SOS--Help, Final Update

[Guest guest]

Today I received the tightening tool to fix the broken 32 oz container. I was

shocked at how large it is.

Initially, it was tricky getting the piece to go over the round metal thing on

the bottom of the blade assembly, but once I realized it needed to be done at a

slight angle, I was able to tighten it with all of my strength. I then got out

the 64 oz container, tried to turn it, and sure enough, there was some " play "

with that blade assembly also. Wanting to avoid at all cost another

labor-intensive, splattered kitchen, I tightened that one up for all it was

worth, too.

I almost wonder if maybe I'm too rough with the tamper, and that's how I wound

up with one blade failure, and another one on its way to loosening. I do

vigorously tamp the food to mash it into the blades, but I have never had a

problem with the tamper getting chewed up, or anything else, either. I just

think that the machine is exceedingly well made and quite rugged, so I just mash

the ingredients in. But I am now beginning to wonder if I need to modify my

technique.

In any case, the Vitamix rep was correct in both her diagnosis and treatment.

ly, I'm glad to have the tightening tool on board. And they did indeed

enclose a complimentary set of spatulas, which I much appreciate.

Thanks again for responding to my SOS. Hopefully, this was a once in a lifetime

experience.

Blessings on All,

[Guest guest]

,

You say you tamp in your food ingredients with " great vigor. " But isn't that

what one is supposed to do to get everything pulverized?

Now I'm wondering why the company doesn't send this tightening tool with every

new machine they ship out?

But thanks for sharing problem you had with everyone, so we can all be on the

lookout for the blades in the containers coming loose.

Lynn G

>

> I almost wonder if maybe I'm too rough with the tamper, and that's how I wound

up with one blade failure, and another one on its way to loosening. I do

vigorously tamp the food to mash it into the blades, but I have never had a

problem with the tamper getting chewed up, or anything else, either. I just

think that the machine is exceedingly well made and quite rugged, so I just mash

the ingredients in. But I am now beginning to wonder if I need to modify my

technique.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lynn, I've wondered that myself, but I think it is to keep people from removing the blades for cleaning. Too much on and off of the blades is not a good thing for the seal and over tightening could crack the plastic. Best not to remove the blades any more than necessary - so that is my best guess as to why they aren't included with the machine...

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Jan 9, 2012, at 9:40 PM, Lynn Gandy wrote:

,

You say you tamp in your food ingredients with "great vigor." But isn't that what one is supposed to do to get everything pulverized?

Now I'm wondering why the company doesn't send this tightening tool with every new machine they ship out?

But thanks for sharing problem you had with everyone, so we can all be on the lookout for the blades in the containers coming loose.

Lynn G

>

> I almost wonder if maybe I'm too rough with the tamper, and that's how I wound up with one blade failure, and another one on its way to loosening. I do vigorously tamp the food to mash it into the blades, but I have never had a problem with the tamper getting chewed up, or anything else, either. I just think that the machine is exceedingly well made and quite rugged, so I just mash the ingredients in. But I am now beginning to wonder if I need to modify my technique.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn,

My guess as to why they don't include the tightening tool with each Vitamix

purchase is the usual reason--it costs money. In my case, Vitamix Corp knew that

they either would have to replace the 32 oz. container, or send the tightening

tool. Obviously, it was cheaper for them to send the tool. Including a

complimentary set of spatulas was just good customer relations, and tells me

that this company understands the concept of service. How likely am I to tell

everybody about Vitamix and their excellent customer service? Very likely. It's

too bad all companies don't understand how important good customer relations

are.

Regarding tampers. I have both the 64 oz. and 32 oz. containers and only one

tamper--the one that came with the 64 oz. container. I just took a good look at

it and both containers, and can report the following:

This large size tamper has two methods for stopping how far into a container it

can go. When using the 64 oz. container, the tamper will go all the way down

until the large plastic " disk " at the top stops it. Unless you are the

Incredible Hulk, or that plastic disk breaks off, there does not appear to me to

be a way the user could bypass that safety stop.

The other stop on this large tamper is what prevents it from going all the way

down into the blades when using the 32 oz. container. Unlike the large plastic

disk that is further up the tamper, this safety feature begins with a series of

circles that initiate the gradual widening of the tamper until the widening ends

when it morphs itself into the large plastic disk described above. (This is

looking at it from the bottom up). Although I am a vigorous tamper (!), I would

have to almost abuse the process to bypass this feature, currently.

*However*, I can see that there could be circumstances wherein one might be able

to inadvertently bypass that safety feature while using a 32 oz. container. If,

for example, the hole in the black cover was perhaps old or the cover had been

dishwashed many times and had gotten really pliable, I can see where if one

seriously mashed around with the tamper, it could pass all the way down into the

container and wind up hitting the blades.

I'm grateful this discussion came up. I think a ten dollar investment (in the

smaller tamper) to ensure the safety of a machine I rely upon daily and which

would cost hundreds of dollars to replace, is going to be a worthwhile

investment. I really never thought about any of this until I had the " mishap " .

Now I will do everything in my power to ensure that my Vitamix has a long and

problem free existence, and that I never wind up with a " sauced up " kitchen ever

again!

I hope this information can help somebody. And as the owner of both size

containers--the 32 oz. is a great size. I use it almost exclusively unless I'm

making a large " pot " of soup for everyone!

Blessings and Peace to All,

> >

> > I almost wonder if maybe I'm too rough with the tamper, and that's how I

wound up with one blade failure, and another one on its way to loosening. I do

vigorously tamp the food to mash it into the blades, but I have never had a

problem with the tamper getting chewed up, or anything else, either. I just

think that the machine is exceedingly well made and quite rugged, so I just mash

the ingredients in. But I am now beginning to wonder if I need to modify my

technique.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for your detailed explanation. I ordered my Vitamix 5200 last week ( a

reconditioned one) with the 64-oz. container. I also bought the 32 oz. container

and the extended warranty (this makes my warranty 10 years instead of 7). I'm

getting the large tamper as part of the package deal. However, I forgot to order

the small tamper to go with the 32-oz. container. I'm going to call the company

back and ask them to add the small tamper to my order.

Again, thanks for the " heads-up " you have provided to everyone. I'm quite sure

the Vitamix is well made and very reliable; however, no machine is perfect, and

misadventures and breakdowns can always happen. It is also great to hear from

your posts (and those of others) that the company is so responsive to customers'

(both old and new) needs.

Lynn G

> > >

> > > I almost wonder if maybe I'm too rough with the tamper, and that's how I

wound up with one blade failure, and another one on its way to loosening. I do

vigorously tamp the food to mash it into the blades, but I have never had a

problem with the tamper getting chewed up, or anything else, either. I just

think that the machine is exceedingly well made and quite rugged, so I just mash

the ingredients in. But I am now beginning to wonder if I need to modify my

technique.

> > >

> > >

> >

>