I need to get to the speed control to find a broken cord. I can get the appliance apart but cant get the speed control out.

Have a look and see if the governor has flown apart, that's the brass thing on the end of the armature that activates the contacts on the control plate. Otherwise you are going to need to expand on how old the machine is and exactly what "broken" means.

Make sure that the carbon brushes are not worn out or if you have already had them out make sure that they have been put back in properly. There is one corner ground off each brush that needs to line up with a blocking corner in the brush holder. Then get your multi meter out and check the unplugged main cable for continuity to the speed control panel. Then check each half of the field assembly for continuity from the speed control plate to a brush holder. Check you have no broken wires to the speed control plate. Check that the switch on the speed control plate is functioning. If all that tests OK I'd replace the phase board, it's worth not much and worth a shot.

If it does not start at all until you get to speed 10 then look for a broken wire an any of the wires NOT associated with the phase board. Highly unlikely since you have just been there. Next look at the operation of the switch low down inside the black speed control board. There is a primitive switch there operated by a shaft from your speed control lever. You may find the switch is not activating until it gets right up to speed 10. Have you checked the carbon brushes? The phase board you have just done is normally the culprit for your problem.

I am assuming you mean the little black knob on the speed control has broken off. I will post the solution for that problem.
The speed control lever on KitchenAid mixers has a little black knob on the end (in some cases this may be white or gray). The knob is pressed onto the lever, so if the knob breaks off your only option is to replace the whole lever.
KitchenAid has a kit that will include all you need to replace the speed control lever. It even comes with instructions. Here is a link to the speed control lever kit on our website: http://www.mendingshed.com/kaleverkit.html

The lever kit includes the speed control lever (with knob), speed link, spring, instructions and a gearbox gasket.


The instructions will only walk you through how to hook up the speed control lever, so if you also need a little guidance in taking the mixer apart, and reassembling it please use the KitchenAid service manual. The manual will walk you through all of the repairs you may need on your mixer, including how to take the mixer apart and put it back together. Here is a link to the service manual: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/mendingshed/kitchenaidservicemanual.pdf

Remember, The Mending Shed is a Authorized KitchenAid service center, we can help you with any repair needs for your KitchenAid appliances, plus all of the parts we carry are genuine KitchenAid brand.

Thank you,

Colleen
Customer Service
MendingShed.com
800-339-9297

The Speed Control lever is linked to the Speed Link mechanism, which in turn moves the
Speed Control Assembly to allow the motor to operate at different speeds.
Get a Repair Part List from Kitchenaid.com for your particular model to see how it works.
As you select different speed setting, the Speed Link simply moves forward or backward,
thus pushing the Speed Control Assembly back and forth.
If you cannot move the Speed Control lever, means that the Speed Link is somehow bent
or out of place. Remove the Motor Housing and the End Cover and check it out.

It is probably a bad:

27 9706595 Board, Phase Control

As can be seen in this exploded view of the mixer:

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

Once you have it apart you can see if it is something else like a broken link in the speed control mechanism:

5 3184176 Speed Link & Cam

Hi BROOKLYNX. To answer you primary question, no there is no special speed control knob lock that you?ve inadvertently triggered. OK, so without a lock why?s your speed control knob stuck? It most likely that something broken inside your mixer to lock it into position. I wouldn?t continue to operate your machine as you are doing. It?s not good for the electric motor, the electric cord or the plug. It would be better to determine the root cause of your control knob?s obstinacy. 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 one of the files listed under Parts List (check to see it this matches your mixer model). Turn to pages 6 & 7, titled: Motor And Control Parts, which provides an exploded view for the disassembly and reassembly of your mixer, along with all the parts. You?ll want to focus on part #s 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which is our speed control assembly. Check to see if something isn?t blocking you?re the movement of #3. You should be able to determine if something has 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 the gears, etc. 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 Good luck and have fun. I hope this helps. Howard, Burke, VA If this solution has helped you, please rate it, thanks! - hslincoln

your problem sounds like the thermister is burnt out.

Sometimes there are hidden areas under the products name plates where they need to be gently pryed off and other times usually in the least exspensive types they are just snap fitted together and you will need to gently pry apart at the seams!!