Thx for showing the actual problem in the beginning of the video. Many repair videos do not show what was wrong with the Vitamix. You can clearly hear the rheostat cutting in n out.
First off, THANK YOU for sharing this video with us! It was very helpful to see how to open the unit and how the potentiometer could be the issue. I also want to thank all the other commenters who suggested using various contact cleaner sprays. Since the replacement part was $25 on ebay, I decided to first try the spray. I ended up getting a can of Klear Concepts lubricant for under $5 at Home Depot. I removed the part completely and sprayed into 2 small holes on the bottom and also into the shaft area while turning left to right. I let it dry for a bit then tested it out. It worked! Will see how it holds up over time, but for now we have our blender back!
Thank you very much Dr. James. Like some of these other comments, I opened up the main cage and cleaned the two connections going into the rheostat/potentiometer with a cotton swab + isopropyl alcohol and pushed the connections in a little further just in case. That seemed to do the trick without having to buy the part! I I took my rheostat/potentiometer out, but it could definitely be done without doing so. I have no electrical experience, so if you are reading this and are in my position, don’t get discouraged. It’s very simple. Thanks again!
THANKS!! You saved me from buying the extra part as well! I think mine was just a loose wire, and all I did was press the connections in a bit further. Works fine now.
Thank you! Inherited a beloved Vitamix from my sister who passed away recently, and it was doing this. Ordered the part and just easily fixed it myself!
Thank you for this video. The only thing is that between 3:48 to 3:52 you didn't show HOW actually the switch was replaced (which I had hoped that you would have covered it). Other than that, this video is awesome! Thanks again for sharing!
Thank you for the video. I have the same problem and same model. I do wish you had not cut out the segment where you did the actual replacement as that's the exact bit I need to learn how to do! Thanks again, at least I now know what the problem is.
I have the exact same machine. After looking at your video I decided to clean my rheostat first. I used my trusty can of DeoxIT D5 And sprayed into the stem and wherever I could. Put it back and it works like new without replacement. It’s always good to clean and lubricate first before replacement. Thanks for your video!
Peter Balletta How did you clean your rheostat? Did you have to remove it from the unit, or could you spray into it from the front of the vitamix? I bought a used vitamix and mine has the same erratic speed control as Dr. Gene's. I'll try cleaning first and then replace if that doesn't work. BTW the rheostat on mine turns very loosely without resistance - it probably has quite a few miles of operation under its belt.
Same here, used Deoxit D5 and it fixed it! Sprayed it on the backside of the switch, let it soak inside and then rotated the switch multiple times to clean the internal contacts and it did the trick. You can get Deoxit D5 from Amazon. It’s cheaper than buying a new switch.
Fixed my 5000 with DeoxIT D% also. Works like a champ! I sprayed it from the front along the shaft. I also opened the device and sprayed it into the small hole in the back of the potentiometer. Also, any spaces and cracks along the back piece and sides of the potentiometer.
Thank you! Mine had the same issue. Tried to shoot in some Deoxit5 but that didn't help. Ordered Part # VTM15955 from Heritage Parts, ~$49 with shipping. Installed just fine. The new potentiometer had to be rotated 90 degrees as the tab for the alignment hole was in a different location, but it fit just fine and the knob is still oriented correctly. Works like a charm now!
Great video. In addition to the potentiometer going bad, the contacts on the bimetallic overload relay protecting the motor may simply need cleaning and/or adjustment. My unit sounded exactly like yours, but there was nothing wrong with the potentiometer. The normally-closed contacts on the overload relay were barely touching and vibration from the running motor under load would cause the contacts to "flutter" open and close, making the motor speed fluctuate. I cleaned the contacts, increased the contact tension a bit, and my Vitamix runs great. If the Vitamix speeds fluctuates even when you're not touching the potentiometer, I suggest looking at the overload relay contacts first (with the power disconnected!).
hi florentinean, i have a vita-mixer maxi-4000 that throws out sparks when it runs. what would cause that & do u think it would b an ez fix? u r much more knowledgeable than me. thanks in advance.
