New KitchenAid 5.5/6.0/7.0-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixers (Models: KSM55/KSM60/KSM70) Repair

In 2023, KitchenAid discontinued their Professional and ProLine bowl-lift stand mixer models (model names may vary in non-USA countries), to be replaced by the new 5.5/6.0/7.0-quart models: KSM55/KSM60/KSM70 respectively. The first model released was the '7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer with Redesigned Premium Touchpoints’ (KSM70SNDX) which was released in November 2022 and featured stainless steel attachments and a new double flex edge beater. The other models (KSM55, KS60, and standard KSM70) were released in the first half of 2023.

Compared to the out-going AC motor bowl-lift models (e.g., the discontinued Professional 600), the 5.5/6.0/7.0-quart models (KSM55/KSM60/KSM70) feature a number of improvements:

• An all new 500W AC motor which is also significantly quieter and more efficient than the one found in previous AC motor models.
• The main planetary, the part to which accessories like the whisk and beater attach, on the new models is mechanically affixed to the main drive shaft via an alignment hole and pin. This solves a major point of failure in the old AC motor models (e.g., Professional 600) which used a friction fit method of attachment which was highly prone to failure over time.
• A quieter, more efficient, and more reliable all-metal gearbox design based on the DC motor gearbox design. This new gearbox replaces the noisy old worm-follower gearbox with a dual planetary reduction design similar to those used in power tools. It also gets rid of the bronze sacrificial bevel gear which was used in the old gearbox design.
• The addition of a new 1/2 speed setting to handle folding of ingredients.
• A new 7-quart AC motor offering.

Compared to the DC motor bowl-lift models (e.g., the discontinued ProLine 7-qt.) the only improvement is the 1/2 speed setting with the AC motor being a downgrade from the previously used DC motor.

Additionally, this model expands the practice introduced with the DC motor bowl-lift models where the motor and gearbox are all a single unit. This makes it cheaper for KitchenAid to assemble but more expensive to repair, should any part need it.

While KitchenAid model numbers like 5KSM70SHXEER0 are definitely confusing, there is some degree of method to the madness. The model number can actually be broken down into seven distinct parts:

A B CCCC DD EEEE FF G

The values within these parts can tell you a lot of information about the mixer including refurb status, voltage/frequency/bowl-size/color/etc. Note that not all model numbers will use all of these parts and not all digits in a specific part may be used (e.g., CCCC has valid values between one and four characters)

