On Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:37:21 -0400, mm wrote:


On 30 Mar 2007 21:20:42 -0700, "Senin" wrote:

I hope I didn't totally blow up my garbage disposal.

I was washing dishes and turned on the disposal. I heard that aweful
grind which we all know as something in there that doesn't belong. I
immediately turned it off. It wouldn't turn on again.

After waiting and finding the red switch, I turned it on again. A low
quite humming sound- not the normal sound. Does it sound like I blew
up the motor?

Probably not. It's supposed to stop running before that happens, and
the red button is supposed to come out, as it did. The fact that,
after you push the red button, it still hums mean the motor is doing
something, it's trying, but it's not turning.

Once the red thing trips again, it's as if the power switch is off,
but don't rely on that, and turn the switch off.

Is there a hex-shaped hole in the center bottom. Do you have a hex
wrench that fits it, especiallly the one that came with the disposal
and is bigger than most and has two identical ends with obtuse angles
instead of right angles like most allen wrenches? Use that to try
to turn the hex shaped hole, back and forth until it frees up.

Once it frees up, do you hear anything rattling around in there?

Did you let something drop into the disposal, or do you think
something came from the dishwasher?

If the screen in the bottom of dishwasher is in one piece, and/or if
you have an anti-siphon thing on top of your sink, it's less likely
something from the dishwahser made it to the disposal, but who knows.

If you are sure there is no hex shaped hole, then a broom handle from
the top is what a lot of people use to try to free up the mechanism.

Another way is to put a socket on a 9-12" extension and ratchet or breaker
bar and turn the nut holding the blade assembly to the motor shaft.