FAQ - Care & Maintenance

Drive sockets are fail safe mechanisms used to couple the motor to the blade assembly in Vitamix® machines. They are designed to protect the operator and the motor in the event a blade assembly is blocked from rotating.

Drive sockets also help reduce blending noise. A properly installed drive socket should be attached, but slightly loose. This will allow the drive socket to align with the container, reducing noise while blending.

Drive sockets are the most commonly overlooked wear item, and should be checked weekly according to the Blender Care & Maintenance Guide.

The following things cause premature wear of the drive socket:

• Removing the container before the motor has completely stopped spinning
• A worn blade assembly gear
• Placing the container on the drive socket when it is spinning
• Rocking or tilting the container while blending
• A foreign object in the container
• Running the machine without the centering pad
• Using parts or products not approved by Vitamix®

Weekly:

• Inspect drive sockets and centering pads according to directions in the Blender Care & Maintenance Guide.

Monthly:

• Inspect all containers for signs of wear or cracking. 
• Inspect all blade assemblies according to directions in the Blender Care & Maintenance Guide.

1. Perform the recommended preventative maintenance steps.
2. Avoid prolonged blending of extra-thick ingredients.
3. Follow program instructions outlined in the manual.
4. Keep at least 12 inches of open space around the blender.

Vitamix only recommends using a bleach sanitizer at 100 ppm on polycarbonate containers.

The motor is designed with thermal overload protection, which senses when the motor has overheated and automatically stops the motor. Depending on how hot the unit became, it may take an hour or more to cool down. Once the unit has cooled, the thermal overload protection device will close and allow the unit to operate again. If this continues, please contact us at 800.886.5235 or commercialts@vitamix.com.

Blade assemblies are a wear item and require periodic replacement based on use. Vitamix® recommends inspecting blade assemblies weekly according to the Blender Care & Maintenance Guide instructions below. Contact us at 800.886.5235 or commercialts@vitamix.com if you determine that you need a replacement blade assembly.

• Check for nicks, cracks, or gouges in the outer surface.  If any are present, replace.
• Inspect the blade assembly gear for signs of wear. The teeth of the gear should be deep and have continuous edges.
• Inspect the bottom of the blade assembly below the gear. If you see that any part of the seal is torn, missing, or lifting, replace the blade assembly.
• Rotate the blade by hand, feeling for smooth, consistent, light resistance.
• Place the gear of the blade assembly between your index finger and thumb and push up and down (vertically) on the gear. If any vertical movement is detected, replace the blade assembly immediately.

In short, the blade assembly should be replaced if it:

• “Pinwheels” or rotates freely and effortlessly like a pinwheel in the wind
• Does not spin or is difficult to spin by hand
• Makes an audible noise when spinning
• Has vertical movement
• Has side-to-side movement
• Ball bearings are visible where the seal should normally be located

The following things cause premature wear of the blade assembly:

• Foreign objects in the container while blending
• Removing or placing container on machine while drive socket is spinning
• Operating the machine without the centering pad in place
• Rocking or tilting the container while blending
• A worn drive socket
• Soaking in bleach sanitizer solution above 100 ppm 
• Placing in a dishwasher
• Using parts or products not approved by Vitamix®
• Blending gritty products like sand 

Vitamix® recommends regularly using a test strip to periodically check sanitizer strength. An overly strong sanitizer concentration will cause:

• Milky or chalky appearance of containers
• Hairline cracks in container edges or handle
• Brittle containers
• Bubbling or peeling of container
• Blade assembly bearing seal failure
• Rusty retainer nuts

The sanitizer strength is too strong, or sanitizer is being used in conjunction with a high-temperature dish washer. Bleach sanitizer should be 100 ppm for polycarbonate containers. An overly strong sanitizer concentration will cause:

• Milky or chalky appearance of containers
• Hairline cracks in container edges or handle
• Brittle containers
• Bubbling or peeling of container
• Blade assembly bearing seal failure
• Rusty retainer nuts

Note: Use of improper sanitizer or sanitizer strength may void the container and blade assembly warranty.