Getting into a Kenwood food processor base, anything tricky?

[Thomas Martinez]

Curious if anyone here has cracked open the bottom housing on one of the Kenwood food processors. From what I've read on the internet it's very straightforward the unplug the processor then removing the screws from the base of the machine and the cover will come off. Nothing too fancy though, plenty of appliance have a screw hidden underneath a rubber foot.
This is partly why I'm curious to know why the covers on some Kenwood's will not want to come free when you have removed the correct screws. Are there clips on the perimeter of the machines that hold it together? From what I found online the official info says to remove the screws and the cover will come off which is very straightforward but potentially hiding something about the machine itself.
What kind of components are inside the food processors? I assume its just the motor with some kind of switch and a thermal fuse. For instance, when someone has to replace a switch, can the bottom housing access get to all the necessary part or does one have to pull more of the machine to access the relevant parts?

 

[Rush]

yeah the rubber feet thing is real on the older FP series. Peel em back and theres usually 1 or 2 screw hiding under. Not all of em though, depends on model year like you said.

 

[Quaint Quail]

Which model are you actually working on? There's a huge range of Kenwood food processors, from the cheaper Multipro lines to the larger FPM series.

 

[Bewilder]

opened a multipro last year. Screws under the feet, cover popped right off after that. No hidden clip on mine.

 

[Crazy Crane]

is the thermal fuse usually on the windings themselves or sitting in line on one of the leads? I keep seeing both in teardowns and im not sure which is more common on these

 

[Rush]

is the thermal fuse usually on the windings themselves or sitting in line on one of the leads? I keep seeing both in teardowns and im not sure which is more common on these

depends. On the ones ive done its tucked against the field winding with a bit of sleeving over it. Inline ones exist but less common on kenwood

 

[Adorable All]

I'll be honest I just bin them when they die. Not worth the time for a 60 quid appliance imo.

 

[Quaint Quail]

I'll be honest I just bin them when they die. Not worth the time for a 60 quid appliance imo.

That attitude is why landfills are overflowing. A switch swap takes 20 minutes and costs 3 quid. People like you keep buying the same throwaway garbage and wondering why nothing last.

 

[Adorable All]

That attitude is why landfills are overflowing. A switch swap takes 20 minutes and costs 3 quid. People like you keep buying the same throwaway garbage and wondering why nothing last.

lol calm down mate, my time is worth more than 3 quid

 

[Topsy-Turvy C]

Got into an FPM250 a couple years back to fix a dodgy interlock microswitch. Bottom access got me to the motor and the main switch assembly but the interlock switch is mounted to the upper part of the machine so had to pop that off as well. There was a screw under the speed knob that i missed when i dismantled the lower part. Once i got that the upper part snapped off. The motor was brushed and the speed control and thermal fuse under the field winding.

 

[Amused Albatross]

plenty of small appliance have that one sneaky screw under a rubber foot or sticker, yep and kenwood is one of em. Always always peel the feet

 

[Crazy Crane]

Got into an FPM250 a couple years back to fix a dodgy interlock microswitch. Bottom access got me to the motor and the main switch assembly but the interlock switch is mounted to the upper part of the machine so had to pop that off as well. There was a screw under the speed knob …

when you say sneaky screw under the speed knob, does the knob just pull straight off or is there a grub screw? dont wanna snap anything

 

[Topsy-Turvy C]

when you say sneaky screw under the speed knob, does the knob just pull straight off or is there a grub screw? dont wanna snap anything

Straight pull on the one I did. Bit of wiggle and it came off, no grub screw. Newer ones might differ.

 

[Scottish Bible Basketb]

the official info I came across just says remove the screws and pull the cover off, which is the kind of instruction thats either accurate or hiding a step. Lmao welcome to every service sheet ever written

 

[Bewilder]

nah no hidden clips on mine, just screws. Dont overthink it

 

[Nervous Newt]

if its stuck after the screws are out 9 times out of 10 its a screw you missed not a clip. Trust me ive been there feeling like a muppet trying to pry a cover thats still bolted down

 

[Quaint Quail]

if its stuck after the screws are out 9 times out of 10 its a screw you missed not a clip. Trust me ive been there feeling like a muppet trying to pry a cover thats still bolted down

This. The 'hidden clip' theory is almost always a missed fastener. That said, Kenwood never does perimeter clips on the base covers instead always uses the Braun / Magimix style design.

 

[Caesar's Bubble Returns]

Magimix is a totally different beast tbh. They like riveting parts together in such a way that it creates a nightmare when trying to service the machine. Kenwood is much more friendly.