Hello, I just had the same issue (maybe already solved, but anyway). I have a new purchase. Bowl is stucked ike hell. All You need to do, remove the smaller plate and put some professional grease. It solved the problem immediately…

I must admit I don’t understand the difference. Is the HH model just faster RPM overall? I imagine that would not do well with low hydration. In fact, it could put undue stress on the motor when the hydration is lower (the gear ratios favor speed over torque). I have used my standard Famag (it is the 10S model) for ciabatta, which is around 80% hydration. The results are spectacular. A spiral mixer is already a one trick pony. To buy one that is even more specialized for high hydration? I wouldn’t go there unless you had a baking business and that’s all you did.

Thank you Mike. I’m trying to decide between the Im-5s and the Im-5s hh. I would prefer the im5-sHh but I need to be able to work with low hydration as much as high hydration . I noticed the rpm’s start at 98 for the im5-s and 130+ for the im5 shh. I have little knowledge of spiral mixers but I’ve read that a faster rpm doesn’t always mean better. That low hydration dough needs a lower rpm.
Any advice always welcome

It’s really not a big deal even if the bowl is run completely unlocked. I wouldn’t avoid the mixer because of this. I also strongly recommend a removable bowl over a fixed one. It is so much easier to clean, that I often avoid my fixed-bowl mixer for that reason alone. Famag makes a fantastic mixer. I have been running mine hard for many years and it’s still going strong.

Without seeing it from every angle, it is impossible to say. I think you already know (but just in case) that the locking plate may unlock by rotating it opposite to what you are attempting. The mechanism is not always intuitive, and you should be 100% sure you know which is the right direction before forcing anything. There could be something mechanically wrong with the plate or a piece of debris is preventing it from rotating. Since it is new, I would obviously reach out to the seller for assistance.

Cannot unlock it, it’s stuck on rotating plate 😟

I’m not sure I understand. Is the locking mechanism not turning to unlock it, or is it unlocked and the bowl is not coming off the plate?

Yikes! No, sorry, I don’t. But if I were searching, I would ask here: https://www.thefreshloaf.com/forum