Help with Garbage Disposal Please!

[rjchu]

Well guys, you did such a great job helping me diagnose and replace the hi/low cap in our central air conditioner last year I thought I'd try you again before dropping some Christmas light funds on a new unit...

Tonight my wife jammed a bunch of mushroom stems into the kitchen sink garbage disposal and THEN turned it on. Naturally the motor hummed but the thing didn't spin/grind at all. I removed everything from the inside by hand, rinsed it out and still the same. Tried the reset button on the bottom as well as an allen wrench. The unit spins freely when I use the allen wrench in both directions. Now here's the strange part...when the unit is on and the motor is humming (but the blades not spinning) if I put the allen wrench into the bottom and give it a twist, the blades start spinning (and keep spinning). As soon as I turn it off, it reverts back to the same hum without spinning. At no time did water backup, water has always flowed freely through the garbage disposal, even when all the mushroom stems were in it.

Any ideas or am I stuck buying (and uninstalling/reinstalling) a new garbage disposal this weekend?

Thanks in advance everyone,

-joni-

PS: I've also tried wrapping mini lights around it under the sink which didn't seem to help a bit either. ;)

[Matt_Edwards]

Sounds like the start capacitor may be stuffed.

Sent from my MZ601 using Tapatalk 2

[cnbales]

You can fix this very easily. There is a little tool (see attached pic) that you use to un-jam the garbage disposal. On the base of the garbage disposal, on the outside of it, there is a slot to fit this tool into. Just insert the tool into the slot turn back and forth a few times and you will be ready to go. I have fixed mine this way and my parents.

GD tool.jpg

[rjchu]

As I said, I've done this and it turns freely - no apparent blockage or jamming.

Matt, can you tell me more about the start capacitor?

Thanks,

-joni-

You can fix this very easily. There is a little tool (see attached pic) that you use to un-jam the garbage disposal. On the base of the garbage disposal, on the outside of it, there is a slot to fit this tool into. Just insert the tool into the slot turn back and forth a few times and you will be ready to go. I have fixed mine this way and my parents.

GD tool.jpg

[mschell]

The motor needs a little extra "kick" to get started. That's the purpose of the start capacitor, to give it a little extra push to get it going. If the capacitor is going out, or shorted, then the motor will try to start (the hum), but never get going.

I haven't taken apart a disposer lately, but there should be a control board near the end of the motor, away from the chopping chamber. the start cap should be a larger one, rather than smaller.

[rjchu]

This is sounding just like the A/C compressor hi/lo capacitor - which makes sense. Does anyone know of the rating/value of these start capacitor? I'm not finding it online but would like to order or pick one up on the way home from work tonight.

Thanks guys!

-joni-

[Matt_Edwards]

The safest way is to replace with same value that is in the unit. Most electrical wholesalers will carry a replacement unit.

Sent from my MZ601 using Tapatalk 2

[cnbales]

Joni, Sorry I should have read your entire post before responding.

[caretaker]

You have 3 choices:

1. Take the disposal apart and see what size the start cap is and then either go to a motor repair shop OR electronics shop and get a new one and reassemble the disposal.
2. Take the disposal to a motor repair shop and have them replace the start capacitor.
3. Buy a new disposal (which may be cheaper than #2 ) if you get the same brand/model it should be a easy swap out.

[angus40]

Most library's have the schematics for almost every commercial circuit sold.If your not able to find it online .