• A: There are only two possible values for this part of the model number:
  • Blank (e.g., 5KSM70SHXEER0) - the mixer is brand-new or was brand-new when sold by KitchenAid. The standard warranty applies.
  • R (e.g., R5KSM70SHXEER0) - the mixer has been refurbished by KitchenAid before being sold and the refurb warranty applies rather than the standard new model warranty.
• B: This part of the model number is most commonly used to designate different voltage/frequency combinations but has historically been used to denote country/region-specific models as well:
  • Blank (e.g., KSM70SNDX) - a 120V/60Hz model
  • 3 (e.g., 3KSM95TWH) - a Taiwan-specific 110V/60Hz models.
  • 4 (e.g., 4KSM55) - a Canada-specific model. This code is only applicable to older mixers. For the most recent model lines, KitchenAid unified their model lines across the USA and Canada.
  • 5 (e.g., 5KSM60) - a 220-240V/50Hz model. This code covers the majority of the countries.
  • 7 (e.g. 7KSM70SKXZ) - a Brazil 127V model. Note: Brazil 220V/60Hz models use a totally different naming scheme than the rest of the world.
  • 8 - Old Taiwan-specific code. Not sure when or why it stopped being used.
  • 9 (e.g. 9KSM55) denotes a 100V/50-60Hz Japan-specific model.
• CCCC: This part of the model number denotes that within the vast array of model numbers in the WhirlPool/KitchenAid family that the product is a KitchenAid mixer. Some of the most common values are:
  • K (e.g., K45SS) - A KitchenAid Model K mixer. This family of mixers dates all the way back to the original Hobart/KitchenAid Model K released in 1937.
  • KG (e.g., KG25H0) - Unknown meaning but commonly used on the Professional HD bowl-lift models.
  • KP (e.g., KP26M1) - a KitchenAid Professional mixer. Used mostly for the 6-Qt. Professional Bowl-Lift models.
  • KSM (e.g., KSM195) - a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. By far the most common across KitchenAid's lineup of mixers. This seems to be the one KitchenAid now prefers to use having dropped most others.
  • KSCM (e.g. KSMC895) - KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Commercial-use
  • KV - Unknown meaning but commonly used on the 5-Qt Professional bowl-lift models.
• DD: If the first one or two digits after the previous part (CCCC) are numbers, it can sometimes denote the bowl-size. For example, the 45 in K45SS denotes a 4.5-Qt (4.3 L) bowl, the 70 in 5KSM70SHXEAC0 denotes a 7.0-Qt. (6.6 L) bowl, and the 8 in KSMC895 denotes an 8.0-Qt. (7.6L) bowl. It is important to note that tilt-head models, with the exception of the K45SS or K50SS, do not use this part even if they have numbers after CCCC (e.g., a KSM192 does not have a 1.9-Qt. bowl).
• EEEE: This is by-far the most important part of the model number. Unfortunately, KitchenAid has also made it the least consistent and most confusing. This part details the exact model/sub-model as well as specific combinations of accessories/attachments/bowls:
  • For example, both the KSM70SNDX and KSM70SKXX are 120V/60Hz 7.0-Qt mixers with identical internal parts. The KSM70SNDX comes with stainless steel attachments while the KSM70SKXX comes with coated attachments. Similarly, the KSM150, KSM192, and KSM195 are all 5.0-Qt (4.7 L) tilt-head models with identical internals but with differing types/numbers of accessories and attachments.
  • For the 220-240V/50Hz models, the last character can denote a country/region-specific variant. For example, in both 5KSM195PS_ and 5KSM70SHX_, the underscore can be filled in with one following to denote which country/region-specific variant the model is:
    • A – Australia/New Zealand
    • B – UK
    • C – China
    • D – India
    • E – Europe
    • I – Israel
    • N – Indonesia (Not for sure but evidence points to this)
    • P – Unknown (Maybe Singapore)
    • R – Argentina/Chile/Peru
    • T – Thailand (Not for sure but evidence points to this)
    • W – South Korea (Not for sure but evidence points to this)
• FF: Color Code. See the Colors section below for a full list of colors
• G: Model Revision. Until a revision occurs, this digit is often left off the sticker. The original version of the mixer is 0, the first revision is 1, and so on. These can be important when sourcing replacement parts as the changes can occasionally impact fitment of parts.

Because the model number breaks down different aspects logically, you can include or exclude portions of the model number to find the specific part number needed.

For example, if you need a 220-240V/50Hz motor assembly, then you can ignore the bowl size (DD) and Color Codes (FF) because all of the 220-240V/50Hz mixers use the same motor assembly.

Similarly, let's say you are looking for a motor housing for an Empire Red 5KSM70SKXR. Because the color specific parts are typically kept constant across all of the KSM55/KSM60/KSM70, you only need to worry about the Color Code (FF) portion. You can find the part number in the Repair Parts List for pretty much any of the models (provided it has an Empire Red model): e.g., the Empire Red motor housing for KSM55SJSXER, KSM70SKXXER, 5KSM60XPSA, and 7KSM70SKXZ all use the same part number: 9705300.

This is useful information to know, if you want to change things up a bit. Color-specific parts like the mixer body, gearcase, planetary assembly, etc. are fully interchangeable between all KSM55/KSM60/KSM70 models allowing one to customize as they wish.

Another common change is the speed select knob which can have different colors/materials depending on the model. This one is a bit more complex, as the speed control knob is not sold separately, it is part of the motor control board itself. Motor control boards are voltage/frequency dependent, so you can't use the motor control board from a 120V/60Hz model on a 220-240V/50Hz model. That being said, you can use one from a different model which has the speed select knob you like provided it uses the same voltage/frequency as your own.

The following table lists the colors available for these mixers and their corresponding color codes. Use them in conjunction with the Repair Parts List in the Attached Documents section to determine the color specific parts for your mixer. Note that not all colors are available for all models.

Link to the KitchenAid website for the KSM55SXXX

Link to the Costco website for the KSM60SECX

Link to the KitchenAid website for the KSM70SKXX

Link to the KitchenAid website for the KSM70SNDX