KitchenAid Proline 7QT Spring Installation

As of 2016, KitchenAid stopped putting the springs on the beater shaft of their consumer mixers to save costs. This spring served the purpose of securely locking the mixing attachments onto the shaft, giving that extra piece of mind that the attachments wouldn't come detached. While not strictly necessary, many people prefer the mixers with the springs even if just for the satisfying feeling of putting the attachments on the spring loaded shaft.

This instructable goes through how to install the kit available from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/125979968220

You can also source these parts yourself if you'd wish.

Supplies

Tools Needed:

Hammer
Punch (1/8" size) but almost anything will work (screwdriver, wooden dowel, etc.)
Snap Ring Pliers
White Lithium Grease (available at most hardware stores)
Towel to protect mixer
Q-Tips & Paper towels to clean up old grease

Parts Needed:

1X 304 Stainless Steel Washer

1X 304 Stainless Steel Spring

1X 304 Stainless Steel Snap Ring

Kit available for purchase here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/125979968220

Step 1: Removing Body Pin

First step is to push out this pin. Before doing this, place a cotton towel over the base of the mixer to prevent damage incase any parts fall. It can be pushed out in either direction. Use a hammer and correct diameter screwdriver/wooden dowel/pin punch/etc. to push out the pin. Anything that fits into the pin hole and can be lightly struck with a hammer can be used to press this out. This is probably the most difficult step.

Step 2: Drop the Agitator Assembly

Pull the agitator assembly off the shaft. It may take a little wiggling back and forth to loosen it up.

Step 3: The Agitator Assembly

This is the part that will come off, from here forward we will be working on this.

Step 4: Remove Shaft Snap-ring

Using snap ring pliers remove this snap ring. The snap ring needs to be stretched off the shaft (external snap ring) so pull the two holes apart and pull off the shaft.

I highly recommend snap ring pliers for this step but I have also removed these before with needle nose pliers small enough to fit into the snap-ring holes. It will be much easier with the proper tool though.

Step 5: Remove the Gear

The gear should now easily come off the shaft. Just pull it off by hand.

Step 6: Remove the Gear Pin

This pin should now easily push out of the shaft. This can be done by hand, no hammer or press needed.

Step 7: Remove the Gear Washer

Next there is a washer that needs to come off the shaft. Just grab it and it comes off easily. Shown already partially removed here, it will be on the shaft against the housing.

After removing the gear washer you should have all of the parts shown in the second picture.

Step 8: Remove the Shaft Snap-ring Pt 2

Now we will focus on the shaft itself. First step is take the washer off (above the snap ring) then remove the circled snap ring above. It comes off the same way as the one we did previously.

*NOTE: the shaft shown here has the kit already installed.

Step 9: Install New Parts

Once the snap ring is off we can add our new parts. The arrows show the three parts included in the kit. The snap ring included (top arrow) is redundant and doesn't necessarily need to be replaced, but I have found this can wear out over time and slip on the shaft (this happened to my mixer) so now is a good time to proactively replace it if you'd like, or keep it as a spare.

Now go ahead and install the parts in the order shown above.

This is also a good opportunity to re-grease the gears. Just clean off the gear pictured, as well as the gear that can be seen if you look up into your mixer body where we pulled off the first part. Re-grease generously with something like white lithium grease available at most hardware/home improvement stores. There are plenty of videos on youtube with more information about this. Just search "re-grease of kitchenaid mixer"