My Vitamix had this problem and I unplugged it and put a little downward pressure on the knob and turned it back and forth, then I pulled the knob gently and turned the knob back and forth. I then plugged it in and it worked perfectly again and has been working great going on four years now. Sometimes it is a matter of use it or lose it, So if you follow the instructions to Start on low and turn the dial to high and then switch to the high speed and do the reverse to stop it it keeps the contacts in the speed switch clean.
If your blander have a hard start replace the small 6V 22UF capacitor on the board it for soft start and if it bad the variable speed won’t work correctly it will start fast and slow down or stay high.
During disassembly you omitted one step, removing the drive socket. There is a bit of clear caulk over a hole, and an allen wrench screw on the drive socket. If you remove it that way the motor stays intact when you pull the case. By the way, Potentiometers fail because they get dirty. CRC makes a spray called QD Electronics Cleaner. I took out my potentiometer flushed it with CRC through the knob hole Gap and the wires. It's a liquid so it gets inside the switch and eventually evaporates. This fix the potentiometer without removing it or replacing it. CRC QD totally fixed a bunch of warning light issues on my 03 Avalon that originated from the ignition switch. I flushed it with electronics cleaner and you wouldn't believe the black stuff that came out of it. Mechanically moving electrical contacts eventually get dirty and erratic.
Very Happy to see this video! Would have like to see how much struggle was involved in getting darn cover off! I used Radio Shack Tuner Control Cleaner and Lubricant spray WITHOUT opening potentiometer and it fixed same problem.
@@face1647 It is a radio shack product, since they are no longer in business, just look for contact cleaner or electronic cleaner spray can at Amazon or such. Definitely did take the cover off of the machine (took a bit of tugging and wrestling to get off). Sprayed where the twistable stem goes into rheostat. worked it back and forth, then reconnected it and tested and its been working fine for many month now.
I was trying to fix my Vitamix One. It had soot coming from the bottom holes. I was finally got it open after removing the retainer nut in addition to the 4 screws holding the base together. Once I got in there, I was also able to remove the motor section but they have everything hidden in a plastic motor casing. All I could do was clean out the soot. Just wanted to share since the disassembly was a bit different and the brushes, if there are any, are hidden.
See Graham Davis’s recommendation below! I just pressed the connections in a bit further and now my Vitamix works fine. I think it was just a loose wire from all the whirring over the years. Test that before buying the part. It really was very easy to do!
I took the two connectorsfor the potentiometer switch and clean those contacts and then made sure they were seated well and all of a sudden it seemed to work again
Thank you! I wonder it the rheostat could be the issue with a right lever that doesn't work at all. I can flip it up and down but it does nothing. Have to turn the machine on using the left lever. Would love to fix it! Any ideas? I love how you fixed this and wonder if that might be my issue, although with yours it was regulating the speed, my lever has nothing going on:)
I ordered it on Amazon. Check the posts in this thread because some people found another way of doing this without changing the switch. It cost me about $10.
You don't have to take the socket off to lift the cover from the base. Only take off the 4 screws on top. Wiggle it a bit and it will come off. It fits snugly.
Dr. James, I am having trouble with my vitamix. Its a professional series 500. I have had it a long time and it was not used every day. When I power it on and push any speed it spins quickly and then immediately stops. I'm not trying to blend anything when it does this. I changed the drive socket today but that didn't help. I cannot seem to find what the problem is on any another videos. Please help.
It sounds like you’re having a similar problem to what was happening with me. Check the comments in this thread. they have some really good ideas you can try.
Have the 5000, didn't use for years, started using again. Recently, turning on machine, variable speed goes to high speed only (that's what it sounds like). No other speeds at all. Is this the same issue or another? Mixer works fine otherwise.
Echoes because you're potentiometer gets worn out you can open up the potentiometerand clean it with a cotton swab and alcohol where you can order a new part off of eBay
@@drgenejames mines was still giving the problem so I remove the control board and the triac that screw down on the heat sink one of the legs was broken causing the variable speed to give that same problem so it wasn’t them control
@@drgenejames I never found that in "the thread" (whatever was meant by that). But I figured mine was probably the rheostat as well since the problem started whenever changing positions there. Mine is a Vitamix 6300 and actually had timed programs on the dial (where the rheostat is controlled). I could not find a rheostat for the 630 (with programs for "smoothie" and "frozen deserts" in which it starts slow and builds up to high) BUT, i did put a standard rheostat in there and now my Vitamix works!!! (no sassy programs but it works like a standard Vitamix again and that's way better than shipping to the factory and paying all that money for refurbishment). THANK YOU!!!
