How to fix a jammed Whirlaway garbage disposal (I did it using a rake handle of all things!!!!) 

Its my first time living alone I've been in my new apartment for 6 months. RU-vid videos have saved me at least $3,000.00 and many trips to the Home Depot. Thank you!

Same thing exactly happened to me. Little blades moved freely but still just a hum. I used a 7/8” dowel to get the base to rotate and it powered up and worked fine! Thanks so much! I thought I’d have to buy a new one.

Okay I had no idea the floor of the garbage disposal inside was also supposed to spin! I put WD40 in there just like she said and it didn’t work until I ALSO took a stick and turned the circle around and around like she did and then it worked first just like hers. WOW. Thank you for taking the time to post this! I’m so relieved.

I followed your step by step instructions and it worked perfectly. Within minute my garbage disposal was working! Thank you, Verna Gibson

4 years later and your video is still helping people. Thank you!

I live alone and I just use a knife to twirl the blades , unplugged it and then back in the plug and boom “ baby it’s working “ thanks for your video

I'd like to thank you for this. my apartment has this model of garbage disposal, and I was used to the ones that had the bolt that you could use a wrench to manually turn. Mine got stuck, so I went to find the little nut on the bottom to turn with my wrench, and it wasn't there. Which left me perplexed. This video helped immensely.

Worked! Only one I have ever seen with the allen wrench socket on the bottom of the drive axel. Learned something: If I ever buy a garbage disposal, I will not buy a Whirlaway, (I fixed this for my mom after buying the allen wrench. I could figure out why she didn't have one.)

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH! Have been going crazy over this for a week, ordered Allen wrenches, to no avail. Came across your video, used a handle of large wooden spoon and the WD40 AND IT WORKED!!!!!!!

My 76 year old friends stopped working and we were debating on calling a plumber. Glad I Googled it first! Thank you for making this video!

It was stubborn, but sticking with your method finally worked. Many thanks!

Thanks for your video it helps me fix my disposal problem..I watch other videos and nothing helps until I saw yours..

Omg thank you so much ! My wife kept telling me to use an Allen wrench and I tried and tried and nothing happened l, I researched the whirla way and found out it had no wrench for the bottom, I found your video , and it fixed the problem ! Thank you !

I was trying to find the hole in the bottom of mine and there was none. Stumped and Puzzled, I came across this video and tried this out and it worked. None of the other RU-vid erator videos talk about this method for disposer with no hole in the bottom. Thanks for posting this video !

Our WhirlAway 340 disposal jammed up. Cleared it out and still no dice. Followed your instructions with the WD-40 and the broom handle. Took some cranking but it did the trick. Once that bottom blade started rotating I plugged it in, hit the reset button and Voila! Started right up. Now I know what to do next time. Thank you!

Thank you very much! I followed your steps and got the disposal back to work!

Thanks for the video! I was wondering why my alan keys weren't working when I was trying to fix my Whirlaway disposal the traditional way. Worked like a charm.

Had a small nail fall into my disposal and jammed it. Was able to fix it myself after watching your video. Thank you very much for posting this video. Saved me a bundle of $$$. 🙂

It worked! Thank you! Both my hubby and brother thought we needed a new disposal. However I came across this video and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did!

Thank you for this video! I fixed it myself (with a broom handle!) and canceled the plumber appointment! :)

Thank you so much! I have a Waste King disposal that also has the spinning plate. Worked on it for hours looking for the hole to turn the blades. Found your video, fixed within minutes. WD-40 and a broom handle and boom- dislodged!

This helped me out today! I had to use one of those long knife sharpeners but once I got the blades to rotate everything was good to go! You’re awesome!

Today, the disposer just rusted up and stopped spinning. you helped me! thank you!

Thank you so much! I’ve had other disposals that had Allen wrench sockets so I was baffled. I just fixed mine and it works great following this method with WD-40 and a long handle. 🙌🏾

Yay! It worked thank you! After accidentally breaking a glass cup in the sink, I was only getting humming sound. I did everything as you explained but still did not work. After hitting reset button after all these steps, finally it worked! Thank you so much 🙏🏼

This is my first time ever to leave a comment at RU-vid. Thank you so so much! I first tried a chopstick. It did not work. After watching this video, I tried the handle of my hammer. It worked within a couple of minutes. I did not need to use WD40 after all.

This worked!!!! After alllll the videos I watched this was the WINNER!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Great video, first one I've found that fully explained the issue and how to fix it. Turns out my larger circular plate also wasn't spinning. Thank you!

