Does your KitchenAid Proline 7 qt mixer CLICK under heavy loads?
Looking for owners who use a KA Proline 7 qt mixer (KSM7586) for making bread dough (cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, etc.) Does your machine make a clicking sound under these heavier loads? (Clicking does not happen when making cake batter/mixes.) I 'd like to hear back from those that do NOT have the clicking sound.
I received this machine for Christmas and got one that clicks under heavy loads. (The beater and dough hook are not hitting the side of the bowl and the bowl is properly set.) Searching the web, this appears to be a common and known problem that KA says is normal. However many don't feel it is normal and have exchanged their mixer only to receive another one that clicks.
I make only single recipe bread dough and use the mixer for cookies, cakes, frosting, etc. I know KA is not well thought of by all on this forum as most are heavy duty bread bakers and need a more powerful mixer. But for those that have the KA Proline 7 qt, I would really appreciate hearing back from you about your experience, especially if your mixer does NOT click under bread loads? Is there hope of getting a KA mixer that does not click? Thanks so much.
I have a KA artisan (tilt head) that I use to make one or two loaves, and a Univex 30 quart commercial mixer that I use for four to 14 loaves. Both rattle, thunk and squeak, but they work (the dough gets mixed and the machines don't fall apart).
Is the clicking coming from inside the motor housing? The bowl will click on its mounts (same way the big 30 quart mixer does) as the dough thumps around inside it. And sometimes in the big mixer the hook will rattle a bit on the shaft because it isn't completely tight (or you wouldn't be able to get it off). I think these two things are normal.
The bowl is not moving on its mounts. Hard to tell where the clicking is coming from. That is probably the biggest concern. If it is just the hook rattling that would be one thing, but if it is from the gear box that is more concerning even with a 5 year warranty.
That's a pretty weird noise. As noted, my 6 qt proline doesn't make much noise other than the motor with all manners of bread dough.
I've had about 6 or 7 and they all clicked. I use it to indicate gluten developing. Turn off the mixer and let the dough relax for 7-10 minutes. The clicking will stop.
I really wouldn't worry about the condition unless you're running it above speed 2 and watching it just to see what happens...,
Wild-Yeast
Wow that is impressive. I hope you haven't burned thru that many. What is your impression of the cause...slipping gears or the hook on the planetary ring not being snug?
It is a long story related in discussions about KitchenAid mixers. It is mostly a story of a company in change and the resulting organization slow to react to problems in their product line. The long story short is that KitchnenAid solved their problems and I kept returning them till they got it right. Have to admit they do standby their product. I am now a wholly satisfied customer of their products.
The click only occurs with the spiral dough hook on approximately 4 lbs of dough. The click sounds when the spiral hook planetary rotates through the rear most position - the hook momentarily comes lose of its socket, rotating ahead of the socket retainer pin followed by the rotation catching up with it causing the audible click. The bowl and the support arms are part of a compound spring action which flex and then snap return when the hook rotates past the rear point. Confused? Of course you are - it took me a long period of careful observation to get this far. Did I tell you that it's complicated?
Wild-Yeast
Return 1 down. Hopefully not 6 more returns to go...
I returned the unit yesterday. I will take it for a test drive later this week when we are snowed in and I have a bit more time. I am really going to pay attention to the rotation as you describe. I've read something similar elsewhere but your explanation is much more descriptive.
I'm glad to hear that you have finally received a unit that meets your satisfaction. But does it still click on 4 lbs of dough or have you finally received a unit that can handle that amount of dough and not click?
It only starts clicking when the gluten becomes developed enough placing a large enough load on the mechanical linkages to cause the click. Mix for 4 minutes, rest 30 minutes to allow full hydrolys, mix for 4 minutes, rest for 15, mix for 4 minutes, rest for 10, add levain, mix for 4 minutes (or until the dough demonstrates extension and windowing, add salt, mix for 4 minutes until dough satins, turn out dough, stretch and fold 6-8 times, place in proofing container until doubled. Notice that the mixer doesn't run longer than 8 minutes straight in any of the above listed segments.
