K45/K5 Clean and Re-grease Parts

This applies to all tilt-head machines (original K45, “Classic”, “Artisan”, “Ultra Power”) except the Accolade and Artisan Mini, as well as the older bowl-lift machines in the K5 series: K5A, K4SS, K5SS, KSM5, KSM50, KSMC50S, KSM450, KSM500 (and similar). Any full-sized mixer with a round rear cover secured with a small screw at the top center is applicable (note that this does not include the vintage 4C/3C/3B models).

If you are going to DIY this job, you will need the following items:

  • Gear housing gasket: part #WP4162324
  • Center shaft O-ring: part #WP67500-55 (see note below)
  • Planetary retaining pin: part #WP9705443 (5/32 x 7/8″ type-E grooved drive pin)
  • Grease (“food safe”, NSF H-1 rated, NLGI #2 viscosity, see below)

If you are repairing a failed worm follower gear, or if the mixer is an older machine and you are overhauling it for the first time:

  • Worm follower gear, part #WPW10112253 (see important note below)
  • Pinion drive pin, part #WP9705444 (3/32 x 3/4″ type-E grooved drive pin)

The O-ring is a standard item which you can probably find in most hardware stores: 1/2in OD, 3/8in ID, 1/16in CS. The pins are commodity parts as well but may be harder to find, so it’s often simpler to order them as repair parts.

Repair part number 4160474 is a rebuild kit which includes a replacement center shaft, center shaft pin, planetary retaining pin, O-ring, and gasket. This is ideal for older mixers.

If the speed control lever is bent or missing its knob, you can replace it while the mixer is open. The repair part number for the lever with the black knob is WP9709276; for the gray knob is WP9709277; and for the “buff”/tan-colored knob is 3184195.

Likewise if the tilt latch lever is bent or missing its knob, the repair part number is WP24452 for the entire latch assembly with a black knob.

For grease I like the Super Lube 41160 (one 14oz can is enough for more than two mixers); you can buy it on Amazon. Valid alternatives are Mobil FM222, Phillips P66 Food Machinery Grease, CRC SL35600, and CRC SL35610.

Important note about the gear: do not buy the cheap aftermarket gears that you can get on Amazon. They are not built to factory specifications and will fail, sometimes immediately. Always use the genuine part.

Parts sources:

Updated: 4/20/2025