Hello,

Please help.

There was a child's plastic spoon jammed in the disposal at the grinding wheel. I got a socket wrench around the flywheel nut and twisted counterclockwise and was able to dislodge it. I hooked everything back up, ran water and turned on the disposal and water leaked out the bottom. Why? And what do I do to fix it?

Thank you,
Sink is beginning to stink

"I hooked everything back up,"
What did you unhook? Why?
Regards, Tom

Hi, thanks for your reply

I unhooked the power, the drain, the dishwasher intake. Why? So I had better grip to remove the spoon.

What did I do wrong?
B

What did I do wrong?

When I find out you're going to be the first to know.

I want you run water into and fire up the disposal. Now take a paper towel and rub it around the sides. Did the towel come away damp? Does the outside of the disposal have moisture on it? Back to you. Tom

I did what you asked and water ran through the disposal to the catch basin on the floor. I had a hard time getting the socket unto the flywheel nut due to rust caking so I tapped it into place with a mallet. I was as gentle as I could be. Was I rougher than I thought and knocked something out of place?

Thank you.

Sorry about the delayed responses. Taking care of two three and under at the same time so it takes a while.

B

It sounds like you may have damaged the seal between the motor housing and the macerator housing.

Hmm.

So does that mean that the disposal is shot? For future reference how do I confirm I damaged the seal between the motor housing and the macerator housing.

Thanks iamgrowler

If the outside of the unit was dry and water ran out the bottom then Growler's correct and the seal has been ruptured. I never use the wrench to dislodge a item that's caught between the table and the wall. I carry a 20" broom handle in the van that I use to lever the table backward. I get better leverage that way. Sorry about your disposal. If you plan on replacing it try to get the same unit. That way you won't have to remove and reinstall a new drain assembly. You can just use the same one and save yourself some time and labor. Good luck, Tom