E23
AmazonCommercial
Free-Spinning Motor with Disengaged Grind Plate
Disposal makes a high-pitched whine but does not grind effectively; sounds like it is spinning too freely.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Sheared drive connection between motor shaft and grind plate, Loose or stripped coupling, Internal mechanical failure in rotor assembly
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety First: Disconnect power before inspection. Do not continue to run a disposal that is not grinding; it can overheat.
- Step 1 – Check plate movement: With power OFF, look into the chamber and try to rotate the grind plate with a wooden tool. If it spins freely with almost no resistance, the drive connection may be damaged.
- Step 2 – Listen for motor speed: When briefly powered (with water running), a very high, smooth pitch with no grinding indicates the motor is spinning without load.
- Step 3 – Evaluate repair options: On AmazonCommercial disposals, the coupling between the motor and grind plate is internal and not user-serviceable.
- Next step: Replace the disposal unit to restore proper grinding function.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Complete Garbage Disposal Unit
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