Kitchen Aid mixer repair in/near Chicago (west side)

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone knows of a reputable place to get my Kitchen Aid mixer repaired (it's leaking oil--which I believe means that the bearing needs to be repacked and probably a few small parts are worn). The factory authorized places are all way out in the 'burbs, and with gas prices as they are, I'd rather find someplace closer, even if it's not "authorized". I would fix it myself if I had the time, but given the instructions I found on the web, it will take me the better part of a day, plus having to order parts if I find any worn, and trying to track down a small amount of food grade bearing grease.
Thanks!
Anna

Hi,

Would you consider shipping it to the authorized repair? My mixer broke some years ago. I had it repaired at a small appliance repair shop in Dempster west of the Edens. I had the impression they changed a drive belt, but I have never felt the transition from slow to fast was as smooth as before. It has long been my intention to send it to an authorized repair shop for an overhaul.

If I were to ship it, then I would check if it could be sent to the factory hoping they might do the best repair.

Regards,

Lulu-
Had exactly the same problem with our KA (vintage 1972) and got it fixed at

Authorized Appliance Service. 1644 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL ...

Maybe too far west for you, but they did a good job, 2-3 years ago.

Where is it leaking oil? A few years ago my (nearly new) KA mixer was leaking oil out of the area where the hook attaches. KA customer support said that this is normal if the mixer is not used a lot. She recommended using it more (or at least running the motor more). Now I use it all of the time, and it doesn't leak at all.

Thanks all for your replies so far.

To respond:
I can ship it, but it's an extra $32 fee. In that case driving to the burbs is cheaper. Plus 4-6 weeks turnaround time.

The Downer's Grove place was one of their authorized places. I may well just bite the bullet and drive it out there, but I'd love to know a reputable small appliance repair place in the city for this and other big-ish kitchen gadgets. I think the Kitchen Aid would strap nicely to the rack on my bicycle....for some good pictures too. There's also an authorized repair in Elmhurst, which may be closer for me, although I think they're pretty equidistant.

I use the Kitchen Aid a ton (this one has 9 years of heavy use on it), and our machine growing up would occasionally have the same problem which is a relatively cheap fix (it's leaking grease out of the accessory attacher and all around the metal band around the motor--and it recently started squeaking, which means there's not much grease left--so I've left it idle--so sad, no meat grinding right at the peak of hamburger season). I read somewhere online when I was researching fixing it myself that some plastic part is designed to wear out over time, and can be continually replaced, thus preventing more serious damage to the motor from heavy use.

Can anyone tell me the name and address of the Kitchenaid mixer repair facilityin Elmhurst? Thanks.

HI,

I think you need to search for Hoffman Estates for the official KitchenAid repair location.

Regards,

It turns out I was pretty dissatisfied with the Elmhurst location. They took FOREVER and the machine is already leaking oil and squeaking again.
I can't find their name or address right now, sorry, but I got it by calling the Kitchen Aid 800 number.

Ok, sounds like the Downers Grove location is a good one. I'll check that out. Thanks.

I have two stand mixers in need of repair. One is completely dead and the other has various other problems.

This is an authorized repair facility in the area:

Abesco,Inc
2200 Stonington Ave Suite 200
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195
Phone: 847-884-9595
Fax: 847-884-9554

I haven't actually brought my mixers in yet. They are sitting on a table waiting for me to clear some time to drive to Hoffman Estates. But I talked to the service rep there already, who told me there is a flat diagnostic fee (perhaps $30?) plus the cost of repairs. She said most repairs are actually very cheap and they tell you the price before they do any work. She also said they have a "tune up" type of service where they recalibrate the speed adjustments, etc.

Looks as though the Downer's Grove location has closed. They do not answer their phone, and the Google streetview shows a "For Lease" sign in the window. Anyone have other ideas?
I'd be willing to ship the thing.

Josephine, did you try Abesco?

Hi,

I gave away a newer KitchenAid whose timing belt (not sure what else to call it) needed replacing. My sister found a website that explained how to repair a KitchenAid mixer that is not spinning.

I know she ordered the part and was going to repair it herself before passing it onto a friend. I don't know yet the outcome.

Regards,

Darren72 wrote:Josephine, did you try Abesco?

I will try them. Thanks, Darren 72.

And, Cathy, thanks also for that website, but it's not the spinning that's the problem, it's the up-down adjustment of the blade that does not work. I was using it while not properly adjusted, and it made matters worse, so now I'm going to spring for a proper solution.

Last Friday I turned my back on my lovely KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer for a minute while making bread dough, and it fell on the floor. It still mixes, but now the head won't tilt back more than an inch or so - it was a bit of a trick to remove the bowl.

I tried KitchenAid's website for local repair shops, but the site provided nothing but error messages. An e-mail and a phone call to KitchenAid revealed 2 local authorized repair shops, both of which are in far-off burbs and neither of which is open outside normal office hours, when I might actually be able to get there. KitchenAid offered round-trip shipping to the factory service department for $34, plus the cost of repairs (or a $25 diagnostic fee if I opted not to repair).

