I'm on a know to knead basis

After a reasonable day at the controls today I thought I would make some more bread in the machine, and have tea while it did its thing.  Everything measured and plonked into the tin, loaf type: check, loaf weight: check, crust colour: check, and…start.

What we got, dear reader, was a clunk, followed by a series of rough grating noises and a screech.  Yikes!  I stopped the machine, checked the tin was in right, pressed start again and was rewarded with another clunk, some more grating noises and then nothing.  Whatever was happening, the paddle in the tin wasn't turning.  I immediately suspected some broken connection between the motor and the paddle spindle.  I figured I could tear the machine down to find out.  As I did so, little chunks of grey rubber fell out of the vent holes in the base.

After removing about 30 screws and the skin off two knuckles I reached the motor plate and circuitry, and discovered I now had an ex-belt.  It had entirely ceased to be, and part of the motor's toothed output wheel had melted.  The breadmaker will probably never make again.  I could perhaps get a replacement belt, but the display didn't work properly anyway.

So I rolled up my sleeves, dusted down my big chopping board and jolly well got on with making bread.  I might have done the proving stages a little bit wrong, as I didn't do it in a bowl, and think the airing cupboard might have been warmer than on top of the boiler, and the dough didn't rise as much as I supposed it would – but after going into the oven for an hour it turned out not bad at all for an averted minor disaster!