@@earlb3 if You read the comments that people have made you will find that they have done different things to fix this issue without having to replace the rheostat. There are different fixes for this problem.
Thx for showing the actual problem in the beginning of the video. Many repair videos do not show what was wrong with the Vitamix. You can clearly hear the rheostat cutting in n out.
First off, THANK YOU for sharing this video with us! It was very helpful to see how to open the unit and how the potentiometer could be the issue. I also want to thank all the other commenters who suggested using various contact cleaner sprays. Since the replacement part was $25 on ebay, I decided to first try the spray. I ended up getting a can of Klear Concepts lubricant for under $5 at Home Depot. I removed the part completely and sprayed into 2 small holes on the bottom and also into the shaft area while turning left to right. I let it dry for a bit then tested it out. It worked! Will see how it holds up over time, but for now we have our blender back!
Thanks, glad it worked!
Thank you very much Dr. James. Like some of these other comments, I opened up the main cage and cleaned the two connections going into the rheostat/potentiometer with a cotton swab + isopropyl alcohol and pushed the connections in a little further just in case. That seemed to do the trick without having to buy the part! I I took my rheostat/potentiometer out, but it could definitely be done without doing so. I have no electrical experience, so if you are reading this and are in my position, don’t get discouraged. It’s very simple. Thanks again!
THANKS!! You saved me from buying the extra part as well! I think mine was just a loose wire, and all I did was press the connections in a bit further. Works fine now.
Thank you! Inherited a beloved Vitamix from my sister who passed away recently, and it was doing this. Ordered the part and just easily fixed it myself!
Thank you for this video. The only thing is that between 3:48 to 3:52 you didn't show HOW actually the switch was replaced (which I had hoped that you would have covered it). Other than that, this video is awesome! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much. Your video is the only one that breaks this repair down so well. Now my vitamix is up and running.
Gregory Horwitz *Cool* beans
Thank you for the video. I have the same problem and same model. I do wish you had not cut out the segment where you did the actual replacement as that's the exact bit I need to learn how to do! Thanks again, at least I now know what the problem is.
I have the exact same machine. After looking at your video I decided to clean my rheostat first.
I used my trusty can of DeoxIT D5
And sprayed into the stem and wherever I could. Put it back and it works like new without replacement.
It’s always good to clean and lubricate first before replacement. Thanks for your video!
Peter, Awesome, I wish I had tried that. Thanks
Peter Balletta How did you clean your rheostat? Did you have to remove it from the unit, or could you spray into it from the front of the vitamix? I bought a used vitamix and mine has the same erratic speed control as Dr. Gene's. I'll try cleaning first and then replace if that doesn't work. BTW the rheostat on mine turns very loosely without resistance - it probably has quite a few miles of operation under its belt.
Same here, used Deoxit D5 and it fixed it! Sprayed it on the backside of the switch, let it soak inside and then rotated the switch multiple times to clean the internal contacts and it did the trick. You can get Deoxit D5 from Amazon. It’s cheaper than buying a new switch.
Fixed my 5000 with DeoxIT D% also. Works like a champ! I sprayed it from the front along the shaft. I also opened the device and sprayed it into the small hole in the back of the potentiometer. Also, any spaces and cracks along the back piece and sides of the potentiometer.
Just what I needed. Thank you.
Just the help I needed! Mine has the same problem! You save me a couple hundred. Thank you
Where did you get the new rheostat? You’re a genius. God bless you sir.
Online @ Amazon but they are not available anymore. Check this thread for other fixes
That is for sharing this. Mine is doing this exact thing!!
Thank you! Mine had the same issue. Tried to shoot in some Deoxit5 but that didn't help. Ordered Part # VTM15955 from Heritage Parts, ~$49 with shipping. Installed just fine. The new potentiometer had to be rotated 90 degrees as the tab for the alignment hole was in a different location, but it fit just fine and the knob is still oriented correctly. Works like a charm now!
Rich Rosensweig how awesome is that!
Great information, fine close-in camera work, awesome video; thanks dude!