I poked around for local appliance places, but most seem to be for large appliances only, and I'd totally be flying blind. Does anyone know a local small appliance repair place that they trust? One that might actually be open at least briefly on an evening or weekend?

Have you given ABT a call? They have a pretty robust service department.

Abt Electronics
1200 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Glenview, IL 60025
847-967-8830

Seven quart KitchenAid

justjoan wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Joan,

Where do you have your mixer repaired?

I happen to have a 5-Qt I bought around 1980. Only once did I have it fixed: something related to controlling speed snapped.

Regards,

there's a place called manau cutlery, which sharpens knives for restaurants and butchers, etc. and repairs restaurant appliances. i've asked if anyone can bring in home sized kitchenaids and the word is yes. i always get my mixer back the next day. the only official kitchenaid appliance repair place (last time i checked) is in elmhurst and repairs take weeks! so go ahead and bring your mixer in. but i suggest you call ahead, talk to bill, and make sure he has the parts you need as your machine is old. it might be cash only, so ask about that as well.
MANAU CUTLERY
2533 s. western. (773-376-4275)

Thanks, guys - a friend offered to take a crack at it, but if that doesn't work, I will try the places you have recommended. Lord knows we've had enough experiences with ABT over the past few years! And we could stand to get our knives sharpened anyway, for that matter.

Heavy sigh - my friend did take a crack at it, and he did fix what I thought was the immediate issue of the head not tilting back, for which I am immensely grateful. But now that I've plugged it In, it's making unhappy grinding noises and not going above low speed. I think it's time for a pro, and possibly some spare parts.

(and I called Abt, and they do not repair stand mixers.)

If you find a place, please post--my burr grinder stopped working and I'd love to see what it would cost to repair v. replace. Probably not worth it but would like to at least see if it's possible.

boudreaulicious wrote:If you find a place, please post--my burr grinder stopped working and I'd love to see what it would cost to repair v. replace. Probably not worth it but would like to at least see if it's possible.

look at my post above.

Success at Manau Cutlery! Took my baby in on Sunday, hubby picked it up today. I wish I had been there to ask in more detail about the repair, but my husband said the guy who took care of him at pickup was not the same guy who we met on Sunday. But the invoice says: repair $60, parts (motor brushes x 2) $36. No idea what motor brushes are, but I'm looking forward to giving it a test drive. Bonus: knife sharpening for $2/each! I always forget how nice it is to work with freshly sharpened knives.

We were the only ones in the place at Sunday dropoff, but my husband said the place was booming today, with about 12 guys working and all the machinery going at once. Restaurants must be their main customers.

(Sorry, I didn't see the question abut the burr grinder until after we dropped it off, and I didn't do the pickup. I'd give them a call, though.)

Thanks Eva Luna--I'm going to call tomorrow!!! The price certainly seems reasonable!!

skj wrote:Can anyone tell me the name and address of the Kitchenaid mixer repair facility in Elmhurst? Thanks.

Midwest Restaurant Equipment Services
183 N. York Rd.
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 279-8000

The reason I know this is because I recently did something stupid with my blender and I called Kitchenaid for authorized service centers. BTW - Abt does not service small appliances.

I had bad luck with the Elmhurst repair place years ago so they are on bad paper with me forever.

As bad luck would have it I broke my Kitchen Aid stand mixer last Sunday. (Pro tip - with the meat grinder attached do not suddenly jerk the throttle all the way to high to see how fast it will go.)

Anyway with the help of youtube I am fixing it myself. The worm gear is ordered from Midwest Appliance Parts (or some such name) at 2037 W Fullerton.

AngrySarah wrote:I had bad luck with the Elmhurst repair place years ago so they are on bad paper with me forever.

As bad luck would have it I broke my Kitchen Aid stand mixer last Sunday. (Pro tip - with the meat grinder attached do not suddenly jerk the throttle all the way to high to see how fast it will go.)

Anyway with the help of youtube I am fixing it myself. The worm gear is ordered from Midwest Appliance Parts (or some such name) at 2037 W Fullerton.

https://www.midwestapplianceparts.com/
2023 W. Fullerton Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(800) 621-1932

once again, i will post about manau cutlery for those who didn't read the complete thread. it's mostly for restaurants, but anyone can bring their kitchenaid in for 24 hour turnaround (usually) on repairs. it's a great resource. they also sharpen knives, as Eva said in an earlier post.

MANAU CUTLERY
2533 s. western

773-376-4275

I fixed it! I feel awesome. If anyone has a kitchenaid that does not spin order the worm gear from Midwest - about 9 or 10 bucks - drop me a PM and if you get me a sixer of Zombie Dust or Sumptin' Sumptin' and I will fix it for you.

Oh, you need the part number but Ms. Google can get that for you.