I am wondering if my blender is breaking? It jiggles where the blade goes in. I have a video on youtube you can check out and then check yours to see if it is normal.
Appreciate any help you can give me.
Here is the video:

Is it missing, slipping, or locking up while it is on? I had a Pro610 go bad but I had no warning. Suddenly the gears were locking up. Luckily, I had purchased it from Williams-Sonoma and they have a lifetime guarantee. I have three KA's and the Artisan is the one I like the least. There is too much heat in the top coming off of the motor. If yours is going bad, hopefully it is under warranty.

It was struggling yesterday while using it but I had it full. I've had it full quite a few times before and it was no problem.
It is NOT in warranty anymore.
Thanks,
Susie

I think it's just a little loose and hopefully, it will be fine.

Maybe I will contact them and see if there is a way to tighten it up.
Thanks,
Susie

Every time I posted, I was away from my mixer. Tonight I was baking and walked over to the mixer and gave the paddle stem a shake and it did the same thing yours did. It's fine. I rarely use mine so it's like new and it works perfectly.

It's completely normal. I remember them having some give and I just double checked my 5 qt artisan and 6 qt pro. As far as your mixer struggling, that's why I had to get the 6 qt. The 5 qt struggled with making buttercream - I think because I was making double batches and once all ingredients are incorporated, I let it mix for a good 15+ minutes. It was starting to get sluggish and would run really hot. Now I just use it for cake batter and use my larger mixer for frostings and cookie dough.

Thanks gals. Glad to know it is normal.
I also was making a double batch of buttercream when it seemed to struggle but all was well once it got all incorporated.
Susie

susies1955--you said you rarely use it and it is like new. KA advises that it is VERY, VERY IMPORTANT to turn your blender on high for 10 minutes at least once every month.

Everyone who owns a stand mixer needs to do this because the housing has grease in it that will start to drip from the effects of gravity if it is not turned on and spun around all the inside parts once a month.

I purchased a like-new "used" KA from a lady who'd owned it for a year and half and never used it. It was dripping oil into the bowl. I went to DYI online and turned it on for 10 minutes on high, then turned it upside down in my sink overnight. Fixed it. It still drips a tiny, tiny bit once in a great while, but I clean it really well after each use and it's fine.

apti, it was me who said I never use it. I have three KA's... Pro610, Heavy Duty, and the Artisan. I don't use it because I don't like it. It has too much heat in the head for European frostings to work as well as the others. I don't really care about it. I would advise anyone who wants a KA to save your change or just wait, but buy one with more power than this one. If I find that I consistently need that third mixer, I'll get the new 7 qt. But you are right, I shouldn't just dust it.

Apti,
I use mine a lot.
It was scp1127 that said she didn't use it.
Great information though.
Susie

Apti, the oil leaking and "greased for life" thing only happens with KA, not with all the other mixers. That's why I got two Cuisinarts (7 qt and 5.5 qt).

By the way, last night while I was reading blogs, I found this.

http://www.990square.com/2010/05/kitchenaid-troubleshooting/

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/article/5518/How_to_Fix_a_KitchenAid_Stand_Mixer_That_Is_Leaking_Oil.html

Great info! I'm wondering if, as with my sewing machines, this is something that should be done every couple of years preventatively. My hubby and I are both trained sewing machine techs (not active at this point, but still have the tools and knowledge!), and this looks pretty straightforward.

She didn't have the oil leaking problem as lots of people do. She had the other problem. I've heard that very frequently these machines turn into speeding machines. The lower speeds don't work anymore and they want to go on speed 10 no matter what you do (she said it almost exploded on her face). But maybe it was good that she replaced that gunk inside with brand new grease.

WOW!!!!! Those are both superb links, imagenthatnj. I am going to post those links on the Wilton.com forum and give you credit for the referral. It's a nice feeling to know that I can repair my own KA if needed.

scp1127--you sound like a professional saying that "It has too much heat in the head for European frostings to work as well as the others. " I've noticed the warmth, but haven't tried IMBC or SMBC yet.

Apti, there is a slight amount of heat around the motor in the head. It is just enough that I had to get frozem vegetables to put around the bowl and keep wiping the motor with a cool cloth. Now I know why I learned the frozen vegetable trick on CC. It must have been Artisan owners. Where it takes about 8 to 10 minutes for the meringue to get to room temp, it takes the Artisan about 18 minutes. I lost my Heavy Duty in a move and had to get another mixer fast. I wanted a smaller one so I got the Artisan. Then my HD appeared! I would just like to suggest to anyone saving for a KA, get one above this model. There is one between this and the Pro6. My daughter has that one. It's a lift model. Another thing, I hate the tilt head model (Artisan). These things last forever. It is worth the wait to get one with a decent motor.

Incidentally, my HD is about 16 years old. It has the same hp as the Artisan and it had a 5 qt bowl. But it runs like a Pro6. It has tons of power and no motor heat.