Bread-Bakers v102.n006.9

Dear Melissa and interested others:

The "Beater to Bowl Clearance" section of the KA manual pictures the screws 
involved.  On the 4 1/2 qt model (where the bowl attaches to the bottom) 
this is the screw you can see when you tip the head back. You turn it 
counter clockwise to raise the beater and clockwise to lower the beater.

On the other model, it is the screw between two Phillip's head screws (sort 
of in a triangle) apparently revealed when you put the bowl lift down and 
look upwards under the mixer head.  I don't have this one so I am 
describing the picture in the manual.  Again, Counter clockwise to raise 
and clockwise to lower.

The manual cautions to unplug the unit while making these adjustments. They 
are adjusted at the factory but apparently don't stay adjusted or aren't 
adjusted very thoroughly.

I find if you smear some butter or shortening on the bottom of the bowl you 
can check and see if the paddle is rubbing or not.  If it does, you can see 
the tracings of the paddle on the bowl when you give it a few turns at low 
speed.  Resmear and test again.  The goal is to have it close to the bowl 
without coming into contact. The manual says "When properly adjusted the 
flat beater will not strike on bottom or side of bowl.  If beater or wire 
whip is adjusted too close so that it strikes botteom of bowl, coating may 
wear off beater or wires may wear through on wire whip."

It may be wise to check this every so often to keep things in tune.  I 
imagine the rubbing puts extra stress on the motor (especially when baking 
my mother's anise drop cookies which require 45 minutes of beating.)

The KA number is 1-800-541-6390; maybe they can send you a new manual, if 
you can survive the time on hold.

Happy mixing,
Amy