Wild-Yeast
The new one clicks when making one single recipe of Hawaiian rolls. http://www.handletheheat.com/homemade-hawaiian-bread-rolls/
And it clicks 3 to 4 times per rotation. Not just once when the dough hook passes through the rear. Sounds like the click is coming from the inside of the planetary part or above the planetary part in the main unit.
Thoughts on whether I should return again?
for clicking until you got this one that only clicks when gluten becomes developed or other reasons?
Wild-Yeast is right on! Even the 6 qt. develops this click. I have purchased several KA's from 4 qt to 6 qt. that have been deemed "damaged" when in fact they simply needed parts changed in some cases. I made the repairs using videos and purchasing parts from a supply house in Miami.
I will be taking delivery of my 7 qt. later today. The real benefit of the 7 qt. is reduced noise from the motor compared to the 6 qt. Don't let the "click" be the determining factor. Instead have confidence in KA, the warranty, and experience the joy of a machine that will tackel anything you want to mix.
as mine clicks as well on speed 2 while kneading the dough. Curious to see if yours does as well.
Danni, I hope this isn’t the case with your machine, but when mine starts making the clicking noise the gears are getting ready to go out. I’ve changed gears at least 3 times and finally went with an Ankarsrum.
Dan
I just got it for Xmas and have used it once!
Danni, are you planning to use a KA for your bread that you donate? My concern is that because you bake many loaves at a time you will over tax the KA. I’ve gone through 2 KA and I never bake as much bread as you. In my experience, for those baking lots of breads or large % of whole wheat, the new KA has a propensity to strip gears.
NOTE - I haven’t used a Proline, but I wouldn’t expect things to be much different.
Dan
but I still am going to make 4 separate batches rather than one or two large batches. The pro line can handle 8 lbs of dough and one of my batches is around 5 lbs so I am not going to be taxing it to its max.
My daughter did her research and this model has the largest motor available in a domestic model and metal gears/components so it should be able to handle what I plan to do with it. Or at least, I certainly hope so! I believe there is a 5 year warranty so I can fall back on that if needed.
Anyone else with a proline mixer that can share their experience with their mixer and clicking sounds? Thanks to all who have shared so far.
I have a fairly new (less than a year) proline 7 and no, it doesn't click. I often make a double batch of bagels in it without problems.
I understand bagel dough is quiet heavy. Glad to hear yours does not click.
I decided to return the second unit that clicked mainly because it was behaving strangely when switching between gears and did not have enough power / torch when needing bread dough. Hoping not to jinx things, but the new unit (#3) does not click under heavy loads. It is so nice to not hear that clicking sound. So for other owners of machines that click, if you have the patience and perseverance, it is possible to get a machine that does not click.
My clicking was different than Wild-Yeast. Mine was more inline with play in planetary section of mixer as outlined in this info from an amazon review:
Update 12/2/2015 Received my replacement mixer quickly, 7 days after I contacted customer service, even during Thanksgiving week. Second mixer much better, very little noise works excellent. The problem with the clicking is caused by too much "play" in the planetary section of the mixer, the second mixer had very little "play" in the head. This is where you attach the dough hook, which seems to be the main problem. Mixing dough puts some stress in that area and the clicking is caused by the "play" and the mixing action of the hook. No problem with the gears, looking forward to using this mixer for many years. Again excellent service from Kitchenaid.
Pasted from <https://smile.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KSM7586PSR-7-Quart-Stand-Silver/product-reviews/B008XF7926/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_paging_btm_2?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=2&sortBy=recent&filterByKeyword=click>
huh. Mine is a few years old (7qt proline) and it has always clicked. I thought it was just something that the machine did.
I wonder if there's any way to just fix it.
Hi,
today I received new 7 qt artisan mixer. It starts clicking on speed 2 while kneading 600 grams of flour ~ 75% hydration. Definitely not a heavy load.
I think it is not okay. A lot of people say this is normal. Also some say it is not normal. Some have replaced their mixers and received quieter or louder replacements.
I have two questions for you:
Thank you and I wish you a happy bakey 2021! :)
I’m not aware that KitchenAid makes a 7 quart Artisan.
