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”.

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.

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

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.

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!