Motor smoking when "creaming" for 5+ minutes

12 years ago

I seldom use my 40 year old mixmaster but had to make cookies recently. When the recipe said "cream butter and sugar" I decided to Google that and see exactly what that meant.

Several sites said to blend the sugar and butter at medium speed for 5-7 minutes, so I did.

My 40 year old mixmaster started to smoke after about 5 minutes! Needless to say I finished the cookies by hand.

Do you think the mixer is ok? I wouldn't think mixing soft ingredients like sugar and butter should be that hard on the motor.

How long do you blend sugar and butter?

Thanks.

Ginny

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Comments (4)

dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
12 years ago
Ok, letÃ¢ÂÂs see what we can do here:

You may have to open up the machine to fix things. Can be done. It is greasy, but itÃ¢ÂÂs easy.

1. Most small motorized appliance uses what is known as universal motor. Motors of this type require a lot of ventilation with their internal fan. Clean everything inside. 40 years of dirt can cause overheating.

2. Most likely it has a worm gear driving the beaters. The gears are normally packed with grease. 40 years later, the lubricating grease may be used up. Go to an auto parts supply store and get some grease and re-pack the gears.

3. Typically the motor rotor uses sintered bronze bearings, which are supposedly permanently lubricated. Well 40 years is permanent enough. Give the two bearings a drop of motor oil each.

4. There are two spring loaded carbon brushes in the front of the rotor. The copper commutator on the rotor can wear them out after 40 years of rotational friction. I donÃ¢ÂÂt think you can find original replacement parts for them. However, measure them carefully and you can buy on ebay similar ones to replace them. Not very expensive.

Good luck.

dcarch
ginjj
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh my!

You are great to write out the steps but I know I couldn't tackle that, at least not now while I can't keep up with my life as it is.

Does the fact I didn't use it a lot over those 40 years make a difference?

I want to keep this mixer if possible so I'll look for someone to fix it.

Are you saying don't use this until it gets fixed, even if it doesn't smoke?

Thanks so much for your ideas.

Ginny
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annie1992
12 years ago
Ginny, I had two Sunbeam Mix Masters, both went up in smoke. The first one I turned off when it started smoking and it never turned back on again. The second one ran when turned on but just kept smoking, until it quit too.

Repairs were expensive enough that I just bought a different mixer, it was cheaper than fixing the original, at that point they cost about $50, now they're closer to $80 at the local Walmart or Meijer.

Like you, I had no intention/desire/skill to dismantle the thing and repair it, and I spent the next several years mixing things with a wooden spoon, although a handheld model would have probably been a better idea.

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ginjj
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for sharing your experience Annie. I don't think I'll be using it again. I may call to see the cost of repair but the shop is an hour away!

I get emails about estate and garage sales so I'll think about going to some of those.

Funny thing is I remember picking up a Mixmaster at a garage sale but now I can't find it!

Thanks again for your input.

Ginny

Motor smoking when "creaming" for 5+ minutes

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dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m

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Motor smoking when "creaming" for 5+ minutes

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dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m

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