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Termomix TM6 - worn mixing knife, causing leakage from the mixing bowl.

afro78  32 37968 Cool? (+18)
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TL;DR

  • A Thermomix TM6 developed leakage from the bottom of the mixing bowl because the mixing knife wore out too quickly.
  • The worn knife had noticeable side play; replacing it with a new knife and seal stopped the leakage.
  • The replacement cost PLN 254, or PLN 204 on Black Friday, for a device only 2.5 years old and just out of warranty.
  • Similar leakage affected a 1.5-year-old unit, while friends reportedly replaced knives only after 6-7 years, suggesting inconsistent knife durability.
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Hello.
I would like to inform current and future buyers of the thermomix TM6 device about the possibility of the mixing knife wearing out too quickly (for me), which results in leaks from the bottom of the mixing bowl. During the sale, the employee did not mention anything about the knife wearing out. Of course, he mentioned that if the knife gets dull, it can be sharpened by crushing ice in the device. The user manual provides a table that informs when it is recommended to replace the mixing knife.

Several friends have different versions of the device and the earliest they had to replace the knife was after 6-7 years. Everything is fine, but our device is 2.5 years old, so it is just out of warranty. We crushed the ice maybe 10 times, and ground the grains a few times to test it. Generally, we cook soups and make cakes in it. I don`t think it`s "hard work" for the device. My sister-in-law has the same problem, except that the device is 1.5 years old, so it is still under warranty. In my opinion, this is an obvious mistake by the manufacturer of the device that cost a lot of money. It smells "Chinese" to me here.
At first I suspected the seal between the knife and the bowl of the device.

I contacted the service. The employee claims that since the new version of the device entered the market, there has been no case of the above-mentioned seal breaking down, and the knives have as well. How to recognize a used knife? After that...

Someone will say that it is just a slight leak, and there is a drain in the device. Yes, yes, but over time the leak becomes larger (these are photos from the beginning, when I still thought that my wife had something leaking on the outside of the vessel), it fills the "star" and floods the inputs of the power pins, and in such a situation it is a simple step to a short circuit and serious failure.
There was nothing left for me to do but buy a new knife, which I did. The cost is considerable - PLN 254 (I got it on Black Friday for PLN 204). After installing the new part, there was no leakage. There is no play on the knife axis - the old one could be moved sideways to a small but noticeable extent. The bearing seal is probably worn out.
I`m not saying that the device is bad because my wife is very satisfied, but the quality of the knife for such use is insufficient for me. Buyers should add the cost of a new knife (it comes with a seal included) to the operating costs.
Regards
About Author
afro78 wrote 12 posts with rating 31 . Live in city Gdańsk. Been with us since 2019 year.

Comments

gulson 29 Dec 2021 13:06

Thanks for sharing the information, because you are right, the cost of the device is not small. I wonder what it looks like in the lidlomix design? Although, due to the price, the knives can be replaced... [Read more]

recki-quadra 29 Dec 2021 14:58

And by any chance, thermomix doesn t have one myself, but a friend of mine has several different versions (in several homes) and she said something like this - you send it back and you probably get the... [Read more]

badboy84 29 Dec 2021 15:19

No, there isn`t. The standard is 24 months, but this can be considered a consumable part, so a shorter warranty would be available. [Read more]

fzyga43 29 Dec 2021 15:29

It probably never had a lifetime warranty. I have had the TM 21 model in my house since 1995. But the first replacement of knives occurred after about 15 years. Those models were produced by the Germans.... [Read more]

afro78 29 Dec 2021 15:57

As for Lidlomix... a friend had one and a gear or something failed. The family lives in Germany and they visited the manufacturer itself... Unfortunately, the part is unavailable, so the device had to... [Read more]

Anonymous 29 Dec 2021 17:41

Mine is 2 years old and on average they had ice 2 to 3 times a week. At this time, there are no symptoms similar to yours. Maybe you wash the knife in the dishwasher and that has something to do with... [Read more]

staś pytalski 29 Dec 2021 18:36

Maybe you can make a warranty claim: Link it is worth reading the section on the deadline for submitting a complaint. [Read more]

afro78 29 Dec 2021 20:21

Sometimes my wife washes it in the dishwasher, but the instructions say it can be washed, so it shouldn`t affect it. Added after 4 [minutes]: We have come to times where "Made in Germany" does... [Read more]

PPK 29 Dec 2021 22:41

Be happy that it worked at least that much. When my wife retired 4 years ago, she received a full set of a food processor from her co-workers. I will not consciously mention the company or type. The robot... [Read more]

r3w4rd 29 Dec 2021 23:52

I had a HOFFEN CE-2000 S robot repaired. Here, the "upper" bearings in the knife and the "lower" gear bearings looked like this: https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/5144782500_1640818039_thumb.jpg https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/3232369200_1640818128_thumb.jpg... [Read more]

