Waltons 50lb mixer - paddle binding

[Matt Rebsom]

I have a waltons #22 grinder and a waltons 50lb mixer.

I have done 8 - 25 lb batches using the mixer attached to the grinder and have experienced the same issue on all batches since purchasing the mixer. My issue is the paddle “walks” towards the spring loaded release knob (side away from motor) and starts hitting the 90 degree tabs in the mixing tub. It will bind on the tab if I don’t continue to push on the paddle release knob on the outside of tub which prevents it from “walking” (doesn’t let spring depress on the paddle release knob). I do not see a way to lock the paddle release knob.

What am i doing wrong? I am asking to burn up my mixer motor or break gears on mixer if I don’t figure out what is going on.

Couple items:

1. My grinder is ~2 years old and is single direction
2. Paddle is fully seated and release knob fully engaged before I start.

Thanks!

[processhead]

Matt Rebsom

I am sure someone more familiar with your mixer can help with specifics, but this sounds like perhaps a washer or bushing is missing from the knobb end of the paddle assembly.

Can you tell if there is excess side play when the paddle assembly is mounted in the tub? That could be the first hint that a spacer bushing or washer on the knob side is missing or worn.

[Matt Rebsom]

It doesn’t appear to have excessive play (really no play), but can grab paddle and depress the spring when I push in the direction of the release knob. This mixer is new (just the 8 batches) and came assembled and the knob has not been disassembled, but could have been assembled incorrectly. Looks ok to me.

Looking at the design, it appears to be the angle of the paddles cause a natural “walk” if there is nothing locking it into place. When the paddles encounter the resistance from the meat it is “pushed” the opposite direction of the paddle angle. So depending on the motor direction the paddle would naturally go one way or the other, but you would hope it was designed such that the natural paddle “walk” direction would be towards the motor (fixed portion) resulting in no “walk”. Hope that makes sense! I thought that was the rotation but will need to go look at it again.

[processhead]

I would run this through Walton’s customer service…
Jonathon?
It is possible this one just has an out of tolerance assembly causing the issue. Regardless, they will take care of you and make it right.

[Matt Rebsom]

Thanks processhead. Jonathon had suggested asking on this site. Hoping other users of 50lb mixer will chime in.

[Jonathon]

Matt Rebsom There is nothing that I can think of that would make it walk that badly that it would hit those two tabs…ahh I get it now. Sorry, sometimes I have to type things out for them to make sense. Jonathan (customer service agent) is who i am guessing you talked to, he should have to change his name to prevent confusion! Anyway, just a moment, I am going to go check on something

[Matt Rebsom]

Jonathon - you are correct that it was Jonathan in customer service that suggested asking questions on this site. I cannot edit the prior post to remove the confusion.

[Jonathon]

[Jonathon]

Matt Rebsom No, I was just joking about that! Funny, because we have a ton of people here who share names, and he has my old job too!

Okay, so I tested mine by putting the paddles in and then pushing toward that side and while it moved, it shouldn’t have moved like it did on yours. So, above I have some pictures of how to remove that piece, I am curious to see if there is something wrong with your spring? The knob screws off and then you should be able to push it all back into the mixer body. Let me know how the spring looks. It sort of sounds like it has been doing this from the beginning though, so I am going to guess that either the spring is defective or you don’t have one. Either way we will get you either the entire thing or the spring.

Let me know whenever you can, I’ll keep this post up on my computer since you seem to be on right now.

Also, I should point out that I’ve never seen that happen when I do a batch, if it was just moving I would say it is possible it always does it and I just haven’t paid enough attention to see it but the fact that it hits those vertical tabs makes that basically impossible.

[Jonathon]

Matt Rebsom I made a few edits to my message above to hopefully make it a bit more clear. Especially at the end of days my mind can get a little wonky, little wonky at the start too, but man for about 45 minutes in the middle of the day I am sharp!

[processhead]

Jonathon said in Waltons 50lb mixer - paddle binding:

Matt Rebsom I made a few edits to my message above to hopefully make it a bit more clear. Especially at the end of days my mind can get a little wonky, little wonky at the start too, but man for about 45 minutes in the middle of the day I am sharp!

45 minutes?! Wow. I’m lucky if I am sharp for 15 minutes a day, I am doing good.

I will be interested to see what the OP finds on his machine.

[Matt Rebsom]

I went and looked at mine and disassembled the paddle release knob. Based on your pictures and mine, I am guessing that my spring is very weak or the brass shaft is not the correct length. I notice your entire brass shaft when assembled is shifted in towards the tub (o-ring showing and knob closer to mixer stand). I can grab my paddle and shift to left very easy. When I am mixing it is very obvious - it starts to make a “tink” sound that progressively gets louder and I had it bind once. My tabs have a rub mark from paddle touching during the “walk”.

[Spidey]

Matt Rebsom I don’t have the 50 pound mixer, however my mixer paddle was moving excessively and I bought a new spring that was stiffer at Menards for under a buck and it solved the problem. Spring was same length and id size was the same, only a heavier stiffer version.

[Tex_77]

Looks like you have the new shiny model, mine is that matte finish. I’d agree with what has been said above sounds like a spring issue. Either way I’m sure Walton’s will make it right. Also here’s a tip to aid in clean up, wipe the inside down with mineral oil before you start.

[Jonathon]

Matt Rebsom chat me your order # or the email you used and I’ll send out a new spring and brass piece that the knob screws into. They do move a little, but there is no way they should be moving enough to hit those vertical tabs! Sorry about that!

[Dave in AZ]

Matt Rebsom
Sounds like Jonathon has you covered!
In the meantime, while you wait for new spring, if you need to use it…

1. Just grab old spring and stretch it past it’s modulus of elasticity. Make it half inch longer. Should provide more force on paddle.
2. Check the paddles on center post AND welded to sides are not slightly bent… don’t know about Walton’s one, but on the ones from some others, the most common complaints are from the paddles getting slightly bent and hitting each other. Mine don’t have much clearance, and there can be a lot of force if just one paddle tip is engaged in cold sticky meat, a wee bit of bend can happen. You can bend the tips without much issue to give a bit more clearance. I read all their online comments, this was before I found Walton’s.
   I have a 20lb mixer, it is not from Walton’s but looks kinda similar. I bought it before I discovered Waltons. My paddles hit once in a while, I just give them a wee bend and good for a few months. Your Walton’s 50lb looks better quality paddles than mine, so maybe the tips are stiffer, but still worth taking a look at this to see if one might have got bent?

[badexpresso]

My brass exposure sticks out .375" on my mixer. This was athe best measurement tool I could find. Roast away!
20230208_212052.jpg

[Jonathon]

This post is deleted!