The tilt-up head on my KitchenAid KSM90 stand mixer has a lot of free play, the head moves (bounces)up & down when mixer is in use. Adjusting the beater for clearance using the dime method, when you put the head down the beater still scrapes the bottom of the bowl. Turned over the mixer & tightened the screw inside the bottom. No change. KA site has no online parts/manual available for this baby. Would anyone know if the "little screw" on the side where the head pivots be the one that needs tightening. If not, then I guess I'll look for a KA service store. This mixer gets a lot of use. Thank you so much for your help. Sincerely, Maria W.

Hiya,

I am sorry to hear you are having problems with your lever.

I have added a link below for our help page on replacing your speed lever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97KT98vpJ0

I have also added a link below if you wish to purchase a new speed lever:

9709276 KitchenAid Tilt Head Stand Mixer Part (also 5qt bowl lift) Speed Lever Black https://secure.kaparts.co.uk/sku/9709276

I hope this helps you :)

Make sure your Beater can slip in and out of the Beater Shaft

easily. Do not force the beater onto the Shaft if the shaft is bent.

If it cannot be removed easily by hand, use a soft rubber mallet

(not a steel hammer) to slightly tap the beater so it can be moved

up and down the shaft or from side to side. Then you can easily

turn the beater left and remove it from the shaft.

From Kitchenaid Manual:

To Attach Flat Beater, Wire Whip, or Dough Hook

1. Turn speed control to OFF.

2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.

3. Tilt motor head back.

4. Slip beater onto beater shaft and press upward

as far as possible.

5. Turn beater to right, hooking beater over pin on shaft.

6. Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

To Remove Flat Beater, Wire Whip or Dough Hook

1. Turn speed control to OFF.

2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.

3. Tilt motor head back.

4. Press beater upward as far as possible and turn left.
5. Pull beater from beater shaft.

Make sure your Beater can slip in and out of the Beater Shaft
easily. Do not force the beater onto the Shaft if the shaft is bent.
If it cannot be removed easily by hand, use a soft rubber mallet
(not a steel hammer) to slightly tap the beater so it can be moved
up and down the shaft or from side to side. Then you can easily
turn the beater left and remove it from the shaft.

From Kitchenaid Manual:
To Attach Flat Beater, Wire Whip, or Dough Hook
1. Turn speed control to OFF.
2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.
3. Tilt motor head back.
4. Slip beater onto beater shaft and press upward
as far as possible.
5. Turn beater to right, hooking beater over pin on shaft.
6. Plug into a grounded 3 prong outlet.

To Remove Flat Beater, Wire Whip or Dough Hook
1. Turn speed control to OFF.
2. Unplug stand mixer or disconnect power.
3. Tilt motor head back.
4. Press beater upward as far as possible and turn left.
5. Pull beater from beater shaft

On the tilt head models there is a "Stop screw" that adjusts how far down the head goes. I just can't remember if it's in the head or base. I use the other model that lifts the bowl.

It sounds like the pin that holds the head on is not in the correct place. IT should not stick out on either side, if it is, knock it back so it is flush with the sides. Turn the mixer over and tighten the screw that holds the pin in place.

The second problem is that the head is too low. This can happen over time. There is a screw that can be accessed when you lift the head up. It is in the middle of the hinge. Adjusting this will lower and raise the head position when the head is lowered back into place.

Hi MJANKOW520. I?m going to assume your KA mixer is a ?Tilt-Head? mixer. You don?t say specifically. Based on your description of the symptoms you mixer exhibits, I would say that your head locking mechanism (or a component) of it is either broken, worn or loosened due to normal wear and tear and need to be readjusted (or repaired) for it to keep your mixer head stationery. The inspection and troubleshooting of the inside of your mixer is a DITY capability, particularly if your mixer is out of warranty. Just be sure to have the Parts List manual on hand. If you're lacking one, you can download a PDF version from the KA website: http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home. Click on Customer Care>Locate Manuals & Guides> Enter the 6 character model number, in your case, try K45SSW, and select the file listed under Parts List (check to see it this matches your mixer model). This parts list manual provides an exploded view for the disassembly and reassembly of your mixer, along with all the part name and numbers. Turn to page3, titled: Base and Pedestal Unit. You?ll want to focus on Illus. #9, Link & Lever Latch assembly, which locks the mixer head to the pedestal when run your mixer. Check to see if something is just loose, exceedingly worn or broken. If something has broken, you can order replacement parts and install yourself. As far as parts go, here are four potential vendors in no particular order: RepairClinic.com; mendingshed.com; searspartsdirect.com; partstore.com. Prices for the same part can vary widely between vendors, so do your comparison shopping. Once apart you can check for any other unseemly wear and tear on other mixer components. It can be messy but quite gratifying to diagnose and repair your mixer yourself. Finally, here's a link to an excellent site that details the disassembly and replacement of a mixer's grease, which might be helpful, too. http://www.foodonthefood.com/food_on_the_food/2009/04/how-to-repair-a-kitchenaid-mixer-yourself.html If you feel this is beyond your capabilities and would be too difficult to do yourself you can take your mixer to a local small appliance repair shop and have them troubleshoot and fix your mixer. KA Customer Care can provide you with the name and phone # of the closest authorized KA repair shop in your area or you can do a Online web search, but be sure to get at least three estimates before deciding to commit to one repair shop. Good luck. I hope this helps. Howard, Burke, VA If this solution has helped you, please rate it, thanks! - hslincoln

Adjusting the screw didn't work for me the first time I tried it.  I was afraid of loosening the screw too much, and so I didn't turn it far enough.  Turning the screw counter-clockwise until it stuck out several millimeters finally worked.

ok firstly if you have a stand mixer with the lift bowl you have to put a dime on the side of the bowl at the base and see how much clearence is needed to be taken away. if the dime gets moved the mixer is ok. if not take off the flat beater, take out the bowl, and look at the back of the stand. just below the motor about 2 inches you will see a screw. turn it to the left a quarter of a turn. dont over adjust do it slowly. if you have the one that you tilt the head back on do the same thing with the screw up to you get to the adjusting part. the screw will be in a different spot on those mixers. it is located in the neck of the mixer. it is right in the area that tilts back. the dime shouldnt fly around the bowl it should just gently get tapped. and never use the wisk when adjusting always use the flat attachment. and always adjust slowly never over adjust.

ok firstly if you have a stand mixer with the lift bowl you have to put a dime on the side of the bowl at the base and see how much clearence is needed to be taken away. if the dime gets moved the mixer is ok. if not take off the flat beater, take out the bowl, and look at the back of the stand. just below the motor about 2 inches you will see a screw. turn it to the left a quarter of a turn. dont over adjust do it slowly. if you have the one that you tilt the head back on do the same thing with the screw up to you get to the adjusting part. the screw will be in a different spot on those mixers. it is located in the neck of the mixer. it is right in the area that tilts back. the dime shouldnt fly around the bowl it should just gently get tapped. and never use the wisk when adjusting always use the flat attachment. and always adjust slowly never over adjust.

OK,Where the mixer pivots there is an ajustment screw ( Flat head). Place a dime at the bottom of the bowl and make your adjustment carefully ( quarter turn at a time).Using the low speed only, adjust until the tip of the flat beater barely touches the dime.When your done, you'll be back in business.