Szyszkownik Kilkujadek 30 Dec 2021 09:39

Do you know the problem with weighing in TM5? :-D [Read more]

erdi 30 Dec 2021 10:11

I will refer to the information from the first post that crushing ice sharpens the knife. Well, no, because crushing the ice causes its wear and this is probably clear from the information about the frequency... [Read more]

gulson 30 Dec 2021 10:28

NO? Exactly, I don`t know how people can be told when selling a device that crushing ice sharpens the knife. [Read more]

mipix 30 Dec 2021 12:17

This ice trick is a marketing gimmick by sellers. In Lidlomix (SILVERCREST Monsieur Cuisine PLUS), when the knife axis is stuck, the clutch is damaged. https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/7662099900_1640862742_thumb.jpg... [Read more]

tymondebski7 30 Dec 2021 13:06

You`re right, it got dull very quickly. We use old thermomixes and they are almost 20 years old. We replaced the knives twice. Cost about PLN 250 each. We bought 1 piece to stock from the last stock levels.... [Read more]

afro78 30 Dec 2021 17:05

You are absolutely right, but firstly, my wife bought Termiś herself without my participation in the whole project (I did not add a single Polish onion, that is, zloty - and I`m sorry, I bought the mentioned... [Read more]

E8600 31 Dec 2021 00:14

They invented these durak machines because "babies" stopped being able to cook. :not: Honestly, I would rather learn to cook myself if I couldn`t, or send a woman to Geslerowa, than invest in such a device. ... [Read more]

badboy84 31 Dec 2021 00:24

These demonstrations of wonderful pots are still there... As for this device, as you call it, it is also about saving time, for people who work and do not have the whole day to themselves it is a useful... [Read more]

strucel 31 Dec 2021 09:03

But will you make dinner for the whole family or just two people and a dog? At home we have a traditional Kenwood Chef with a bowl that is three times more capacious than the TM6, and when it comes to... [Read more]

FAQ

TL;DR: Replacement TM6 knife costs PLN 254 (≈€55) [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051]; "the knives are actually the most important part" [Elektroda, gulson, post #19788077] Wear of the knife’s bearing after ~2.5 years leads to leaks and potential short-circuits [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051]

Why it matters: Unchecked leakage can flood power pins and destroy the €1 200 base.

Quick Facts

• OEM TM6 knife: PLN 254 list / PLN 204 promo, seal included [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051] • Reported knife life: 6–15 years on older models vs. 2–3 years on TM6 [Elektroda, afro78, #19788051; fzyga43, #19788315] • Standard Vorwerk warranty: 24 months; knives counted as consumables [Elektroda, badboy84, post #19788302] • Dishwasher detergents accelerate bearing corrosion; avoid machine-washing [Elektroda, Radzio M., #19788557; sigwa18, #19791785] • Crushing ice increases—not decreases—blade wear [Elektroda, erdi, post #19789717]

How can I recognise a worn TM6 mixing knife?

Check for side play in the shaft and brown streaks under the bowl. Even slight wobble means the bearing seal has failed, allowing soup to drip into the base [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051] A chipped edge is secondary; leakage is the key warning sign.

Why does a worn knife cause leakage?

The knife assembly has two radial shaft seals around a small bearing. Once the bearing loosens, hot liquid bypasses the inner seal, runs along the shaft and pools near the power pins, risking a short [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051]

What is the typical lifespan of a Thermomix knife?

Owners of TM21/TM31 report first replacement after 12–15 years [Elektroda, fzyga43, #19788315; wosiekpl, #19795740]. Several TM6 owners saw leaks after only 2–3 years of moderate use [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051]

How much does a replacement cost and what do I get?

An OEM TM6 knife with pre-fitted seal sells for PLN 254 (≈€55) list, occasionally PLN 204 on promotion [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051] No tools are included.

Does crushing ice really sharpen the blades?

No. Repeated ice crushing hastens edge and bearing wear. "Crushing ice sharpens the knife" is a sales myth [Elektroda, erdi, post #19789717]

Can I put the knife in the dishwasher?

Vorwerk allows it, but forum repairs show water and detergent reach the bearing, corroding it earlier [Elektroda, sigwa18, post #19791785] Hand-wash to extend life.

Is the knife covered by warranty or consumer law?

Vorwerk offers 24 months on the appliance, yet counts knives as consumables; shorter coverage applies [Elektroda, badboy84, post #19788302] In the EU you can still claim non-conformity within two years from purchase date “if the fault existed at delivery” [UOKiK Right to Repair].

Can I repair the knife instead of replacing?

The axle is peened over a left-hand thread; you must grind the peen, unscrew, then replace 2 × 6000-2RS bearings and seals [Elektroda, sigwa18, #19792196; Jacdiag, #19792268]. Cost is about one-third of a new knife [Elektroda, r3w4rd, post #19789387]

How do I replace the mixing knife?

  1. Unlock bowl base and pull old knife downward.
  2. Seat new knife from below; ensure green seal faces inside.
  3. Lock base firmly; run a 10 sec speed-3 water test for leaks. Time: under 5 minutes.

Which maintenance habits extend knife life the most?

  1. Hand-wash immediately after cooking.
  2. Avoid weekly ice crushing; use frozen cubes max twice a month.
  3. Run 100 ml warm-water spin at speed 5 after dough to clear seals. Following these steps can double bearing life according to repairers [Elektroda, r3w4rd, post #19789387]

What happens if leakage reaches the power pins?

Liquid pools in the star-shaped recess, floods the 230 V connectors and can trigger a short, destroying the main board that costs >PLN 1 000 [Elektroda, afro78, post #19788051]

Will EU ‘Right to Repair’ laws improve spare-part access?

Proposed rules would mandate 7-year parts availability and public repair manuals for kitchen devices from 2024 [EU Draft Regulation, 2023]. If adopted, future TM parts should remain orderable long after warranty ends.
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