Blenders are essential appliances in most kitchens, used regularly to make smoothies, purees, and more. However, like any frequently used appliance, blenders can eventually develop issues. One of the most common problems that crop up is an underperforming or broken motor. Replacing an entire blender due to a faulty motor can be expensive.
With some basic mechanical skills and repair know-how though, you can often fix a blender motor yourself for a fraction of the replacement cost. This DIY blender motor repair guide will teach you everything you need to get your appliance running smoothly again.
Why Attempt a DIY Blender Motor Repair?
- Cost savings – Replacing a blender motor on your own saves you the cost of buying a brand new blender or paying for an appliance technician. The required tools and parts are quite affordable.
- Preserve appliance value – If your blender is high-quality and still in good condition aside from the motor, repairing it helps you retain the value of your existing appliance investment.
- Sense of accomplishment – Successfully diagnosing and replacing a broken blender component on your own is tremendously satisfying. Appliance repair skills also set you up to fix other household items down the road.
- Environmental benefits – Repairing appliances instead of replacing them keeps additional waste out of landfills. It’s the sustainable choice.
As long as you carefully follow blender motor repair safety guidelines and instructions, this is a very doable DIY project for most homeowners. Read on to learn how blender motors work and how to complete repairs.
Read More: What Causes Sticky Blender Buttons and How to Fix Them
Understanding Blender Motor Components and Issues
To properly troubleshoot and fix blender motor problems, you first need to understand what the key components are and how they can malfunction.
Key Components
Three main mechanical components make up the core blender motor system:
Drive coupling – The drive coupling connects the motor shaft to the blending jar assembly. It allows the jar to be easily removed while transferring the rotational power of the motor to the blade assembly.
Bearings – Bearings support and reduce friction around the motor shaft as it rotates. There are typically two sets of bearings within a blender motor housing.
Motor – The motor contains wound copper coils, magnets, and a commutator. Together these parts generate the rotational electromagnetic energy that powers the blender.
Blending Issues and Component Failures
When you press the button to blend, but your machine doesn’t properly mix or chop ingredients, the cause is likely a failure within the motor system. Here are the most common blender motor problems and associated failed parts:
Insufficient blending power
- Failed drive coupling
- Worn motor bearings
Loud noise during use
- Broken/cracked drive coupling
- Damaged/worn motor bearings
Intermittent operation
- Loose wiring connections
- Failed internal motor components
Does not turn on at all
- Faulty power switch
- Burnt out motor
Later in the repair guide, we’ll cover how to pinpoint the specific issue based on your blender’s symptoms. First up – safety tips.
Blender Motor Repair Safety Tips
Electric motors contain components that can cause serious injury if mishandled. Be sure to keep these important safety measures in mind through each step of your DIY blender motor repair:
- Unplug appliance – Always unplug your blender from the electrical outlet before inspecting or disassembling any components.
- Avoid skin contact – Wear gloves and long sleeves in case you come in contact with hot elements after recent blender use.
- Use eye protection – Debris, dirt and springs could flick into eyes. Wear safety glasses.
- Ventilate work area – Some lubricants and cleaning solutions can release fumes. Work in a well-ventilated room.
- Careful with small parts – Blender components like gaskets and screws are tiny. Don’t lose track of any pieces.
Follow basic precautionary measures like these and you’ll keep yourself safe throughout the repair process.
Tools and Materials Needed
You likely already have many of the tools and supplies needed to complete common blender motor repairs:
Tools
- Philips and flathead screwdrivers (variety of sizes recommended)
- Needle nose pliers (helpful for bearing and drive coupling removal)
- Multimeter (for diagnostic electrical testing)
- Lint-free rags/shop towels
- Flashlight (for better visibility within motor housing)
Replacement Parts/Materials
You won’t know exactly which new blender motor parts you need until after troubleshooting the appliance. But here are typical components used during motor repairs:
- Drive coupling kit
- Motor bearing kit
- Blender motor capacitors
- Electrical wire connectors/splices
- Thermal grease (for bearing lubrication)
- Isopropyl alcohol (for cleaning)
Purchase high-quality replacement parts designed specifically for your blender model whenever possible. Generic or “will-fit” parts don’t always have the proper dimensions or durability.
Okay, you now know how a blender motor works, safety rules, and what tools/materials to have on hand. Let’s get into the step-by-step repair process!
How to Repair a Blender Motor in 10 Key Steps
Follow these steps sequentially to properly evaluate your blender’s issues, replace its faulty motor components, and complete necessary repairs:
#1. Document Blender Symptoms
Before taking any disassembly steps, first clearly identify your blender’s motor-related problems:
- Does the motor hesitate/bog down when blending thicker mixtures?
- Have you noticed odd sounds like grinding or squeaking?
- Does it randomly stop mid-blend?
- Does the blender fail to turn on at all?
Be specific in categorizing the symptoms, as different issues indicate problems with different internal motor components. Documenting the abnormalities you experience gives you a clearer repair roadmap later on.
#2. Test Electrical Connections
Faulty wiring and electrical connections can mimic symptoms of motor failure – but are much simpler to fix.
Start repairs by testing the connectivity of key circuits using a multimeter switched to continuity test mode:
- Power Plug – Test continuity from each prong tip to exposed wires at the other end
- Cord Wires – Verify no breaks along the length of the power cord
- Internal Wiring – Check that wires connect the motor to the power switch
If you find incomplete circuits, you can splice wiring or replace cords/plugs without needing to open up the motor housing itself.
