I have a rebranded insinkerator model 55 disposal in my kitchen. Recently it started leaking and after being ignored it started tripping the power.
I hauled it out from under the sink and dismantled it. The grinding chamber is basically an cast aluminium tube that's flanged on both ends and it has a press-fit stainless steel grinding toothed insert. The aluminum had corrosion around the grinding teeth that had gone all the way through hence the water leak. It also had corrosion at the bottom of the flange that accommodates the drain fitting. This corrosion had also gone all the way through and the motor was full of water.
To cut a long story short I've welded the leak at the bottom of the flange and I've repaired the grinding chamber with some 2-pack engineering epoxy that has a high aluminium content. After an oven baking and some TLC the motor is working again and I've refitted it.
My dilemma is should I order a new grinding chamber for this unit or should I just replace it entirely. I can't find the price of the spare parts on line so maybe the professionals have some idea. Also it's about 13 years old so it would probably need a new seal assembly as well. I looked at the price of new ones and they're about 150quid. Is there a cheaper brand of disposal that is equally reliable as this one or, like most things, do you get what you pay for and the less expensive ones are rubbish?
Thanks in advance for any assistance
Marv
I hauled it out from under the sink and dismantled it. The grinding chamber is basically an cast aluminium tube that's flanged on both ends and it has a press-fit stainless steel grinding toothed insert. The aluminum had corrosion around the grinding teeth that had gone all the way through hence the water leak. It also had corrosion at the bottom of the flange that accommodates the drain fitting. This corrosion had also gone all the way through and the motor was full of water.
To cut a long story short I've welded the leak at the bottom of the flange and I've repaired the grinding chamber with some 2-pack engineering epoxy that has a high aluminium content. After an oven baking and some TLC the motor is working again and I've refitted it.
My dilemma is should I order a new grinding chamber for this unit or should I just replace it entirely. I can't find the price of the spare parts on line so maybe the professionals have some idea. Also it's about 13 years old so it would probably need a new seal assembly as well. I looked at the price of new ones and they're about 150quid. Is there a cheaper brand of disposal that is equally reliable as this one or, like most things, do you get what you pay for and the less expensive ones are rubbish?
Thanks in advance for any assistance
Marv
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