Garbage disposal won't start sometimes

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steve066

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Sometimes our garbage disposal won't start. I know its not an open circuit because I can hear the disposal humming, and the kitchen lights dim.

Turn it off, spin it some with a wrench, and it will usually start.

What could be wrong with it? Could it have a starting capacitor thats bad?
 
Look at the transition points/joints, sounds like it's time for a new device.

But

I'm going to guess it's the bearing are going bad, holding the motor back from spinning.

Let's see what others say... :D
 
480sparky said:
Time to replace it.
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Well, it runs great when it does start.

And its a challange to fix it. A learning experience.

And then there is also the fact that I'm somewhat frugal. Although my wife has another name for it.

Heck, I'm not even sure why we need a disposal. We have a dog that really likes leftovers a lot more than that expensive kibbles & bits.
 
If it's a brand where you can insert that 1/4" hex Allen wrench in the bottom simply check to see if the disposer turns easily. If there is some resistance something could be interfering with the impeller not enough to jam it but enough to cause resistance. It should also be an indictor of a defective bearing.
If anything you may impress the owner of your prowess instead of just looking down the drain.
Sounds like a lot of screwing around to find out the cause but it may assist you on justifying selling a replacement.
 
I have 2 bath fans that are 27 years old and I rarely used them. When I did use it they took forever to come on. I let them run for a long time and started using it everyday and now it starts normally. That was a few years ago and they are still running.
 
Could have a small piece of bone or other hard material that is not getting flushed don the drain.


Get a bag of ice and send it through the disposer a cup at a time, this will clean it and take any debris with it.

If you must change it try and get the same make and model and you might not have to change the strainer assembly.


You also might want to get online and see if it's under warranty. My In-Sinkerator brand had a 10 year no questions asked warranty.
 
cadpoint said:
OK, Mr. Tool Time tell us what you find... Enjoy... :)
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I found its still under warranty :) Heck, learning is great, but if you can learn how to get other people to fix your stuff, that's even better :)


masterinbama said:
Could have a small piece of bone or other hard material that is not getting flushed don the drain.


Get a bag of ice and send it through the disposer a cup at a time, this will clean it and take any debris with it.

If you must change it try and get the same make and model and you might not have to change the strainer assembly.


You also might want to get online and see if it's under warranty. My In-Sinkerator brand had a 10 year no questions asked warranty.
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Right-on with the warranty. This one only had a 4 year warranty, but they are sending me a new disposal. From the serial number, it was made in 2010, so I didn't even have to try and find the receit.

By the way, it turns very easily with the wrench, even when it refuses to start. So I don't think there is anything stuck in it.

Steve
 
Starting switch has begun to fail. they get so corroded from arcing over the years that they finally will not pass enough current to start the motor. Add to that worn bearings and its time to go the the local big box, belly up to the bar and replace it!!
 
One of the biggest problems I find home owners doing is filling the disposal then turning it on then turning on the water to flush it.

I try to teach them to read the instructions, always have the water running before turning on the disposal, then turn on the disposal before putting in the wast, do not force it in, and never put your fingers past the top of the drain, use a wooden dawl rod or something similar, never allow children to use the disposal.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I have 2 bath fans that are 27 years old and I rarely used them. When I did use it they took forever to come on. I let them run for a long time and started using it everyday and now it starts normally. That was a few years ago and they are still running.
Click to expand...

I fixed a few of those older bath fans by removing the motor and takibng is apart. What I found was the lubrication of the bearings gets gummy. Clean the bearing shafts with a solvent as relubricate.
The other problem is when the bearings become sloppy and noisy. Whether or not this is something you would like to do as an econimical fix for the customer is questionable.
 
hurk27 said:
One of the biggest problems I find home owners doing is filling the disposal then turning it on then turning on the water to flush it.

I try to teach them to read the instructions, always have the water running before turning on the disposal, then turn on the disposal before putting in the wast, do not force it in, and never put your fingers past the top of the drain, use a wooden dawl rod or something similar, never allow children to use the disposal.
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My father in law was a plumber, so I heard this on a regular basis. I also frequently heard about a resturaunt that had a 2x4 to jam the food into the disposal.
 
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