To answer your questions, I have a proline 7 quart and it clicks. I don’t worry about it. I’ve had it for two years now and I use it every weekend to make 12 loaves. Not all in one batch though! I make 4 batches of about 2200-2400 g each. So far so good and no issues. Touch wood!
Hi, thank you for reply.
Kitchenaid 7 quart Artisan model exists but I think it is for the EU only. I guess it is the same as 7 ProLine US version. It has 500W DC motor and its serial is 5KSM7580X.
In general it is very quiet except this clicking when using hook & dough.
I'm unable to be 100% sure where clicking is coming from but I don't think it is from the gears - I guess click is coming from somewhere between the hook and the machine. I also tried to press the hook(while working the dough at low speed) with hand to see if there is some space between hook that is causing click. No success.
I really hope kitchenaid will fix this - it is too annoying for 800 € machine!
I have had my Commercial 8 since November, 2016. With the dough hook, it will click whether or not I'm making a bread dough. I think much of that has to do with the hook, plus the rod and flange it's attached to. The motor does a great job of protecting its self under a heavy load as well. I once tested it on a dough that was so stiff that it was impossible to knead by hand. The motor shut down, but it was fine after. I had to finish that batch with my trusty Berkel PM10 (a re-badged Thunderbird ARM-01 with a 1/2 HP motor and hardened steel gears).
I have 2 of the lovely units as both of them click with the spiral dough attachment. One was replaced and didn’t click at first, but within a couple of months started clicking as well. I don’t think it effects any functionality with the mixer, but does effect the operator. After spending so much money, you’d expect better. But in the end, I wouldn’t trade these mixers. They are serious workhouses and I bake a ton of bread, including large batches of bagels every week and no issues kneading 52% hydration doughs.
is touching the bowl at some point in the rotation? There is a screw to adjust the clearance between the bowl and implement.
I think the clicking is caused by the spiral shape of the dough hook, and how it contacts the surface at the end of the shaft. There's no spring to hold the dough hook stead, so it will bang at the end on every revolution. It is what it is. Mine just keeps going and going....
I have a commercial 8qt that I bought at auction. It needed repairs in the planetary. After replacing the attachment shaft, snap rings, and washers I got the clicking. Taking it apart again l noticed that the top of the attachment shaft was hitting the four spokes of the ring gear. If you drive out the pin holding the planetary in place you can see rub marks on the top of the shaft and the spokes of the ring gear. A little filing or another spacer washer below the planetary bushing will improve the spacing and stop the clicking.
I have a new 7 quart (I am in Australia). I expected the clicking, as its a function of the design. Also, I have watched a number videos on the machine, some from Kitchenaid themselves. On Kitchenaid machines making bread dough, I watched one in the USA and another in India. Both machines "clicked" when turning the dough. Under light loads, they don't click, due to the nature of the dough. And the noise is not gear box related.
They could have a different hook attachment design, for sure. From a user perspective, not having the clicking would be nicer. But then, the design is very easy to put on and off, and very easy to clean. The noise is just a function of the machine.
I think the 7 quart is a very good machine, its flexible, has a good gearbox IMO with no plastic in it, and a good DC torquey motor that holds a constant speed. The motor is quiet too compared to all other appliance motors I've used. The design of the 7 (and 8 quart) machines is not as rugged as the Pro 5 quart lift machine though, which is an older design and is extremely well engineered IMO. However, that machines bowls are too small for what I intended, their gearbox is designed to break (relatively easy to fix but as a plastic gear fails which is a symptom of an older design rather than relying on electronics) and their motor is not as good as the 7 and 8 quart one is.
While I'd have rather had the designer of the lift 5 quart model put in a bigger bowl and a DC motor and an all metal gearbox big enough to cope - I guess making such a machine would have cost me a whole lot more money. And I suspect the life expectancy of the 7 and 8 quart is very high, as they are repairable. I reckon the likely failures will be the motherboard #1, the gearbox #2. 5 years down the track - my replacement Kenwood did not last that long, its motor burnt out, and it was not repairable. So I have bought my first Kitchenaid machine.