Waste King Weak Motor / Starting Circuit Issue

Garbage disposal motor starts slowly or struggles to reach full speed.

Advertisements

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.

Advertisements

Possible Causes

Failing start capacitor (on capacitor-start models), Worn motor windings, Low supply voltage, Mechanical drag from worn bearings

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Turn OFF power at the breaker before inspecting wiring. Do not disassemble the sealed motor housing.

  • Step 1 – Verify supply voltage: Ensure the disposal is on a dedicated circuit and not sharing with high-draw appliances. Low voltage can cause slow starting.
  • Step 2 – Check for mechanical drag: Use the jam-buster wrench to rotate the shaft. It should turn smoothly without excessive resistance.
  • Step 3 – Observe with light load: Run the disposal with only water and no food. If it still starts slowly, the internal start circuit or capacitor may be failing.
  • Step 4 – Replace disposal: Internal capacitors and windings are not user-serviceable on most Waste King models. Replace the unit.
Advertisements

Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Garbage Disposal Unit
Check Price on Amazon

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Advertisements