The machine stopped because its thermal protector sensed that the machine was about to overheat. Turn the power switch off for up to 45 minutes, allowing the machine to cool down or reset. Reset time will be extended if high room temperatures exist. To reduce the reset time, unplug the machine, remove the container, and blow air into the center section of the bottom of the base with a hair dryer on the cool setting.
Below are some tips to prevent overheating when processing thick mixtures with a Vitamix® 5200. If these suggestions do not improve the performance of your machine, please contact Customer Service.
Check Your Speed
When starting the machine, make sure the switch on the left is down and the Variable Speed Dial is turned to 1. Turn the machine on, turn the Variable Speed Dial from 1 to 10, and flip the switch to High within five seconds. The Vitamix machine performs best on High speed to pulverize food and process thick mixtures.
Check Your Quantity
Processing cooked potatoes, cooked rice, or cooked beans creates a heavier than normal load on the machine. You may want to consider reducing the food quantity placed in the container by half (depending on how much food you started with) and possibly adding a bit of liquid.
Follow Order of Ingredients
Place ingredients into the container in the order listed in your Vitamix recipe. If working with your own recipe, start with the most liquid ingredients first (water, juice), followed by softer ingredients (tofu, yogurt), then juicier fruits and vegetables (grapes, cucumbers), firmer fruits and vegetables (apples, carrots), frozen ingredients (frozen berries), and finally ice. If you use protein powders, they should follow the ice.
Use the Tamper
If ingredients are not freely circulating, the tamper can be used to improve the flow of food. While the machine is running and with the lid firmly in place, insert the tamper through the lid plug opening and hold it in one of the corners of the container. As the food travels around the side of the container, the tamper directs it right into the blades. If there is an air pocket around the blade, the tamper will release the air pocket and create a continuous flow of food through the blades.
