Hi DASCO474. This is not good... From the symptoms you describe your mixer’s Agitator shaft is dropping from the Planetary assembly. Something has caused the retaining clip and pin to break so allowing the agitator shaft to drop.
Fortunately 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 at: http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home.
Click on Customer Care>Locate Manuals & Guides> Enter the 6 character model number, in your case: KP26M1, and select one of the first two files listed under Parts List (47) (The first file, KP26M1XAZ4.pdf (304.18 KB), is for a -4 series model and the second file, KP26M1XAZ5.pdf (724.41 KB) is for a -5 series with slightly different insides, so make sure you have the correct Parts List manual.)
Turn to pages 4 & 5 entitled “Case, Gearing And Planetary Unit” for the disassembly and reassembly of your mixer, along with all the parts. Locate Illus. No. 28, Planetary Assembly and Illus. No. 34, Agitator Shaft. The parts which hold the Agitator Shaft within the Planetary are Illus. Nos. 9, Retaining Pin and 30, Retaining Clip. I suspect these parts have failed and will need to be replaced. Now the real fun begins!
To get to the Agitator Shaft gear you’ll need the following tools: a regular or Phillips screw driver, retaining clip pliers, and a small drift pin punch and a small hammer. After removing the Gearcase Motor Housing (mixer top) you will need to remove the Transmission Housing (Illus No. 4) and remove all the lubricating grease from the transmission housing and gears. This will allow you to remove Illus No. 7, 8, 9 & 10, Retaining Clip, Bevel Gear, Retaining Pin and Worm Gear Follower, respectively.
Once you remove the Retaining Pin (Illus. No. 9) the Planetary Assembly can be tapped down through the Lower Gearcase Assembly (Illus. No 11). With the Planetary removed, you should find all the parts which slide on the Agitator Shaft (Illus. Nos. 30, 31, 32, & 33) and pieces of the retaining pin, which should be loose in the base of the Planetary.
Besides ordering a new retaining pin and clip, you might want to reorder the Transmission Cover Gasket (Illus No. 6), too. You’ll also need to replace the grease you removed with new grease. Do not try to reuse any original grease as it may have ‘debris’ in it. You should use a food-grade grease that you can order online (although I’ve seen automotive bearing grease used too – your call).
With your mixer apart and the grease removed from the gears you can check for any other unseemly wear and tear on the gears, too.
Here are five potential vendors in no particular order: RepairClinic.com; mendingshed.com; searspartsdirect.com; partstore.com; and Grainger.com (for grease). You should search for ‘food grade grease’ online (although I’ve seen automotive bearing grease used too – your call). Prices can vary widely between vendors, so do some comparison shopping.
Here are some links to several excellent websites that detail the disassembling/reassembly of a KA Mixer. The mixers displayed in the links are different KA models, but the principles are the same.
Between these three websites and their excellent pictures and descriptions and your Parts List manual, you should now be able to completely disassemble, determine what’s wrong, order the correct parts and reassemble your mixer.
Good luck. I hope this helps. Howard, Burke, VA
If this solution has helped you, please rate it, thanks! - hslincoln
To Attach Flat Beater,Wire Whip, or Spiral Dough Hook, simply
1. Slip flat beater on beater shaft.
2. Turn beater to right, hooking beater over the pin on shaft.
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