- Please note that these guides are only informative. It can be dangerous to plug partially disassembled devices. Always unplug the device when working on it. If you’re not sure how to proceed, contact a local repair café or a professional.
Overheating of the motor
The motors of immersion blenders or food processors are not designed to run for long periods. After the normal operating time, the device will overheat and become hot to the touch. Some people use a cloth and wrap it around the blender to keep it going but this can cause real damage. With the cloth around the appliance, its ability to dissipate heat is greatly reduced and the internal temperature rises considerably. The result: the motor won’t function anymore.
STEP 1 Can you dismantle the blender?
If you are lucky, you will be able to access the motor by disassembling the base of your device. If you can identify the motor in the device, go to step 2 to analyse its condition.
If you are unable to dismantle the appliance, you can always go to a Repair Café or repair shop for help. However, there is a good chance that the appliance will become unusable.
STEP 2 Check for visible signs of overheating damage to the motor
Check for visible signs of an overheated motor / burn damage. If the motor is burnt, it most certainly cannot be repaired. Replacing a motor will probably cost too much compared to a new appliance, so you can consider the appliance out of service.
STEP 3 Check the thermal fuse
If there is no visible burn damage, this might mean that the manufacturer has inserted a thermal fuse which interrupts the power supply to the mixer to protect the motor from overheating. While this prevents a fire, the appliance will no longer be usable if the fuse is not changed.
Look at the motor coils to see if there are any thermal fuses hidden inside a rubber sheath. With the Ohm tester (or buzzer) check for continuity between the cable connected to the thermal fuse and the other end of the cable, or the carbon motor brushes housing. If you do not have continuity, one of the two fuses has blown (perhaps both).
To replace the thermal fuse, follow these instructions :
- Remove the rubber sheath covering the fuse.
- Cut the fuse wire as close to the fuse body as possible to have enough wire to make a hook.
- Make a hook with the thermal wire left.
- Make also a hook with the thermal wire of the new thermal fuse.
- Join the two hooks together to secure a good electric connection and cover with rubber sheath.
Never use a soldering iron to join the new thermal fuse. The heat of soldering would immediately burn out the thermal fuse.
Background information
General repair tips :
- Wiki Restarters : How to use a multimeter
- Wiki Restarters: The repair glossary
- Where to find spare parts
Caution
- Always unplug the device when working on it
- If you’re not sure how to proceed, contact a local repair café of a professional.
Source of this information
This tutorial was written by Repair Together - the network of Repair Cafés in Wallonia and Brussels (Belgium)
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