How to Fix a Broken Worm Gear in a KitchenAid Mixer

Busted worm gear

So, I finally got around to fixing the broken worm gear in my KitchenAid mixer. Backstory: in April, I was in the middle of mixing butter, sugar and eggs when the paddle attachment stopped turning and my baby, er, I mean, mixer, made this awful noise. I thought, “Shit!!! I killed it!” After some research online, I determined that I had the same issue as many other KitchenAid owners: a busted worm gear*. The part itself&emdash;which can be ordered from Amazon&emdash;is about $5. Sure, you can take it to a repair place, but, if you’re like me and live in NYC and don’t own a car, that can be an additional cost to rent a car. So, I decided I’d fix it myself and save the $150+. I had to buy the new gear ($5), a putty knife, and a pin punch set&emdash;all of which cost me under $20. Now all I needed was the courage to actually fix it. Oh, you’ll also need a couple sizes of phillips screwdrivers, a flathead one and a hammer. And, probably many paper towels and disinfecting wipes…or maybe I’m just messy.

Fast forward to today, when I finally dove in and fixed my mixer. I was a little wary and had tried to rally (read, bribe with dinner and baked goods) someone else to fix it, but time passed and it fell to the wayside. Anyway, long story short, I found an incredibly helpful video on YouTube (below). I felt pretty accomplished that I was able to fix my mixer on my own. Hey, if anyone needs theirs fixed, contact me and I’ll do it for a small fee. :).

Here’s the video I followed on YouTube fixing a broken worm gear. It’s about 10 minutes long, but, if you’re like me, you’ll pause it while you remove screws and parts. Don’t be scared to fix it yourself. Hell, if I can do it, anyone can. I have to say that I feel quite empowered after this experience. Hey, it’s the little things that make me happy.

*Also, I’d like to thank (sarcasm noted) the ever helpful customer service people at KitchenAid who tried to tell me that I didn’t know how to properly use my mixer and that’s why it broke. No, you see, the part itself is faulty and many owners of KitchenAid mixers have encountered the same problem (go on, do a google search). It really bothers me that there isn’t a lifetime warranty on the mixer. I mean, if one is going to shell out $300+ for a kitchen appliance, you’d think that the company would make a part that actually endures over time. Take note, KitchenAid!!

The gears, after the motor has been removed.

Worm gear placement