I used a heavy wooden kitchen spatula and hammered that against one of the blades. That got everything turning and fixed the problem. Thank you

Omg same thing happen to me...went out of town...came back and the disposal isn't working and absolutely nothing is in it. Thanks!!! This worked instantly for me.🙌

I love the joy on your face when it works now. I feel the same way when I fix something. lol Thanks for the helpful video.

Thank you very much. I have the same whirlway 191, and this worked! The strong stick in the drain to move the bottom plate is what did the trick! So that’s very important....but also, I used my iPhone light to look inside and clear up some glass that was preventing the plate from rotating. Thanks again.

I had both of my daughters' Disposals JAMMED = took ur advice = but got a square 5/8" X 36" wood stick @ Lowe's & cut of a 16" piece off & used it to get cylinder rotating using WD-40 pushing on those 2 clips on top of deposal cylinder = WORKED GREAT!

It worked! One thing: don't use a broom with a plastic end that is used to hang it up...it will break. After I broke the broom thing I used a hammer end and it worked almost immediately! Thank you!

THANK YOU for this video. I had the exact same problem - came back after being out of town and the disposal was stuck. After some WD40 and multiple attempts at loosening the blades and plate, it works! Thank you so much for saving me the headache of getting a repair person to come take a look!

THANK YOU!!~ You just saved us from having to make an expensive call for someone to fix our disposal! I followed your instructions and voila!! Its running again!!! You Rock!!

Thank you so much! I’m am newly single and of course my garbage disposal decided now would be a great time to stop working but with your help I showed it who was the boss lol.

Your suggestion about using the lubricant worked great! You saved me 168 dollars!!

Thanks to ur video I fixed my garbage disposal!!!! 🙏 thank u 🎉🎉🎉🍺

Thank you!! The Wd40 worked great! I saturated the inside thoroughly and then used the wooden handle of a toilet plunger to gently pry it unstuck and then it rotated nicely. After, I got it running I reapplied some additional wd40k and it works like a charm. I agree a bottom hex wrench would have been nice on this cheap model. Your video is much appreciated.

Worked like a charm and under 3 minutes. Thank you four years after you made this video 😊

What a brilliant and charming young lady! 💃‘Can’t help but wonder where that lovely accent comes from. Thank you for your help! 😺

This fix worked perfectly! The brand specific method was great. True: every other brand requires the wrench. I live in an apartment where you can make a maintenance call...but you run the risk of a bill, even when it's a rust issue like this one. Glad to keep my Sunday to myself and not have to deal with others. Also, very pleased to have done my own repair using tools I already had at home. Your rake inspired my creativity and I ended up using an old sharpening steel. Worked great!! Thanks again!

Thanks so much for posting this video. I am viewing it today for the second time because I couldn't remember what I did the first time -- nearly a year and a half ago.

you just fixed my problem, and taught me something new. A million thank you's!

Thanks for posting! Your technique had our disposal working in no time!

Thank you so much! You are right. I used the end of the hammer and got it to work just like you said! Thanks again! Only took about 5-10 minutes.

worked like a charm. I was about to take my disposal off then came across this video. I used a end of a paint brush

oh my gosh Thank yoi so much!!! this did the trick! turning the extra piece underneath we also had to do. it was using patiemce and force like you said! something else vareful which outlet. one ia a hot outlet not tied to the wall switch. i plugged mine back in the wrong outlet and it didnt turn off! im excited. i didnt have to pay someone!!

I cannot believe this worked. Thank you!!! I was also away on vacation nd came back to my disposal not working. It took lots of wd40 and muscles to get the large bottom blade to turn but it eventually turned and is now working. THANK YOU!!!!

Thanks!!! It had been down for almost a week and the smell was getting unbearable! This worked perfectly! Thanks again!

Thanks a bunch....watched a few videos after trying for 40 minutes ran across yours and it worked.....YASSSSSS!!

Thank you so freaking much ours has literally been broken for several months and I just thought we needed a new one and we just didn't have the money to replace it i was able to fix it doing exactly what you did thank you so much

Omg it worked!! I had tried using wd40 once before I watched your video but it only clogged up the drain even more. After I watched this, I realized it was the dissolved rust that was clogging up the drain. I used a plastic knife to scratch the rust off and rinsed the disposal with hot water, and repeated several times, and it finally started turning! Thank you so much😊. Now I have to figure out how to return the new disposal. Lol.

