Do-It-Yourself Story

I had reassembled my 12 year old mixer after replacing the pinion gear and lower gear housing. When I tested the mixer, there was a rhythmic clicking noise. Upon closer examination, the worm gear showed wear. I ordered the thrust bearing and worm gear bearing because this assembly seemed loose in the housing when turning the motor by hand and the parts seemed worn. Once I replaced the front, rear and thrust bearing, I found that the main gear was still trying to bounce out of the housing. When turning the motor by hand, I found a spot where movement was "rough". I disassembled for the umpteenth time, and flossed between the teeth of the fine toothed gear. There was the tiniest of metal pieces stuck between two of the teeth. This was causing the bounce of the gear and a clicking noise when the mixer was running. Now the bounce is gone and the noise is gone as well. Success!