My incredible auction find....
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A few weeks ago I picked up a Weston 20# mixer for $20 at a local auction… While I would love to be here gloating over my awesome find, instead I need some advice…
I have tried everything I can to remove the mixing paddle, but the spring loaded knob will just not pull back quite far enough to allow it to release… I’ve tried everything, including trying to spread the sides of the mixer to get that little bit more play to release the paddle…
Anyway, Im out of ideas… I have even stooped to downloading the user guide for the mixer and following the instructions
Any tips, hints or trade secrets about how to remove that thing would be appreciated…
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Screw the Big knob in to pull the Brass pin back to get the auger out
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@Denny Thanks, but I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck… been there, done that, got the half cleaned mixer to prove it…
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@raider2119 Let me play around with mine for a while and I will see if there is anything I can offer. What @Denny said is true the tighter you screw that bog knob the less it allows the spring to push back in against the shaft so it SHOULD give you more room. I’m guessing you’ve got a rusted spring somewhere. Have you tried shooting it with some Blaster or even just DW-40?
I’ll play around with it a little this morning as I am sure you can’t be the only person having this issue and see what I can come up with.
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Okay, Im sure you’ve already done this but in the one on the left the knob is screwed in and somewhat loose, on the left it is screwed in all the way AND I am pulling back on it, it drags the thicker part back into the recess. Also, I assume you have removed the screw and the handle from the other side and pulled out the brass piece over there as well?
I assume you have tried that as you attempted to spread out the sides. I’d try shooting some blaster or wd40 from both the inside and around the knob area and let it sit on its side a little. I think it is most likely going to be a rusty spring or rust on the threads and that blaster stuff is pretty amazing at dealing with rust.
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@Jonathon I have not tried WD-40 yet, the brass piece on the knob end seems to move freely, and seems to have full range of travel… just not far enough to allow the mixer paddle to slip free… There is no rust, in fact, this appears to be brand new… don’t even see any scratches on the plastic lid…
I have removed the handle / crank, but the brass piece on that side is still in the mixer… It appears this inserts from the inside, and to remove it the paddle must be removed first… am I somehow wrong about this?
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@raider2119 I have found both assembly and disassembly as well as cleaning to be cumbersome on mine. I haven’t used it much because of that.
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@raider2119 Yes, you should be able to slide that brass piece out of the mixer while the shaft still inside the mixer. It should pull out fairly easily, at least it does on mine!
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@Joe-Hell Thanks, it shouldnt be like that… this thing should practicallly fall apart when releasing the paddle…
@Joe-Hell and @Jonathon I am trying to figure out if there is some sort of notch or keyway that needs to be lined up somehow to release the paddle…
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@Jonathon will try in a few mins… vice grips in hand!
Thanks!!!
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@Joe-Hell Yes, cleaning the mixer can be a pain but in general I find it is much easier to use when making anything larger than a 5 lb batch. That might be because my hands get super cold though and we keep everything just about icing when processing. Someone on here suggested cotton gloves underneath the nitrile gloves and that helps but I’m a bit of a sissy when it comes to being cold!
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@Jonathon I went painfully numb yesterday while digging around the brine trying to find all of the ham hocks among the picnic hams.
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@Joe-Hell I can’t stick my foot in a bucket of ice water if I sprain an ankle, I don’t mean that I don’t like to, I CAN"T! I’d rather break the ankle than go through an ice bath!
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@raider2119
Very strange… Never had an issue with mine. Wow.
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Side note. The only thing I’ve found cumbersome about the 20# mixer is having to turn it by hand. Probably why I bought the 44# mixer and grinder to drive it. I do know if you have the mixing shaft situated a certain way it goes in and out easier. I think the paddle end down on drive end.
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@PapaSop Call me weird but I enjoy the physical aspect of the mixing. It’s like exercise without the exercise!
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@Joe-Hell You’re weird. You’re welcome! And as someone who sent me a copy of another manufacturers instructions, they are pretty much all made the same with slight variations and tweaks here and there!
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@Joe-Hell
I’ve cranked enough in my day… Oops.
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Ok guys… I spent about 2 hours yesterday trying to pry the paddle out of that !!@#$ mixer… I’ve come to the conclusion the only way I’m going to get it apart is to drill out one of the brass bushings… so @Jonathon If I were to do that, do you carry replacement parts?
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@raider2119
That is just so bizarre.
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@raider2119 I have that same mixer and have never had a problem with it, the only thing I can think of is it was put away wet and the brass piece is corroded onto the paddle arm.
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@raider2119 I can get you one, it might take a little bit but I can do it. Did you try the blaster? How far away from Kansas are you? If you wanted to ship it to me I’d ship it back after I looked at it, though shipping would almost certainly be more than what you paid for it! Also, I am not saying I could fix it right away but I am saying I have a shop full of tools and a serious hankering to try!
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@raider2119 in the pic with the needle nose, can you see threads? If you do then the handle isn’t in all the way. You should be able to give it a good pull and release the paddle. If not, bust out the sawsall…that brass piece is soft. I’d also call Weston and tell them it rusted fast and I bet they cover a new pieces for you. They were great with my 44# paddle replacement.
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@Parksider Sawzall is looking like the appropriate tool… The knob is screwed in completely, but it appears that someone might have previously replaced the spring with a longer one that prevents the knob from pulling out far enough to extract the paddle… I will call them tomorrow and see if I can get replacement parts before I start chopping this thing up!
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Ok, it’s finally apart… It took some rather persistant persuasion with a hammer to get the brass bushing the handle attaches to to back out far enough to remove the blade. At first I thought it might have been dirt or corrosion causing the problem, but it was actually poor machining of the bushing… I need to find someone to let me use their lathe (or even a drill press) for about 5 minutes and I can fix the problem…
In the interim, I had contacted Weston’s Customer / Tech service to try to get a bit more info before potentially damaging parts… and I hate to say it because you guys are Weston dealers, but the experience was less than satisfactory. Simply trying to purchase replacement bushings was a lesson in futility…
Due to that interaction with their customer (lack of) service agent, I’d be hard pressed to ever purchase any more of their equipment…
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@raider2119
Surprised to hear about poor customer service. Had a paddle break on mine and Weston was great and had a new one shipped the next day.
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@raider2119 I’m surprised as well. When I worked in customer service Weston always wanted us to send customers who bought a Weston product their way before trying to help and I don’t think I ever got a return call from an unsatisfied customer. I think your “incredible auction find” might be cursed! Do you need a replacement bushing?
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