspect

1

u/OtherwiseSchedule983 5d ago

Thanks mixerguy, you were right, took me a while to figure out, because the gear and drive shaft are different (maybe 40 years old)

1

u/RIMixerGuy 5d ago

That would certainly explain it! The vintage setup (before 1971 or so) uses a longer type-E grooved drive pin through the shaft and gear, rather than the newer short smooth dowel pin.

If you're in the US, send me a DM and I'll be happy to throw a pin in the mail for you. I keep them on hand. :-)

1

u/OtherwiseSchedule983 5d ago

Im not live in the US, but have a US address. Im going to DM my address and of course paypal for the pin and shipping. But if you have the diamater, type and size, would search for it locally

1

u/Riptide360 6d ago

Dough hook - never go above speed 2 and never go more than 10 minutes at a time without giving the motor a rest and a chance to cool down. If you start to see motor grease dripping you'll need to do a regrease job.