Frustrated by bread making with my KA

[Mere]

I make WW bread in my KA professional about once a week. The flour totals to about 5.5 cups, less than the 6 KA warns you not exceed. Nonetheless, I am on my second mixer. The first lasted almost two years, and I just got a replacement. Two gripes - first, the bowl is bigger on this newer model, which seems to make the dough ride up on the dough hook (I never had that problem with the older model). Second, the motor seems to be having more trouble kneading the dough. Every time I have made bread in the two months I've owned this new machine it has either turned itself off (due to overheating I guess) or I've stopped it and finished the kneading manually b/c the dough keeps riding up on the hook and I couldn't get it off.

FYI, I am using the exact same bread recipe as before, so that hasn't changed.

Has anyone else had issues with newer KA professionals, or did I just get a dud? I figure at this rate, I'm going to be needing a replacement soon b/c it can't be good for the motor to overheat every time .

[425lisamarie]

a few quick tips. Mix the dough to come together, then let it rest about 15 minutes before kneeding. It's better to kneed on the stickier side. In other words, it will stick to the bottom and possibly look like it is sticking slightly up the sides. Add a little extra flour when you just about done kneeding to firm it up enough to get out of the bowl easily. With the larger pro model they suggest kneeding on a speed 2, or whatever the one right after "stir" but I find a dough that will clear the sides of the bowl kneeding that slow, is too stiff a dough for my liking. I make a wetter dough and kneed on one higher, and have never had a problem. I have had mine for about 4 years and bake several pounds at a time

[Mere]

Thanks LisaMarie! I will try your suggestions!

[Arduinna]

I don't know what year they started this, but with the newer ones they switched to a plastic gear box, which is why so many of them are not lasting. My mom still has her KA which is at least 40 years old.