This worked! Apparently, whirlaway is a very cheap brand that rusts easily, and binds the blade. It sure would have been great if they provided the ability to turn it from the bottom with an hex wrench, like most other brands do. It seems I remember my father doing this years ago when I was young. Whirlaway: 50 year old technology!

The best solution that worked right and fixed the issue right away....thanks a bunch! Please do more such DIY videos!

Great video! Worked 2 Perfection and the only video that shows how to reset the Whirlaway 1/3👍

Used a wooden stick and with some muscle i got it to spin. Switched it on and it worked. Now dealing with the leak under the disposal which is another issue. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you soo much for this video! I thought I was going to have to buy a new one. You saved me a lot of time, money and hassel. Thank You Again!

Worked perfectly. The only thing I did differently was use a long screw driver and inserted in one of the long slots. It took 30 seconds to free the plate.

Thank you very much-followed your instructions and the disposal is working again👍👍

Thank you ! It took 3 minutes to use your method. I was going to buy tools !

Thank you very much for sharing this video. It worked just like you said. Who would have thought, WD40 and a stick? Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you very much for a clear and short description. It worked for mine!

This really helped since I have no allen wrenches. I didn't have WD40 either; so, I used spray Canola oil to help loosen it and it worked...might wish to add this tip for your followers. I imagine that any spray oil would work. Today we have to work with what we have on hand.

This was a fantastic idea and it worked!!! Thank you for this, i used my broom handle, it took less than 5 minutes!

Thanks -worked great, after a few photos of the bottom looking for the Allen wrench spot. I made sure to squirt more WD40 after I fixed it.

Thank you for this! Mine started jamming and this worked like a charm!

Awesome video! Thank you Fixerette!!!

I remembered doing this years before, but I had somehow forgotten this trick. Thanks for reminding me about this trick

Thanks!!! Mine was making a sound of an old cow and not doing anything. After watching your video -> the point was to get the blade turning and I put my hand in (i have tiny hands) and made it turn and voila!!!!!! Thank you sooooo much!!!

This worked for me in 5 minutes! Thank you soooo much! Girl power!

Thank you, Nick Miller!!! It worked. Wow I'm grateful.

Amazing! Who would have known. WD-40 and the butt end of a garden tool. Thank you.

I almost gave up and call the plumber and then I found your video and it worked great! Thank you ❤

Used a paint extension pole. this saved me some money and worked great.

Thank you for the video, I just fixed mine, also using a rake handle!!!

Thank You Jesus!!!!mine did not have bottom to use Allen wrench-after searching 10 minutes I bumped into your video- thank you so much-I used plastic mop handle=problem solve

Just tried it on mine used a long wrench and she fired right up! Thank you!

I ended up with a spoon stuck in the unit but this took me a long way. Thank you

Thank you for the simple easy to follow instructions and for sharing this little trick!! It worked!!

Thanks for the tip! Tried your method and it worked like a charm, even without the WD-40!

Well how sweet it is Fixie Girl...your instructions worked like a charm...THANKS A LOT

GOD BLESS YOU!!!! FOR REAL! I didn't need(or have) WD40 but what I know I have is a small rake handle. I instantly became the superhero in the family by "fixing" the issue.

Thank you! I made a huge mistake by allowing fish tank gravel to go into the disposal. After getting all the gravel out, it was still not working. The W-D 40 and a rake handle worked perfectly!

Thank you, Fixerette! Our garbage disposal was completely jammed and this fixed it!

Worked like a charm. Thank you so much

Thank you so much. While trying this I realized there was a small coin stuck on the wall of the disposal. ❤️

Same reaction ! Thank you so much !

FYI. The reason it works for this one (Whirlaway) is there is not a nut under this disposal, in which to turn with an Allen Wrench. There is a nut to hold the bottom in place, but not a 'service nut'. If you have a service nut underneath, then you would not do this method, and instead use an allen wrench. FYI Thanks Fixerette! Love your voice too!

Many thanks for this tip! I tried it and it solved the problem instantly

Thank you so much! This did the trick for me. I appreciate you sharing this video!!!

Thank you! I was a bit skeptical but dang it worked!!!I fixed mine with a small tree branch!

Thanks for this video! Was able to get it to spin within a minute without WD40.

Thank you very much!!! Saved me $$$ by following your instructions.

Worked great with thick stick, thanks.

Million times Thank you for this video.

Thank you for sharing this!! We fixed ours after watching your video!!

You just saved me $200. Thanks!!!

Worked perfectly, thanks for the tip!