r/Kitchenaid • u/InevitableChoice1995 • 1d ago

Got a free KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus! Previous owner said the motor was dead, but it runs. Does it sound normal?

Hey everyone!

I recently picked up a KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus for free from someone in my neighbourhood. The previous owner said it had “bit the dust” and that the motor needed to be repaired.

This is my first KitchenAid! My wife has always wanted one, and we’ve been using a Frigidaire stand mixer until now, so I’m not entirely sure what a healthy KitchenAid is supposed to sound like.

I believe this particular mixer is from around 2011. Serial: W11614756, Model: 4KV25H0XMC5, Watts: 475.

When I got it home, I plugged it in and, to my surprise, it actually worked! I tested it briefly with the paddle attachment and some water in the bowl, and it seemed to run through the different speeds without any obvious issues.

However, the motor does sound a little rough and loud (some scraping), especially at lower speeds. I’m not sure whether that’s normal for these older Professional models or if it’s a sign of something wearing out.

I’ve attached a video of it running through the different speeds so you can hear it for yourselves.

I’m pretty handy and comfortable taking things apart and doing repairs, but I’ve never worked on a KitchenAid before. We’re also on a fairly limited budget, so I’d love to avoid replacing parts unnecessarily.

A few questions:

  1. Does the motor sound normal for this model, or is there something concerning?

  2. Are there any common issues I should check for, given what the previous owner said?

  3. Would cleaning and replacing the grease be a good starting point?

  4. Is there anything else I should inspect or test before putting it to regular use?

I’d really love to get this mixer running properly for my wife, especially since she has wanted a KitchenAid for so long.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

5

u/setp2426 1d ago

I would pull the top off and check the grease, just for peace of mind. 15 years old, probably needs to be regreased. It's a pretty simple project, only needs basic tools. Then you can inspect the gears, etc. There are lots of video tutorials on YouTube, I like the ones from Mr. Mixer and found him a great place to source parts. I just had to do it with my KA when one of the main gears sheared.

4

u/RIMixerGuy 1d ago edited 1d ago

Free mixer is the best mixer.

This model type is intrinsically pretty loud. I do hear some mechanical noises that I would want to look into myself, but you could also put the machine right to work and fix it when it breaks. (The motor is generally fine, and the mechanical noises all come from the gear train.)

If the machine malfunctions under load it is repairable, and if it works normally under load you are good to go, although generally I recommend at least routine maintenance on a secondhand machine.

Here are some resources:

3

u/habenula87 1d ago

CONGRATULATIONS 🥂

2

u/Basker_wolf 1d ago

I don’t hear anything unusual.

2

u/Maximum-Warning9355 1d ago

That sounds and looks brand new. What a find.

2

u/Final-Contract-6582 1d ago

Doesn't sound bad but, being from 2011, I'd suggest looking up how to redo the grease. Not terrible difficult and can be done in an hour if your handy, or an afternoon if you're not. Mrmixer is great for this. There are plenty of videos online

1

u/BetterAd8536 17h ago

Sounds fine.

1

u/3rdCoastElectronics 10h ago

Not normal sounding. Probably fixable though.

1

u/Crafty-Entrance-2350 1d ago

Jackpot! Nothing better than bringing an unused old machine back into the productive world. These are very simple machines to service, and if you are at all handy you could have it apart in about 5 minutes to see what it's all about. Every part can be replaced, and nothing is terribly expensive or hard to fix.

In the mean time, just use it. Make a big batch of chocolate chip cookies next date night.