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Garbage disposal help

Posted on 1/14/22 at 10:40 am
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
51396 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 10:40 am
The badger insinkerator is not working. It is less than two years old. I've gotten on my knees with that Allen wrench style tool and tried to reset it. It won't budge. I've pressed the red button. Nothing.

All I get is a loud hum when I turn on the disposal. What can I do?
Posted by Slagathor
Makin' jokes about your teeny tiny
Member since Jul 2007
37811 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 10:54 am to
(unplugged, obviously) have you removed the ring and stuck your hand in it to try to manually move the blades? the hum would make me think there's something lodged in the blades
Posted by 2BRKnot
Member since Jul 2020
385 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:01 am to
Something is blocking the blade (maybe a fork or some rust). Do NOT try to move the blade with your hand. Use the handle of a wooden spoon. You're welcome.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
12738 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:14 am to
quote:

Something is blocking the blade (maybe a fork or some rust). Do NOT try to move the blade with your hand. Use the handle of a wooden spoon. You're welcome.


I find a long handled set of kitchen tongs and a good flashlight to be useful as well. A pebble from my daughter's fishbowl somehow got stuck in mine several months back when my wife was cleaning it. Apparently put the strainer in the sink, and not just hold it up off of the sink as you drain the water didn't occur to her. Noticed a horrible noise that night when I was turning the disposal on, and found it inside. It hadn't lodged beneath the blade, but the tongs were able to grab it and remove it. Obviously that is if you have something stuck, if it is just old and getting rusted just try to move them.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
13881 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:14 am to


Did turning it with the allen wrench allow the disposal to turn any, or is it locked up completely?

My kiddo has dropped rocks in mine several times and locked it up. If it won't turn manually, you'll probably have to remove the disposal from the sink and remove the obstruction.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9800 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:14 am to
Does it turn with the allen wrench?


I suspect the answer is no. Get a flashlight and look inside.

Try rocking it back and forth with the allen.
This post was edited on 1/14/22 at 11:15 am
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42565 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:22 am to
A few things. I put my hand in mine and check for obstructions. Check and see if you have a GFCI switch. It is separate from your internal breaker box.
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
51396 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:32 am to
Doesn't turn at all.
Posted by BruslyTiger
Waiting on 420...
Member since Oct 2003
4608 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 11:33 am to
I had one do this once because it had a dime under a blade and I couldn't see it. I used a broom handle to get it to move.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
13881 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 12:26 pm to
quote:

Doesn't turn at all.


Something is jammed up in there. You're going to have to remove the disposal.
Fairly easy job.
Disconnect any drain lines going to the disposal. That allen wrench should fit into the collar on the bottom side of the sink. Turn the collar with that.





Follow steps 1-7 on this link: https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Garbage-Disposal
Posted by HarryCallahan
Member since Sep 2015
145 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 3:23 pm to
There is a place in the middle of the disposal on the bottom that takes an Allen wrench. When disposals freeze up-this is an option. Stick your Allen wrench in there and see if it’ll turn the platform that the blades are attached to. The blades just free spin with the centrifugal force of that platform moving.
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
13882 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 4:43 pm to
quote:

Something is blocking the blade (maybe a fork or some rust). Do NOT try to move the blade with your hand. Use the handle of a wooden spoon. You're welcome.
And skeet some WD-40 or Kroil in there and let'er soak.
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
51396 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 5:07 pm to
did that.
Posted by HarryCallahan
Member since Sep 2015
145 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 5:12 pm to
Motor may be burnt up. Maybe time to replace. I know it’s not old but today’s goods aren’t built well. There may still be a warranty. Check into that!
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9800 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 5:12 pm to
You're not applying enough torque to the allen wrench. Rock it one way, then the other.
Posted by Miketheseventh
Member since Dec 2017
5737 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:51 pm to
Stick a long screwdriver or small pry bar and see if it will turn. If not it is jammed by something. If it spins freely then your motor is bad. I have had to pry my before to get it unstuck
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
16568 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 8:56 pm to
quote:

badger insinkerator


Do y'all have a habit of putting acidic foods, bleach or bleach-containing cleaners down that part of the sink? Reason I ask is that the cheaper Badger units don't have stainless steel grind chambers and grind wheels, only the moving hammers are stainless steel, and they will rust out to the point of jamming quickly or the seals will fail at the motor shaft and start letting water into the motor itself. It sucks but pretty much all residential disposals are crap except for the top-end models for each brand in the 3/4 to 1 hp range. I personally recommend the Waste King EZ mounts (Moen's are made by Waste King and are good units) or Insinkerator Evolution models. Still have to watch what you put down the things and flush them with plenty of water while running them until they are empty, can't leave them sitting with food scraps in them for hours at a time.
Posted by Thecoz
Member since Dec 2018
2526 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 9:21 pm to
All suggestion are good…
I have rentals… dime..pebble ..fork…rusted from no use…have seen them all … as op have said flashlight and trying to turn it to find what is in there..soak with wd40…I have used a screw drive and hammer and tapped it to get it turning to find the obstruction before…or wood stick and rubber mallet cause the wood stick sets on the tooth in the blade is even better

Good luck
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17258 posts
Posted on 1/16/22 at 6:04 am to
Allen wrench + cheater pipe
Posted by eatpie
Kentucky
Member since Aug 2018
1131 posts
Posted on 1/16/22 at 3:31 pm to
Had my disposal go out last year. I removed it completely and replaced with standard p-trap system. I have not missed having a disposal.

In reality, I don't understand why anyone needs one.
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