Hi, KGRIMSLEY, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! 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 needs to be readjusted (or repaired) 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 a 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 K45SSW and select the file K45SSWH0.pdf (341.41 KB) listed under Parts List (1). (Verify that it 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 names and numbers. Turn to page 3, titled: Base and Pedestal Unit and locate Illus. #9, Link & Lever Latch Assembly (including Illus. Nos. 3, 4, 8,10, 11, 12, and 13), which locks the mixer head to the pedestal when you run the 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.
Also, while your mixer is apart it would be ideal to check for any other unseemly wear and tear on the gears, etc. It can be messy but quite gratifying to diagnose and repair your KA mixer yourself.
Here are some links to several excellent websites that detail the disassembling/reassembly of a KA Mixer.
Between these three websites and their excellent pictures and descriptions and your Parts List manual, you should now be able to completely disassemble, repair and reassemble your mixer.
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
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