Mike Mashburn thanks for your kind words
I had to do the same repair on my 5000 also. I have had mine since the 5000 first came out and it has been a great blender.
Great video. In addition to the potentiometer going bad, the contacts on the bimetallic overload relay protecting the motor may simply need cleaning and/or adjustment. My unit sounded exactly like yours, but there was nothing wrong with the potentiometer. The normally-closed contacts on the overload relay were barely touching and vibration from the running motor under load would cause the contacts to "flutter" open and close, making the motor speed fluctuate. I cleaned the contacts, increased the contact tension a bit, and my Vitamix runs great. If the Vitamix speeds fluctuates even when you're not touching the potentiometer, I suggest looking at the overload relay contacts first (with the power disconnected!).
Great tip, thanks!
florentinean great tip, thanks
What does the bimetallic overload relay look like? I have the vitamix opened up right now and would like to check this
hi florentinean, i have a vita-mixer maxi-4000 that throws out sparks when it runs. what would cause that & do u think it would b an ez fix? u r much more knowledgeable than me. thanks in advance.
My Vitamix had this problem and I unplugged it and put a little downward pressure on the knob and turned it back and forth, then I pulled the knob gently and turned the knob back and forth. I then plugged it in and it worked perfectly again and has been working great going on four years now. Sometimes it is a matter of use it or lose it, So if you follow the instructions to Start on low and turn the dial to high and then switch to the high speed and do the reverse to stop it it keeps the contacts in the speed switch clean.
Wow! Thanks
This is exactly what mine is doing. Thank you! I’m going to try that!
If your blander have a hard start replace the small 6V 22UF capacitor on the board it for soft start and if it bad the variable speed won’t work correctly it will start fast and slow down or stay high.
Great 👍 TIP THANKS 🙏🏾
Well done!
Thank you.
During disassembly you omitted one step, removing the drive socket. There is a bit of clear caulk over a hole, and an allen wrench screw on the drive socket. If you remove it that way the motor stays intact when you pull the case. By the way, Potentiometers fail because they get dirty. CRC makes a spray called QD Electronics Cleaner. I took out my potentiometer flushed it with CRC through the knob hole Gap and the wires. It's a liquid so it gets inside the switch and eventually evaporates. This fix the potentiometer without removing it or replacing it. CRC QD totally fixed a bunch of warning light issues on my 03 Avalon that originated from the ignition switch. I flushed it with electronics cleaner and you wouldn't believe the black stuff that came out of it. Mechanically moving electrical contacts eventually get dirty and erratic.
Richard, this is awesome advice and valuable contact. thank you for replying.
Success! Thanks I need to change mine.
Very Happy to see this video! Would have like to see how much struggle was involved in getting darn cover off! I used Radio Shack Tuner Control Cleaner and Lubricant spray WITHOUT opening potentiometer and it fixed same problem.
Did you have to take the top of the Vitamix off?
Where did you radio spray and lubricant from.
Where did you spray it at, on the reostat or potentiator.
@@face1647 It is a radio shack product, since they are no longer in business, just look for contact cleaner or electronic cleaner spray can at Amazon or such. Definitely did take the cover off of the machine (took a bit of tugging and wrestling to get off). Sprayed where the twistable stem goes into rheostat. worked it back and forth, then reconnected it and tested and its been working fine for many month now.
@@martyg.5591 thank you.
great video doc.... very concise..... thank you very much.... i hope this will cure my vitamix ... pun intended... best wishes
Thanks for posting the video. My 5200 is doing the exact same thing.
Thanks
Yup! You got the problem! Thanks ❤!
goog video Thank you
Thanks much, Sir... Just bought the same blender for the same price. Switch is doing the same thing. Will change soon. Very informative vid. :) Peace
Awesome
I was trying to fix my Vitamix One. It had soot coming from the bottom holes. I was finally got it open after removing the retainer nut in addition to the 4 screws holding the base together. Once I got in there, I was also able to remove the motor section but they have everything hidden in a plastic motor casing. All I could do was clean out the soot. Just wanted to share since the disassembly was a bit different and the brushes, if there are any, are hidden.
See Graham Davis’s recommendation below! I just pressed the connections in a bit further and now my Vitamix works fine. I think it was just a loose wire from all the whirring over the years. Test that before buying the part. It really was very easy to do!