#3. Disassemble Blender Exterior
Once you’ve eliminated external electrical issues, it’s time to get into the motor. Removing other blender parts first gives more room to work:
- Unscrew jar assembly base plate
- Remove blending jar
- Take out any rubber gaskets/seals
- Detach control panel surround
Refer to your owner’s manual if unsure of how components separate. Set all pieces aside carefully to avoid losing small gaskets, etc.
#4. Remove Mounting Bolts and Open Motor Housing
The motor housing is held together with several bolts externally threaded into the casing:
- Have your philips screw driver ready to back out external bolts
- Carefully pry housing pieces apart once all bolts are out
- Slowly pull housing off motor and set aside
You now have access to inspect the motor and begin component replacement.
#5. Clean and Lubricate Bearings
One of the most likely points of failure within blender motors are the bearings. Bad bearings can lead to loud noise issues or seizing/binding during rotation. Here’s how to refurbish or replace bearings:
- Use needle nose pliers to grasp and remove old bearings. You may need to carefully pry them out.
- Clean bearing compartments/seats thoroughly using isopropyl alcohol
- Inspect bearing seats on shaft for wear, pits, or uneven surfaces
- Re-lubricate bearing seats with thermally conductive grease
- Press in new replacement bearings by hand until fully seated
Lubricated new bearings should rotate very smoothly without noise.
#6. Replace Drive Coupling
The drive coupling experiences considerable stress every time blending occurs. Cracks, chips or fragmentation means it’s time for a new coupling:
- Pry off cracked drive coupling from motor shaft
- Separate coupling sleeve/assembly from jar base
- Clean shaft and couple recess with isopropyl alcohol
- Press new drive coupling sleeve firmly onto shaft
- Reattach drive assembly components to jar base
- Ensure coupling mates smoothly into drive socket
Test reassembled coupling by manually rotating motor shaft and attached jar base. Movement should feel smooth and consistent.
#7. Inspect Motor Windings and Magnet
The actual motor assembly itself can also be inspected while you have housing open. Common issues here include:
- Burnt insulation on external windings – Indicates short circuit due to overheating
- Melted/warped commutator on rear shaft end – Also signals overheating problem
- Missing drive magnet segments – Will cause significant loss of torque/power
Use a bright flashlight at different angles to view all sides of motor windings and other internal components. If the motor itself is damaged, replacement will be needed.
#8. Replace Capacitors
There are often multiple large capacitors attached the the motor housing or control board:
These parts help regulate electrical current flow to the motor windings. If blown, they can cause intermittent operation or failure to start.
Test capacitors first with a multimeter switched to capacitance test mode to confirm failure. Then desolder old capacitor and solder new one with matched microfarad rating in its place.
#9. Reassemble Blender
You’re nearly finished! Once all necessary motor component replacements and repairs are complete:
- Carefully reconnect any internal wiring connectors
- Mount motor back into exterior housing
- Reinstall housing bolts until snug
- Press gaskets, jars baseplate, etc back into place
- Replace any outer panels and knobs
Don’t force pieces together too tightly. Components should fit and align properly when fully reassembled.
#10. Test Operation
The final step is confirming full functionality of your newly repaired blender motor:
- Power on motor independently to check for smooth operation
- Reattach jar assembly and run a blender test cycle
- Make sure jar couples properly to drive socket
- Verify proper RPMs and torque achieved
In addition to fixing your initial symptoms,blend testing helps identify any remaining issues before regular appliance use resumes.
Troubleshooting Common Blender Motor Repair Problems
While working through your blender motor fix, you may run into additional issues not covered above. Here is some help with a few common DIY repair challenges:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| New drive coupling keeps breaking | Shaft alignment is likely off. Loosen surrounding parts to realign jar/shaft orientation. |
| Motor overheats quickly | New bearings may be sized wrong. Confirm you used bearings matching OEM spec. |
| Housing leaks grease after repair | Seal between housing halves may be missing or misaligned. Open and reseat seal. |
| Replacement motor fails shortly after install | Incorrect voltage rating or wiring setup likely. Trace circuits to find error. |
Don’t hesitate to consult repair articles, videos and blender enthusiast forums if you run into a problem you can’t resolve quickly. With some perseverance, you’ll get that motor running again.
Preventing Future Blender Motor Problems
Completing repairs now is important to restoring blender functionality. However, you’ll extend the long term reliability of the appliance even further by using proper care and maintenance techniques.
Here are pro tips to prevent premature blender motor failure down the road:
- Don’t overload capacity – Don’t add more ingredients than jar can handle for size motor
- Alternate heavy loads – Mix in lighter blends between lots of heavy purees and batters
- Clean regularly – Rinse and wipe down motor housing and jar to minimize residue buildup
- Check tightness often – Vibration can loosen motor bolts/coupling over time
And as components do wear out again in coming years…you now have the confidence and know-how to tackle motor repairs yourself!
Key Takeaways from Blender Motor Repair
Repairing common blender motor issues, while seems complex at first glance, breaks down into very achievable steps that anyone can successfully complete. To recap:
- Learn how components like bearings, couplings and wiring operate and connect
- Identify the specific symptoms indicating which part(s) have failed
- Use the proper tools to access the motor after disassembly
- Inspect, clean and replace worn parts with new OEM components
- Safely reassemble blender and confirm full performance restoration
Not only will you have saved the cost of an entire blender replacement, this process will teach you invaluable appliance troubleshooting and repair knowledge. Empower yourself to maintain all the working appliances in your home.