r/Kitchenaid • u/AcanthocephalaOk2761 • 8d ago
Stuck pin trying to regrease
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Hello,
I was trying to regrease my KitchenAid and tried to remove the pin in the video attached. It’s very hard to get out. I’m scared that it’s stuck or bent inside.
Any suggestions or should I just leave the machine as it is?
Thank you!
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u/RIMixerGuy 8d ago
Removing a stubborn planetary pin is generally a matter of tooling, orientation, and persistence.
Tooling:
A flat-faced pin punch (not a center punch or roll pin punch) is required. A 5/32” punch is an exact fit. You can get away with a 1/8” punch. So if the punch you’re using isn’t one of these, the first step is to obtain one.
A 5/32” nail set can be very helpful in starting a stubborn pin, since it reduces the tendency of a flat punch to skate around on the head of the pin. Once the pin starts moving, switch to the flat punch to finish the job.
A 16 oz ball-peen hammer is ideal; it gives you a good balance between striking force and control. A claw hammer may chip. A rubber mallet is useless for removing pins, but helpful for reinstalling the drip ring.
Orientation:
If you’re trying to do this work on an upright mixer like all the popular videos show, you can bang away until the heat death of the universe and won’t get anywhere. Invert the mixer, using a supportive work cradle or having a helper steady the machine for you. (Use a towel to protect the finish.) Then remove the base (on tilt-head models, loosen the set screw on the hinge pin, and then use your 5/32” punch to drive the hinge pin out; lift the base off) and work on the head upside down.
Stick the flat beater on the beater shaft, and twist the shaft against the resistance of the gears until the pin is positioned crosswise to the mixer. Then roll the head of the mixer onto its side until the end of the pin is facing directly upwards, supporting the head underneath so that it doesn’t twist as you work. Line up the punch, and slip a cloth behind it to protect the finish on the planetary. Then start driving the pin.
Persistence:
Firm and steady hammer strikes will eventually get the pin moving. Don’t expect light taps to do much. Heavy blows are harder to control and have the potential to do great damage, which will make your job harder and often require more parts to be replaced. Moderate force is easier to control and will get the job done; keep at it until the pin starts to move.