Bowl won't lock into Place

I know this sounds a bit simple but the bowl cup can sometimes actually wear out and a very fast (# screws) and a new one and the problem is solved. If however there is a problem on the head hold down set screw (under the mixer in the cavity ) it can come loose then the mixer head can bounce all over the place causung the bowl to get loose in the holding cup at the base of the mixer., I hope this helps, let us know if you need more, we can FixYa

Well you will be happy to know that it is only a matter of "Wear and Tear" The culprit can be one of two possible things. The screw cup on the mixer or the bowl itself. Understand that...the metal on the bowl or mounting cup are pressed or what you might call metal stamping. When you use the bowl and the mixer over time the metal wears down and or compresses and it takes more pressure from you when you seat the bowl for use and the pressure created by the use of the mixer when the bowl is in place is caused because the locking cup and bowl screw together the same way that the mixer turns and cookie batters or bread dough help to lock the bowl tighter and tighter. Now that you know the reason how do you fix it?? Well the screw cup is the easiest and least expensive. Just order one off the internet and when it arrives unscrew the three retaining screws and put the new one on. If that doesn't fix it then you may have to consider a new bowl. Hope that helps.

The glass bowl for the 4c mixer is much different than the bowls that are currently available. Your best option is going to be to find a used bowl off of eBay.

Your other option would be to replace the bowl lock plate and buy a new bowl for the mixer. I have had a few customers say this works, and I have had a couple say that replacing the bowl lock plate and bowl did not work. So you can give this a try as well.

I'd be looking at making sure the beater is not banging on the bowl and that the head hinge isn't loose. The bowl is secure on the base with this system that has been in use for decades so you are looking for a fault not a re-design of the system. The friction of the mix in the bowl should logically tend to tighten the bowl, not undo it. I have seen a malformed bowl once where the lugs weren't big enough and I suspect that it's possible for there to have been the odd malformed bottom plate with not big enough lugs.

If the base is not holding the bowl properly then only a replacement base plate or another bowl is going to fix it. The base plate is held onto the pedestal with 3 Philips head screws.

Hello Heather,

Either the grooves on the bowl lock plate are worn out, or the grooves on the actual bowl are worn out. I would start with replacing the bowl lock plate. Here is a link to the part: KitchenAid Mixer Bowl Lock Plate 4163032

This part is really easy to replace, it is held into place with three screws, remove those screws (make sure to hang onto those you will need them to re-install the new part). then you should be able to pop the old plate out. To install the new plate like up the screw holes, and press into place, sometimes you need to lightly tap it into place with a rubber mallet as it is suppose to be a very tight fit.

Once that has been replaced your bowl should lock into place tightly. However there is always a chance that the bowl has been worn down and may need to be replaced. Here is a link to the 4.5 Quart bowl: KitchenAid 4 5 Quart Stainless Steel Bowl

- Colleen @ Mending Shed.com

Hello Heather,

Either the grooves on the bowl lock plate are worn out, or the grooves on the actual bowl are worn out. I would start with replacing the bowl lock plate. Here is a link to the part: KitchenAid Mixer Bowl Lock Plate 4163032

This part is really easy to replace, it is held into place with three screws, remove those screws (make sure to hang onto those you will need them to re-install the new part). then you should be able to pop the old plate out. To install the new plate like up the screw holes, and press into place, sometimes you need to lightly tap it into place with a rubber mallet as it is suppose to be a very tight fit.

Once that has been replaced your bowl should lock into place tightly. However there is always a chance that the bowl has been worn down and may need to be replaced. Here is a link to the 4.5 Quart bowl: KitchenAid 4 5 Quart Stainless Steel Bowl

- Colleen @ Mending Shed.com

Hi SUSAN. From the symptoms you describe, it sounds like your mixer has a ‘Bowl to Beater Clearance’ issue. That should be pretty simple to fix. But even before we go there, check to make sure your mixing bowl is seating properly in the Bowl Support yolk and ‘snaps’ into place against the Bowl Spring Latch. My wife’s had that happen to her a few times. She thought the bowl was seated tightly, but it wasn’t and she experienced the same problem as you.
If your bowl is seating properly, the next thing to look at is your Beater to Bowl Clearance. The instructions are located in your Owners Instructions manual that came with your mixer. If your lacking one, you can easily download a PDF version of your Owners Manual from the KA website at: (http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home).
Click on Customer Care>Locate Manuals& Guides> and enter the 6 character model number (in your case, use KT2651 )and select the last file listed that appear under Owners Manuals (44): KT2651XWW3.pdf (2974.69 KB) and save that file to your PC. You’ll need to have Adobe Reader to be able to open it. Turn to Page 10 and you will find the instructions for adjusting the mixer head height.
Beater to Bowl Clearance
Your mixer is adjusted at the factory so that the flat beater just clears the bottom of the bowl. If for any reason, the flat beater hits the bottom of the bowl or is too far away from the bowl, clearance.
Beater to Bowl Clearance:
Your Stand Mixer is adjusted at the factory so the flat beater just clears the bottom of the bowl. If, for any reason, the flat beater hits the bottom of the bowl or is too far away from the bowl, you can correct the clearance easily.
1. Unplug Stand Mixer.
2. Place bowl lift handle in down position.
3. Attach flat beater.


