Attachments won't turn

Artisan mixers do not "switch". The food processor gets power from the power take off (PTO) shaft under the cap on the front of the mixer and the mixer gets power through the gear box. Both get motor power all the time all the time.

To "switch", take the bowl and beaters off the Artisan. Remove the PTO cap and install the food processor. Tape up your sleeves so the mixer drive does not grab your blouse. Turn on the mixer (as usual), adjust the speed (as usual), and process away.

I would try a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

It sounds like it could be a possible stripped gear. You could have a bad attachment drive gear or bevel pinon gear.
Best thing to do would be to take the mixer apart, and inspect those gears. Here is a link to the service manual which will aid you in taking apart your 4.5 quart mixer: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mendingshed/kitchenaidservicemanual.pdf
Here is a link to the attachment drive gear: http://www.mendingshed.com/attachmentgear.html
Here is a link to the bevel pinion center gear: http://www.mendingshed.com/pinionwormgear.html
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Colleen
Customer Service
MendingShed.com
800-339-9297

If you haven't solved this problem yet, I have a couple suggestions.
Take off the motor housing, be VERY careful where the exposed electrical contacts are, then plug it in and turn on the motor with no gears attached. If it spins, cycle through the speeds to make sure they all work, then if they do, revisit your gears. Turn them all by hand and make sure they move easily and smoothly. Make sure the teeth aren't too worn down. I don't know what model you have, but also check anything that holds gears on or in place to make sure they aren't loose or cracked.
If the motor does not spin, look at the brushes (you could start by doing this if you wanted to, since they are far easier to take apart than the motor housing, but my guess is this isn't the problem). If the brushes are worn down to near the spring, buy new ones. If the brushes look fine, then either get real brave and pull open the motor to look for broken or worn out parts, or call an electrical engineer friend, or send it off to kitchenaid or a repair shop.

Try tipping the mixer on it's side. the brush holder is a solid brass piece that goes all the way to the armature. You might also try fishing with a hat needle or a dental pick. If it truly is stuck in there and will not come out you are into a complete motor tear down to remove the brush holder to get at the culprit..

It sounds like your problem may be with the motor itself rather than the planetary, or with the board the motor switch is attached to. I think you need to test whether the motor is getting power when the switch is moved on. if it is, the motor may need to be replaced. If the switch is faulty, replace the board the switch is attached to.

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 CURIOUSHBGEO, I hate it when that happens. Those ‘rubber (plastic) “screws”’ are your mixer’s electric motor brushes. The slotted black threaded plastic parts are just the Brush Holder Caps and are the protective covers to the brush holder assemblies. They allow access to the brushes when they need to be replaced without having to take the whole mixer head apart.
From what you’ve described, I suspect that one or both of the brushes is (are) not seated properly when you reinstalled them. The brushes need to be installed so that they both seat correctly on the armature's commutator or you won’t get any ‘juice’ to the motor. See the illustration below:
I'd suggest removing them again and making sure the concave contact face rests completely on the armature’s commutator. If you've turned it 90 degrees too much, it won’t seat properly and you get no power to the motor.
It would also be helpful to have the Parts List manual on hand. If you're lacking one, you can download a PDF version from the KA website at: http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home.
Click on Customer Care>Locate Manuals & Guides> Enter the 6 character model number, in your case use K45SSW, and select the first file K45SSWH0.pdf (341.41 KB) listed under Parts List (1) and then check to verify this matches your mixer model.
Turn to pages 6 & 7, titled “Motor And Control Parts”, which provides an exploded view for the disassembly and reassembly of your mixer’s electrical components, along with all the parts. Locate Illus No 32, Brush holder assembly that includes Illus. Nos. #18, 21, 22, 23 & 31, and Illus. No. 19, Brush & Spring assembly respectively.
The Parts List illustration along with the picture above regarding the orientation of the brushes should get your mixer powered back up and operational. Good luck! I hope this helps. Howard, Burke, VA
If this solution has been helpful to you, please rate it, thanks! -hslincoln

Check the spring pin that locks the motor shaft to the main drive gear in the gear box. You should be able to turn the motor from the back at the cooling fins and watch the shaft spin in the gear, that is if the pin is sheared. That is a common problem. if you plan on keeping this machine for a while, i recomend that you spend a little more on a quality spring pin,

mechanictony-
good luck.