My KitchenAid mixer is now 45 years young and still works well. But the power cord is a problem -- the outer white plastic coating has deteriorated, is sticky and has orange discolorations on it -- so it clearly needs to be replaced.
Replacing it seems to be a fairly straightforward DIY job, but I'm afraid of opening something up that should remain sealed. I do see what looks like a separate small cover on the back of the mixer. It's apparently secured by a single Philips screw, and I'm guessing that removing it might give me access to whatever terminals the power cord is attached to.
But I also figured that someone else probably has already had this same problem and has successfully dealt with it. So I'd appreciate any advice before I start doing any surgical procedures on my KitchenAid! Seth
You might find the exact replacement here. It could include grommets and fittings that the original had:
https://www.kitchenaidparts.com/Shop-For-Parts/b121i648/Kitchenaid-Power-Cord-Parts
Here are some illustrated instructions and there are various videos on YouTube.
https://www.ereplacementparts.com/repair/how-to-replace-the-power-cord-on-a-kitchenaid-stand-mixer/
TomP
Thanks VERY much, this is exactly what I was looking for! Seth
Just a wire is an easy fix. You can do it. Enjoy!
After I've used the mixer tomorrow, my plan is to pull the back service cover off, make a little diagram of what wire goes where, and then remove the power cord connections. Hopefully there's a part number somewhere on the cord, and I can match that up with the bazillion power cords on the KitchenAid website. Failing that, I should be able to eyeball and match the right replacement cord, or at least use my own model/serial number to narrow down the possibilities. Since a new cord is only around $15, I can't go too far wrong. Since my circa-1979 mixer is likely a Hobart and not a Whirlpool, I'd like to try to keep it in circulation as long as possible!
Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, it was quite helpful! I usually like to knead by hand, but I just wanted to give the dough hook a try for a change. I'll probably still finish kneading it by hand anyway! Seth