Lost stem in coffee maker that pushes the hot water up to the basket

You seem to be saying the unit "leaked: really badly getting water all over; and now the hot plate will not heat up. Such "leaks" are usually caused when the basket is not pushed in correctly so that the water cutoff switch remains closed when it should be open. (The water cutoff valve is what allows you to remove the pot/carafe in order to pour a quick cup even while the coffee is still drip brewing.) If that cutoff vvalve remains closed for more than a minute or so, or less, water will overlow the basket because with its path out the bottom and into the pot is blocked' and it has not place else to go but over the top of the filter basket holder. Now, when such an overlfow (not leak) happens, there is the hot plate right below into which the overflow flows down. As long at it remains wet it will be short circuited and not heat up. So let stand and/or blow or hairdryer heat to remove all water (be sure to unplug coffee maker to to that). Now, once everything including the hot plate are dry, the coffee maker will either work fine, or will need to be replaced.

Rule#1: NEVER immerse the percolator in water--there are electrical components in the plastic base that will not react well to that kind of treatment.

The outside, cover, basket and stem can be cleaned with warm, soapy water. You can fill the pot with warm soapy water as well, although to remove mineral deposits and the like, it's recommended you periodically run a brew cycle (with stem and basket in place) using a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water. To remove tougher stains, you might want to instead try dip-it coffeemaker cleaner.

Hi. The spring slips onto the stem just under the coffee basket, it holds the stem with pressure so the perked coffee go up the stem onto the spreader, check repairshack.com Ron

Check the following:
1. Make sure that you are using the correct size coffee filter in the basket. Only one filter is needed to allow proper drainage.
2. Check the spring loaded button on the bottom of the coffee basket. Remove the basket, put some water in the basket, push the button up to make sure the water is released from the basket.
3. Put the basket back in place, insert the carafe and check to make sure that the top of the carafe cover pushes up the button on the basket to release brewing coffee.

If all these check out, then there is an internal leak and the unit need to be repaired or replaced.

I have the older style 55 cup coffeemaker. It is critical that the coffee grounds basket compress that spring on the stem. Pull the spring upward alittle until the basket rises slightly above it's seated position until you put the lid on and it will put the necessary pressure on the stem down in the heater element hole. Also there is what appears to be a loose washer on the bottom of that stem (where it fits into the heater unit) This washer must be free to move around and it acts like a check valve to prevent water that has "perked" up the stem from falling back down the stem.

Water Level ////Amount of Ground Coffee

42 Cups --2 ½ Cups
36 Cups-- 2 Cups
30 Cups- -1 ¾ Cups
28 Cups --1 2/3 Cups
24 Cups --1 ½ Cups
22 Cups --1 ½ Cups
18 Cups-- 1 ¼ Cups
12 Cups --1 Cup

1. With basket and stem removed, fill coffeemaker with COLD water to desired level using the cup markings on inside of coffeemaker as a guide. Do not make less than 12 or more than maximum capacity of the coffeemaker at one time.
2. Place stem into heating unit in bottom of coffeemaker, then put basket on stem. Spread the recommended amount of ground coffee evenly into the basket. See chart. Use regular electric perk grind coffee or coffee ground for all coffeemakers. Do not use drip or finely ground coffee as flooding of the basket can occur.
3. Turn cover in place on coffeemaker. To reduce coffee spills, especially if coffeemaker is tipped over, make sure cover has been turned clockwise until it is completely secured in the handle slots. (Note the arrows on the cover for correct turning.) The cover temporarily reduces coffee spilage if coffeemaker is tipped over, so care should be used when moving coffeemaker.
4. Place coffeemaker on a dry, level surface. Attach cord to coffeemaker and plug into a 120 volt AC electrical outlet ONLY.
5. Coffeemaker stops perking automatically. (Each cup of coffee requires about 1 minute brewing time) Serving light will glow when coffee is ready. Before serving, use a hot pad to remove cover, then carefully remove stem and basket from coffeemaker as coffee and grounds are HOT. If not removed, bitter oils from the coffee grounds will drip into coffee. Replace the cover making sure it is completely secured into the handle slots.
6. Coffee will remain at serving temperature as long as coffeemaker is connected to outlet. (if you have an insulated coffeemaker, the sealed-air insulation will keep coffee hot for up to two hours without electricity.) To serve, place cup and saucer under faucet and press down on handle. If a continuous flow is desired to fill a carafe, lift handle straight up until it locks into open position. When approximately one cup of coffee remains in coffeemaker, disconnect from outlet.
TO MAKE MORE COFFEE: If another pot of coffee is desired right away, partially fill coffeemaker with cold water to reset the thermostat. Pour out water, refill with cold water and repeat steps 1-6.
TO HEAT WATER FOR INSTANT BEVERAGES: Plain water may be heated in your coffeemaker for use with instant beverages. Simply fill the clean coffeemaker with cold water to the desired cup level, and then place the stem and empty coffee basket in place. Using the stem and empty basket will heat the water more uniformly. Secure cover in place and plug coffeemaker in. Heat water until perking stops and serving light comes on. Unplug coffeemaker when less than 1 cup remains. Other than making coffee or heating water, no other liquid should be heated in coffeemaker as damage to heating unit can occur.
When coffeemaker is used to heat water only, the metal inside will discolor which is normal and does not affect performance or the water heated in the coffeemaker. Refer to Special Cleaning Instructions in this manual for removing discoloration as well as mineral deposits, which form inside the coffeemaker when heating water. If these deposits are not removed, pitting of the metal inside may occur and result in damage to coffeemaker. Refer to the cleaning your coffeemaker section

COFFEE PREPARATION PROCEDURES
1) Place filter into brew basket.
2) Put the proper amount of coffee into the filter.
3) Slide the brew basket into holder.
4) Place empty decanter on warmer located directly under the brew basket and turn corresponding warmer switch ON.
5) Pour decanter of fresh water through pour-in opening at top of brewer.
6) Hot water will be delivered through the sprayhead. This distributes the hot water evenly over the coffee bed within the brew basket. The coffee will drain from brew basket into the container below.
7) Red light indicates warmer is ON.
8) Before brewing next pot, remove brew basket from brew rails and dump filter into waste basket.

Please rate this a fixya

Simply fill with COLD water to the number of cups desired.
Place the stem and basket in the pot and put one 8 oz cup of coffee for every 20 cups of water into the basket...when doing 100 cups I add an extra 12 oz of coffee for a good coffee flavor.
Place the perforated lid on the coffee basket that is in the pot (if there is a lid--some do not have a lid). Put the cover for the coffee pot in place.
Plug in.
Turn on if there is a switch.
Give these large pots about 1 minute per cup, brewing time...that is a little over an hour usually to brew 100 cups. The coffee maker will percolate with the water coming up through the stem and over the coffee as the water heats. Usually there is an indicator light that comes on when it is finished.

If holding the coffee for awhile, it tastes best if you remove the stem and basket and it will maintain the heat without doing more "perking" and becoming stronger or bitter.

Be sure to wash it out and dry it well, leaving the lid loose or upside down for storage so that the pot doesn't become pitted. Blessings, Louise

You fill it to the line indicating how many cups of coffee you want to make. Then you add coffee to the brew basket, at least 1 full heaping teaspoon per cup. Put the basket on top of the stem and place the stem into the coffee maker. Put the lid on and plug it in. That's it. Don't plug it in without the lid, it's a percolator. It will squirt the water out the top of the stem and it flows down through the coffee grounds.

Sounds like the thermostat is weak and turning off at too low of temp.