Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

high_vacuum_house · 27th Jul 2013, 10:50 pm

Good evening,
I was in the process of making a victoria sponge cake this morning when there was a pop and a nasty smell which filled the kitchen. It then carried on working as before. I had a look and one of the horrible 0.047uF X2 rated Rifa capacitors had split and melted and in the process took the 56 ohm resistor that was in series with it.

I have ordered some replacemrent parts from RS this evening to fix it There is a 0.15uF X2 rated cap and a 220 ohm resistor as well as a BTA 08 600B triac. I will replace them all and hopefully all will be ok.

Cake didn't get burnt in the oven though

I remember many years ago (sometime in the mid 1980's) the same machine was mixing up a very large and solid christmas cake when the belt slipped off the top of the toothed pulleys and cut a hole through the top cover of the machine!!

It is a well made machine no flimsy plastic to break Nice to see they are still made with virtually the same main body castings today though sadly made in China rather than in Havant.

Christopher Capener

Tractorfan · 28th Jul 2013, 11:08 am

Hi,
I've had a few things go off 'pop' due to the suppressor caps across the motor failing short circuit. To wit; a Miele vacuum cleaner, a Eumig P8 film projector and my Mum's old Silex hand mixer which I've inherited. All I've done is cut them out and left it at that. They all work as normal and no one's said anything to us about interference.
Cheers, Pete

P.S. My wife does a mean Victoria Sponge as well!

Alan Stepney · 28th Jul 2013, 1:05 pm

I had friends who worked at the New Lane, Havant, Kenwood factory. (Just along the road from Plesseys.)

The 901's were well made and intended to last a lifetime.
Which many of them have done.

Radio_Dave · 28th Jul 2013, 1:44 pm

These mixers often start billowing smoke as the capacitors fail and they end up in the bin! There's plenty of repair kits available, comprising of two X2 capacitors, two resistors and a triac, especially on Ebay, that could fix them for a just few quid.

David

FIXITNOW · 28th Jul 2013, 4:11 pm

I have done two so far, nice and easy.

schuadary · 17th Nov 2013, 9:29 pm

Hi.

I have same problem with my 901,which we never used since bought in 1982, today.

Can someone help me with locating motor or other parts to be replaced?

Skywave · 18th Nov 2013, 12:11 am

About ten years ago I was given a Kenwood chef. I did the usual pre-power checks: all O.K., so put it to use. Unfortunately, 10 minutes into doing some serious mixing, the motor burnt out.

Now I cannot recall exactly where I obtained a replacement motor from, but it would have been the result of an Internet search. What is also worth mentioning is that the replacement of that motor was not a trivial task.

Al.

AC/HL · 18th Nov 2013, 1:05 am

Just search eBay for "Kenwood 901"

schuadary · 18th Nov 2013, 9:23 pm

Hi
Thanks for replies. Can someone help / tell how to get into where motor is located. I tried to find any screws etc at the bottom(where power lead is connected) without any luck.

space charge · 19th Nov 2013, 1:53 pm

To remove the motor. Have the marking paint standing by. Plug it out. On the top rear there is a panel that covers the blender driver, that's where you start unscrewing.

Three screws, mark the position before you unscrew then 3 more supporting the motor. Undo the belt, disconnect the sliding retainer 2 screws where the body lifts. It's all a bit fiddly - take your time. Wear gloves, there may be an amount of brush residue. The motors tend to be fairly robust so you probably will just have to replace a few components. A little capacitor makes a lot of smoke.

Best of luck.

Regards, Pierce EI7KA.

27th Jul 2013, 10:50 pm	#1
high_vacuum_house Octode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belper Derbyshire Posts: 1,936	Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! Good evening, I was in the process of making a victoria sponge cake this morning when there was a pop and a nasty smell which filled the kitchen. It then carried on working as before. I had a look and one of the horrible 0.047uF X2 rated Rifa capacitors had split and melted and in the process took the 56 ohm resistor that was in series with it. I have ordered some replacemrent parts from RS this evening to fix it There is a 0.15uF X2 rated cap and a 220 ohm resistor as well as a BTA 08 600B triac. I will replace them all and hopefully all will be ok. Cake didn't get burnt in the oven though I remember many years ago (sometime in the mid 1980's) the same machine was mixing up a very large and solid christmas cake when the belt slipped off the top of the toothed pulleys and cut a hole through the top cover of the machine!! It is a well made machine no flimsy plastic to break Nice to see they are still made with virtually the same main body castings today though sadly made in China rather than in Havant. Christopher Capener __________________ Interests in the collection and restoration of Tefifon players and 405 line television

28th Jul 2013, 11:08 am	#2
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! Hi, I've had a few things go off 'pop' due to the suppressor caps across the motor failing short circuit. To wit; a Miele vacuum cleaner, a Eumig P8 film projector and my Mum's old Silex hand mixer which I've inherited. All I've done is cut them out and left it at that. They all work as normal and no one's said anything to us about interference. Cheers, Pete P.S. My wife does a mean Victoria Sponge as well! __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..." Last edited by Tractorfan; 28th Jul 2013 at 11:10 am. Reason: Cake reference.

28th Jul 2013, 1:05 pm	#3
Alan Stepney Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dorset, UK. Posts: 947	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! I had friends who worked at the New Lane, Havant, Kenwood factory. (Just along the road from Plesseys.) The 901's were well made and intended to last a lifetime. Which many of them have done.

28th Jul 2013, 1:44 pm	#4
Radio_Dave Nonode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! These mixers often start billowing smoke as the capacitors fail and they end up in the bin! There's plenty of repair kits available, comprising of two X2 capacitors, two resistors and a triac, especially on Ebay, that could fix them for a just few quid. David __________________ http://www.youtube.com/ My Nixie Clocks

28th Jul 2013, 4:11 pm	#5
FIXITNOW Octode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,976	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! I have done two so far, nice and easy.

17th Nov 2013, 9:29 pm	#6
schuadary Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ickenham Posts: 2	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! Hi. I have same problem with my 901,which we never used since bought in 1982, today. Can someone help me with locating motor or other parts to be replaced?

18th Nov 2013, 12:11 am	#7
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! About ten years ago I was given a Kenwood chef. I did the usual pre-power checks: all O.K., so put it to use. Unfortunately, 10 minutes into doing some serious mixing, the motor burnt out. Now I cannot recall exactly where I obtained a replacement motor from, but it would have been the result of an Internet search. What is also worth mentioning is that the replacement of that motor was not a trivial task. Al.

18th Nov 2013, 1:05 am	#8
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,643	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! Just search eBay for "Kenwood 901"

18th Nov 2013, 9:23 pm	#9
schuadary Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ickenham Posts: 2	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! Hi Thanks for replies. Can someone help / tell how to get into where motor is located. I tried to find any screws etc at the bottom(where power lead is connected) without any luck.

19th Nov 2013, 1:53 pm	#10
space charge Tetrode Join Date: May 2013 Location: Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. Posts: 74	Re: Kenwood Chef A901 blew up today !! To remove the motor. Have the marking paint standing by. Plug it out. On the top rear there is a panel that covers the blender driver, that's where you start unscrewing. Three screws, mark the position before you unscrew then 3 more supporting the motor. Undo the belt, disconnect the sliding retainer 2 screws where the body lifts. It's all a bit fiddly - take your time. Wear gloves, there may be an amount of brush residue. The motors tend to be fairly robust so you probably will just have to replace a few components. A little capacitor makes a lot of smoke. Best of luck. Regards, Pierce EI7KA.