Thanks
great Job!!!
Joseph thanks
I think you have to change those brushes soon.
One more for - I cleaned the connections with isopropyl alcohol and it fixed it without any new part. Save the money and try this first!
Great advice
thanks
I took the two connectorsfor the potentiometer switch and clean those contacts and then made sure they were seated well and all of a sudden it seemed to work again
Thank you! I wonder it the rheostat could be the issue with a right lever that doesn't work at all. I can flip it up and down but it does nothing. Have to turn the machine on using the left lever. Would love to fix it! Any ideas? I love how you fixed this and wonder if that might be my issue, although with yours it was regulating the speed, my lever has nothing going on:)
If you took it apart you might find something obvious
Just because it's connected doesn't mean to contact is clean
Dr James, Where did you order the switch from and how much did it cost?
I ordered it on Amazon. Check the posts in this thread because some people found another way of doing this without changing the switch. It cost me about $10.
Hi do you have to take the socket off first before you can open the base? Thanks!
You don't have to take the socket off to lift the cover from the base. Only take off the 4 screws on top. Wiggle it a bit and it will come off. It fits snugly.
Have you ever replaced the brushes on the motor? Mine stopped working and I was told it could be the brushes
MrRockfish01 I doubt if the brushes are bad. These units are bulletproof. Check the comments in the thread below. You might find your answer.
Thanks
Dr Gene James -after messing around with the vita mix it turns out the on/off switch went bad .
Dr. James, I am having trouble with my vitamix. Its a professional series 500. I have had it a long time and it was not used every day. When I power it on and push any speed it spins quickly and then immediately stops. I'm not trying to blend anything when it does this. I changed the drive socket today but that didn't help. I cannot seem to find what the problem is on any another videos. Please help.
It sounds like you’re having a similar problem to what was happening with me. Check the comments in this thread. they have some really good ideas you can try.
Have the 5000, didn't use for years, started using again. Recently, turning on machine, variable speed goes to high speed only (that's what it sounds like). No other speeds at all. Is this the same issue or another? Mixer works fine otherwise.
Renee Michaels it sound like your high to low speed switch is bad
Echoes because you're potentiometer gets worn out you can open up the potentiometerand clean it with a cotton swab and alcohol where you can order a new part off of eBay
My vitamix 5000 seems to have the same problem. Where did you purchase the replacement part? Thanks!
I searched amazon with the part number and ordered from there. Or Google search the part number.
ebay $16.00
Great
my dial on 5000 does not have that screw you loosen to get dial off? my model is exactly the same with that exception?
Some seem to just pull off (or lever off with a screwdriver)
the small one on the control board can cause the same problem too
Thanks
Update broken TH2 legs on the control board
kalau mau beli alat buat speed nya dmn ya,,
Will this work on the VM0109?
NOt sure
i open them and clean it and bend them contact pins up a little and they work like
I wish I had thought of that. Thanks
@@drgenejames mines was still giving the problem so I remove the control board and the triac that screw down on the heat sink one of the legs was broken causing the variable speed to give that same problem so it wasn’t them control
First remove the controls board and check the triac legs they could be broken and causing this same problem
Thanks
How to order the spares
I don’t know. I used to order them from Amazon. But I don’t know if you can find them anymore
Loose connection or intermittent connection
James Bomar it was a bad adjustable rheostat. It controls the speed.
And how did you know it was the rheostat??
Read the thread
@@drgenejames I never found that in "the thread" (whatever was meant by that). But I figured mine was probably the rheostat as well since the problem started whenever changing positions there. Mine is a Vitamix 6300 and actually had timed programs on the dial (where the rheostat is controlled). I could not find a rheostat for the 630 (with programs for "smoothie" and "frozen deserts" in which it starts slow and builds up to high)
BUT, i did put a standard rheostat in there and now my Vitamix works!!! (no sassy programs but it works like a standard Vitamix again and that's way better than shipping to the factory and paying all that money for refurbishment).
THANK YOU!!!
@@earlb3 if You read the comments that people have made you will find that they have done different things to fix this issue without having to replace the rheostat. There are different fixes for this problem.
25$ x.x
klau mau beli alat yang buat speed nya dmn ya,,