The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Pleased to meet you...

MrCoffee's picture
MrCoffee

Pleased to meet you...

I guess this is where I start.  I have been baking bread for myself, for a number of years.  I discovered this message board while looking for a metal gear housing for my KitchenAid Pro 5 Plus, and looking for some reviews.  Most who own this machine have never had any real difficulties or problems, in spite of the plastic gear housing.  But I think I would like to make mine better if that would be practical and makes sense.

So here's my situation:  I have the Pro 5 Plus, and a re-labeled Thunderbird ARM-01 mixer (it's branded a Berkel PM-10, but it's a Thunderbird).  I have never once had a problem with the Thunderbird (or Berkel) since I purchased it in 2003, except for the screw under the planetary gear housing that just needed to be tightened up because of the flat beater touching the bottom of the 10 quart bowl and making a nice Spirograph pattern.  I've never had a problem since, but the mark is there for life.  I guess that's what makes my machine so special, it builds character..  Right??? 

There is also some grease seeping between the top cover, and the guard that swings shut, but I'm sure that was lubricant for the safety guard, and doesn't, to my knowledge, have anything to do with the transmission (I hope).  I took the cage off and looked.  It appears the grease came from the bearings that put pressure on the cage to tighten it up, so it stays in place while the machine is running.  If that's the case, then I guess they were a bit over generous on the grease at the Chinese factory where it was assembled.  You get what you pay for!

So...  Does anybody else here own a Globe, Thunderbird, Avantco, Presto, Vollrath, etc. etc. etc...  Because they couldn't afford a Hobart N-50?  I have to be honest, I wish I would have spent a little more and got a new N-50 when I had the chance.  I should have grabbed a Hobart Legacy 12 when I could, but I had other things to buy at the time.  I know I wouldn't be writing this if I got the Hobart Legacy, but would probably be here singing the praises about the blue N-50 that I simply did not buy. 

Today, I am poor.  What I have, is what I got.  So, guess I have to live with buying me a metal KitchenAid gear cover, and praying that it'll fit and I won't have yet another $20.00 sunk cost.  That, plus my Berkel (Thunderbird), which is no longer marketed by Berkel, that I can still get Thunderbird ARM-01 parts for.  In spite of it being a bit cheap, it will still knead a stiff pizza dough for 15 minutes.  It'll get a little hot, but it will none the less do the work without complaint.

So what do you all think?  Shall I work, slave, and eat frozen pizzas until I can spring for the Hobart I should have got a decade or so ago, or can I make due with the provisions I currently have for a while?  Any help from someone with some knowledge would be appreciated.  Thank you so much for reading my introduction, and I look forward to some advice.

MrCoffee

Oh by the way:  Yes, I will add a Bosch to my collection if that's what it takes.

jimbtv's picture
jimbtv

I am using an Ultrex M20 mixer that I bought used for $250 US and it runs like a champ. This mixer is a little different than the model you purchased but you might want to consider the used market as well as purchasing new.

If there is any subject discussed as much as sourdough on this site, I'd have to put "mixers" high up on the list. Here is a link to a search that I pulled up a minute ago:

http://www.thefreshloaf.com/search/node/mixer

Reading the posts should provide you with ample opinions on what is best and what is... not best!

 

Jim

 

MrCoffee's picture
MrCoffee

Thanks, jimbtv.  Well, I'm still looking for an answer regarding my KitchenAid.  I'm betting, though, that since the Pro 5 Plus is a discontinued model, I probably won't get much of a response.  Reviews are still favorable, in spite of the plastic gear housing.  This makes me wonder if I can skip the metal for now.  I know to be easy on it, where I will only make one loaf of bread at a time instead of two as the recipe calls for.  It will handle that task just fine, as well as other mundane details where my Thunderbird would be a bit inconvenient. Thanks for your response.

I would still like some word from others, though.  Chime in if you can.

MrCoffee

Plan2build's picture
Plan2build

...Mr Coffee, being in a similar dilemma as you, I gave up on 3 KitchenAid mixers (2 gear boxes destroyed and 1 cooked motor).  They just could not keep up with what my intended usage was (sourdough).  I eventually settled on this mixer (also clued in from this site).

https://www.cityfoodequipment.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=12121&virtuemart_category_id=2

It is a 6qt mixer originally intended to replace the N50 but for whatever reasons was abandoned by Hobart.  I have one and can attest to its durability.  I recently cracked the attachment spindle, but had a machinist friend turn me another one so it is back in operation.  The whisk, dough hook, and paddle say Hobart (at least mine do) and the label shows the unit is made in Sweden.  I can only assume this is the same unit.  While the HL-6 does not have a continuous drive motor and gear transmission, the cooling fan is constant speed, and I have never had an issue with this mixer.

In the meantime I have also picked up two more mixers.  One is a Like Brand New N50 off Ebay that I got for $870 shipped.  The deal was too good to pass up, and when I received the unit, it was indeed unused, as if the lady who had it used it for decoration (the box was old from being stored in the attic).  So keep your eyes peeled for some occasional deals on Ebay.  My second mixer is a decades old Hobart C100 10qt mixer.  I got this for some more heavy duty applications and while I was waiting for the new part for my HL-6.  So I have three mixers now, and am not using the N50....I think I will save that until one of the others dies.

For $550, the City Food Equipment (CFE) HL-6 made by Hobart is a lot of bang for the buck.  Search this forum for Hobart HL6 for others who evaluated this, including me!

P2B

MrCoffee's picture
MrCoffee

That's a neat little mixer.  I'm in Michigan, so it wouldn't be too much of a drive for me to go and pick one up.  I honestly wish I had the funds for one at the moment, but I don't.  What I managed to add to my collection, though, is a KitchenAid commercial 8 quart, without the guard, in their dark pewter color.  And yes, I got it pretty cheap.  Parts are also available and extremely common, again, cheap.... 

I ran it through some bread and pizza dough, as well as a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Now, about my cookies:  No, it's not the stuff that melts and spreads, then slippery slides into a pancake.  I use half the butter, and you really can only make ONE batch at a time.  That one recipe, I believe, may have killed off its share of KitchenAids and broke one or two Bosch Universal plastic paddles in the mean time.  :D  My off-brand T-Bird doesn't mind at all, and the new KitchenAid Commercial 8 seems perfectly OK with it.  It's a cute little biscuit, that KitchenAid.  So I think I'll spare it from the 15 minute Alton Brown torture test, and reserve that for the T-Bird (remember Jaws in the James Bond movie? well, that about describes my 10 quart cookie monster).  It just gives me piece of mind, knowing that if my 10 quart eats one of its gears, I have the KitchenAid to fall back on while I save up for repairs.

Oh, and here's another update:  I got the metal gear cover for my Pro 5 Plus, and it fits perfectly.  I looked at the gears, they were like new (it was spared a lot of grief, courtesy of "Jaws").  I ran a batch of basic white bread, and the Pro 5 Plus stayed cool during the whole session.  Wonderful!  So now, I know I'm covered, as long as I take care of my little collection.  So maybe in a few months, the Hobart can share some space too, after I find a home for my last Sunbeam, and there is no question on my ability to purchase one and make some space for it.  Thanks so much for your reply, Plan2build.