How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6013690 / WP9703680 Retaining Ring (Drive Shaft)

Watched videos available on APP's website, then ordered all necessary parts. Once parts arrived, just followed the videos again, step-by-step, to repair the mixer. I am NOT a "handyman", but with APP as my resource, I did it. Mixer running great now. 

I've had my Kitchenaid Professional 6 for some time and eventually, the planetay head detached and fell off. Along with ordering a replacement, I ordered replacement gears as well, just to make sure everything was good. Sure enough, after removing the gear cover, some of them had damage. The entire process to replace the planetary and gears was simple. The only time consuming part was cleaning out all the old grease before re-assembly and greasing all the new gears. Also grease leaked past the old gasket into the body, so I had to clean that up as well. The only tool I had to purchase was some snap ring pliers, which I found a pair for $5 at a local hardware store. So again, besides dealing with the grease, it was quick and painless. 

Tore down transmission gear case of my Kitchenaid Professional 600 stand mixer and replaced worn components to include front and rear sleeve bearing, worm gear thrust bearing, worm follower gear, drive shaft retaining clip, center shaft o-ring, and dowl pin. Additionally, replaced black plastic transmission housing with metal one and new gasket, replaced entire planetary assembly, and repacked transmission with OEM food grade grease. After tear down, but before rebuild, l cleaned all components completely of all old gear grease including leakage in stand mixer itself. Note: Kitchenaid has not made an engineering change to the driveshaft/planetary assembly. The drive shaft is tension fit to the planetary. Over time and use, this tension is lost and the planetary plate slips down and eventually off the drive shaft. So, this repair will need to be completed again sometime in the future. I would have rated this experience 5 stars had this been corrected. 

I used a YouTube video to disassemble and found that the worm follower gear was severely worn. This was the first time I’ve done this kind of repair. 

I watched some YouTube videos, took my mixer apart, and determined the gears that need replacing. I ordered the parts from these guys and they arrived the next day! I put the new gears in and I was in business. 

I replaced some of the gears and it is working properly now. The gears were apparently worn and not engaging all of the cogs. I had very low confidence that I could fix the mixer but the simple and quick method to get the parts was encouraging. I am very pleased with the process and feel pretty good about myself! 

Replace bearings etc. Only one part didn’t fit so I used the old. 

Ordered new gears and replaced. 

I ordered a new one from ApplincePartsPros.com They are always ready to help with their videos and help with getting all the right parts. My wife thinks I can fix anything if she only knew were I get my info Thank all the fine staff at AppliancePartsPros Mark 

I replaced the planetary, shaft bearing and a few of the gears. I also put a bunch of grease around the gears. We have used this mixer regularly for the past 15 years and I did a pretty extensive overhaul. The only thing I wasn’t able to do is figure out how to make the mixer quieter. I wish they had a part for that. Appliance parts pros is the best. Great videos with plenty of close ups and tips on how to make the repair. Simple tools needed, nothing fancy (except the snap ring pliers). Parts got to me within a couple days.