4. Adjust so flat beater just clears bottom surface of bowl when in lifted position by turning screw (A) clockwise to raise the bowl and counterclockwise to lower the bowl. Just a slight turn is all that is required: the screw will not rotate more than 1⁄4 turn (90 degrees) in either direction. (The full range of adjustment is 1⁄2 turn, or 180 degrees.)
5. Place bowl lift handle in up position to check clearance.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 if necessary.

NOTE: When properly adjusted, the flat beater will not strike on the bottom or side of the bowl. If the flat beater or the wire whip is so close that it strikes the bottom of the bowl, coating may wear off the beater or wires on whip may wear.
Good luck and have fun. I hope this helps. Howard, Burke, VA
If this solution was helpful, please rate it, thanks! – hslincoln

Hi TJEWKES67. Before you tear into the ‘guts’ of your mixer any further, I’d like you to make a simple check the vertical play of the planetary. Locate where the planetary comes out of your mixer’s head, and place your left index finger on the edge of the planetary (rest your nail edge of the mixer head). With your right hand, push the planetary straight up (like you were trying to push it through the top of your mixer) until it stops, then let go. How much vertical movement did your index finger feel as you did this? Your planetary shouldn’t rise vertically more than a 1/16 of an inch, or less. If that’s the case, relax, your planetary is not coming out of your mixer, but just normal play within the transmission, and perfectly OK.
Before linking the beater to bowl clearance with the planetary gear ‘falling’, it would be much easier to first check the adjustment screw on the back of the pedestal to ensure that is properly adjusted. You don’t say how hold your mixer is, but I assume it is out of warranty.
Do you still have your Instructions & Recipe Manual for your mixer? If not, you can easily download a PDF version of it from the KA website at: (http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/home).
Click on Customer Care>Locate Manuals& Guides> and enter the 6 character model number, in your case, use KB26G1XN, and select the file that appear under Owners Manuals: KB26G1XGR5.pdf (2974.69 KB) and save it to your PC. Turn to Page 11 and you will find the instructions for adjusting the Beater to Bowl Clearance, which I have extracted for you below:
Beater to Bowl Clearance
Your mixer is adjusted at the factory so that the flat beater just clears the bottom of the bowl. If for any reason, the flat beater hits the bottom of the bowl or is too far away from the bowl, clearance.
Beater to Bowl Clearance:
Your Stand Mixer is adjusted at the factory so the flat beater just clears the bottom of the bowl. If, for any reason, the flat beater hits the bottom of the bowl or is too far away from the bowl, you can correct the clearance easily.
1. Unplug Stand Mixer.
2. Place bowl lift handle in down position.
3. Attach flat beater.


4. Adjust so flat beater just clears bottom surface of bowl when in lifted position by turning screw (A) clockwise to raise the bowl and counterclockwise to lower the bowl. Just a slight turn is all that is required: the screw will not rotate more than 1⁄4 turn (90 degrees) in either direction. (The full range of adjustment is 1⁄2 turn, or 180 degrees.)
5. Place bowl lift handle in up position to check clearance.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 if necessary.

NOTE: When properly adjusted, the flat beater will not strike on the bottom or side of the bowl. If the flat beater or the wire whip is so close that it strikes the bottom of the bowl, coating may wear off the beater or wires on whip may wear.
See second comment...
Good luck and have fun. I hope this helps. Howard, Burke, VA
If this solution has been helpful, please rate it, thanks! - hslincoln

This may be explained with the bowl assembly. Being a bowl lift mixer, please follow the following steps to make sure the bowl is being secured before mixing:

There are the bowl-holding arms on the left and right hand side of the mixer. You will place the bowl on these arms, securing it onto the pegs.

Also, take your fingertips and press down firmly at the back of the bowl where it is resting against the base. You will hear an audible click as the bowl secures down into a spring latch mechanism on the stand mixer base, allowing the mixing bowl to sit flush and secure.