In my case the lock was not engaging fully because the internal mechanism was bent too short. I'm not sure if this happened over time or if it is just a manufacturing defect. If your mixer still has some up-and-down play to it when the lock is engaged, then you might have the same problem as me
To fix it, search this site and others for instructions on how to remove the motor cover. I found this video useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeCiivPt7hk
With the cover removed you have access to the locking mechanism. In my case, the latch is connected to the locking lever via a bent S-hook. The hook was just slightly too short which kept the latch from engaging completely. If you remove the two screws holding the hook in place and that allows the lock to close completely, then you have the same problem as me. (You'll feel the difference immediately. When fully locked, there is practically no wobble in the mixer head.)
I lengthened the hook by placing it against a flat surface and hammering the bend out a bit.
SOURCE: Kitchenaid Mixer head wobbles bad
The solution provided by luannej is useful only if your mixing attachment is striking the surface of the bowl. By adjusting the screw located at the junction of the head and base, you are actually controlling how far the head is allowed to tilt forward and, thus, the height of the attachment above the bottom of the bowl. Although the attachment striking the bottom of the bowl will lead to wobble (and noise!), it isn't usually the root cause of the wobble. In fact, the wobble may be causing the bowl strikes and adjusting the head height only hides the problem.
The head of the mixer is secured to the base by a large steel pin. Any play between the head and base comes from this hinge and its resulting tolerances. To "tighten" the sloppy tolerances causing your wobble, follow these steps: 1) Lock the mixer's head down and turn the entire mixer upside down. 2) Looking deep into the hollow base, find the small slotted set screw. This screw actually presses against the pin and takes up the slop between the head and pin. Note that this screw is not the large slotted screw I mentioned earlier visible when you tilt the head back. 3)Tighten the small set screw as much as you can. Your wobble should be greatly reduced or eliminated now. 4) Lastly, you may want to readjust the large screw controlling the head's tilt to optimize the distance between attachment and bowl. Hope this helps.
SOURCE: My kitchenaid ksm150ps standing mixer's top seems
Hi DENISE, by the symptoms you describe it appears that
it’s time to adjust your mixer’s Beater to Bowl Clearance adjustment screw, or head
locking mechanism (or a component) of it is worn or loosened due to normal wear
and tear and needs to be readjusted (or repaired) to keep your mixer head
stationery and level.
The
instructions for adjusting your beater to bowl clearance are located in your
Owners Manual. If you don’t have the
original manual you can easily download a PDF version of your Owners Manual
from the KA website: (http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home).
Click
on Customer Care>Locate Manuals&
Guides> and enter the 6 character model number, in your case KSM150 and
select the file listed for your model that
appears under Owners Manuals (66) KSM150PSER1.pdf (732.33
KB) and save that file to your PC. Turn to Page 14 and you will find the
instructions for adjusting the mixer head height.
But
to save you some time, I have extracted the instructions below:
Beater
to Bowl Clearance
Your mixer is adjusted at the factory so that the flat beater just clears the
bottom of the bowl. If for any reason, the flat beater hits the bottom of the
bowl or is too far away from the bowl, clearance
Tilt-Head
models
• Unplug mixer.
• Lift motor head.
• Turn screw (A) SLIGHTLY counter clockwise (left) to raise flat beater or
clockwise (right) to lower flat beater.
• Make adjustment with flat beater, so it just clears surface of bowl.
If you over adjust the screw, the bowl lock lever may not lock into place.
If the above doesn’t correct your problem, then you
need to look at the Link & Lever Latch assembly. If you don’t have your parts list manual,
select the file KSM150PSWH0.pdf (773.44 KB)
listed under the Parts List Manual (61).
The manual
provides an exploded view for the disassembly and reassembly of your mixer,
along with all the part names and numbers.
Turn to page5, titled: Base and Pedestal Unit. You’ll want to focus on Illus. #11, Link
& Lever Latch assembly, and the related components, which locks the mixer
head to the pedestal when you run the mixer. Check to see if something is just
loose, exceedingly worn or broken. If
something has broken, you can order replacement parts and install
yourself.
Here
are five potential vendors in no particular order: RepairClinic.com;
mendingshed.com; searspartsdirect.com; partstore.com; and Grainger.com. Prices can vary widely between vendors, so do
your comparison shopping.
Also,
while your mixer is apart it would be ideal to check for any other unseemly
wear and tear on the gears, etc. It can
be messy but quite gratifying to diagnose and repair your KA mixer yourself.
Finally,
here are some links to several excellent websites that detail the
disassembling/reassembly of a KA Mixer.
Between
these three websites and their excellent pictures and descriptions and your
Parts List manual, you should now be able to completely disassemble, repair,
and reassemble your mixer.
Finally,
if you feel this is beyond your capabilities and will be too difficult to do by
yourself you can take your mixer to a local small appliance repair shop and
have them troubleshoot and fix your mixer. KA Customer Care can provide you
with the name and phone # of the closest authorized KA repair shop in your area
or you can do a Online web search, but be sure to get at least three estimates
before deciding to commit to one repair shop.
Good luck. I hope
this helps. Howard, Burke, VA
If this solution has helped you, please rate it, thanks! – hslincoln
SOURCE: Kitchenaid Mixer will not lock
This sounds like an issue of beater to bowl adjustment, which can come out of alignment naturally over time and with use of the machine.
If the flat beater is striking the bottom of your bowl, this may cause the locking mechanism to loosen and may cause the mixing head to "bounce" during use.
Your Use and Care Guide will cover the "beater to bowl adjustment," which you can do at home in a few minutes with a flathead screwdriver.
Hope this helps!
SOURCE: I have a KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer (325
the solution to this is to tighten the screw visible through the base that intersects the pin. Turn the machine upside down and using a long flat screwdriver tighten the screw.
SOURCE: Kitchenaid Classic -Mixer Head wobbles or shakes back and forth
Lay the mixer on its side and look up through the base. You willnotice a small set screw. This holds the pin tight. If the set screw gets loose the pin willl begin to move out and the head will wobble. Simply tighten the set screw. I just did this to my Kitchenaid mixer 10 minutes ago and it now works fine.
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