I successfully got thevpaddle off, but the spring that allows you to put the attachments on wont push up. How do I get it to do so?

You are in for an adventure. The first step is to find the N-50 Service Manual online and download it.

Trouble shifting speeds is rarely a simple matter of lack of grease.

If your mixer shifted before removing the switch plate, then there is a post that shift lever engages which in not being engaged properly.

On the other hand, if that is not the problem, the transmission case must be removed. Shifting gears involves moving the tumbler yoke assembly. If you are extremely lucky the yoke's spring has become detached and re-attaching it will be all that is needed.

Of course the spring will be in place and you will have to deal with all the grease and investigate the cause.

This is a good time to replace the old grease as well.

After the bowl has been frozen you attach it to the base. Then you take the part your asking about and attach it where you would put a beater or whip. The trick is to make it spin and the notched part stay in the "center of the circle". You don't use the top front of the mixer. I had to practice without the bowl and beater bar to make sure I had it right.

As you face your mixer with the bowl toward you, on the right side is a lever that will lock the top in place. Unlock the top and tilt the top back. This will give you access to your beaters. Then push up on the beater while turning it either right or left. It only turns one way and I can't remember which way it turns. Then pull it down once you get it to the point where it disengages. Do the reverse to get the beater ON the mixer. Now, here's another thing to consider. If the spring on the column to which the beater attaches is caked with gunk, it will not collapse to give you the flexibility to push the beater up. UNPLUG your mixer and with a stiff brush, clean the spring. A dry OLD toothbrush is excellent...I keep one at my sink at all times. I hope this helps and if it does, please let Fixya know my rating my solution. Good luck and happy mixing.

The oil that is "oozing" is actually grease. If it is laying on its side the grease will leak out but isn't really an issue. If it is leaking while the machine is right side up, it usually means you have a problem with the seal. When it comes to the spring not bending allowing the attachments to lock onto the shaft, that is a bizarre problem as the spring is just tension and isn't internally attached to anything inside the machine. If you want you can replace the planetary gear but that seems a bit drastic just for the spring. We usually recommend 1800Parts for parts and accessories because they carry EVERYTHING! So the seal they might have but I would bring the machine to someone to look at the planetary gear to make sure everything is in working order. If you are in New York you can bring it to us.

Looking at the following parts diagram:

http://shared.whirlpoolcorp.com/assets/pdfs/literature/Repair%20Part%20List%20-%20W10157992.pdf

You can see the linkage on page 6. Turning the crank handle #22 counter clockwise rotates the link #18, which is attached, which pulls on the rod #11. There is a spring clip #10 on the rod which sometimes comes off making the linkage bind. Make sure it is in place by turning the mixer on its side and looking up inside the base.

If it is in place then spray a small amount of lubricant on the linkage to lubricate all of the moving parts.

Also put a small amount of lubricant on the sliding member #7 where it slides against the stand section #15.

Note: Don't try to move the crank lever when the mixer is on its side since it will bind. It requires gravity to pull the sliding part down, and with it on its side the sliding part will not move downward thus binding up the linkage.

you can access the brushes from inside the mixer if you take it apart. Look at the parts diagram here to see if you can figure out how to disassemble it:

http://shared.whirlpoolcorp.com/assets/pdfs/literature/Repair%20Part%20List%20-%208212369.pdf

Once you have it apart you can use a small screw driver to push the brushes out from the inside.

This has happened to me - however, the attachment pushed up and down on the spring with no trouble, and also turned.
The problem, it turned out, was the metal pin that sticks out - was sticking out TOO FAR. I put some WD-40 on the outside of the pin, and I used a small screwdriver and a hammer and gave it a few whacks so the pin moved back a bit. Once I did that, I could push up the attachment and unscrew it as normal.
When it's off, look at the pin and make sure it sticks out at least flush on one side if not protruding a little.

AHA, been on one of these before. Turn the attachments upward and put a little wesson oil in the sockets the attachments slide into. Depressing the release button several times in the process and pushing the attachment in. Make sure it is unplugged. Good luck, Ned

As far as locking the gearhead, no, at least not without taking the planetary off of the mixer shaft. You would have to take the chrome ring loose by prying down gently, and there is a pin holding the planetary to the shaft, a punch would need to be used to drive it out, then you should be able to work it off the shaft and make the whole planetary easier to work on. The only other thing you could do would be to use a penetrant spray, wd-40 or something similar, let it settle into the attachment area, and try some more, sometimes it just takes time, and repeated application to free up.

Mine did the same thing. I found the ball bearing inside the switch had fallen off. Put it back on and it works like new!

Pull the mixer case apart. Push in on the seam in the front and back and it will pop open after you remove the 1 screw. Pull the switch apart. There is a spring inside the top part of the switch and a small (1/8") ball bearing should be on top of the spring. Chances are, it has fallen off. Find it and stick it back on the spring while holding the top part of the switch upside down. Put the mixer back together.