Tried the penny trick on a stuck disposal and it actually worked

Had a garbage disposal lock up on a job in a rental property last Tuesday. Tried the hex key from underneath and it was seized solid. Remembered some old forum post about using a penny in the flywheel slots to break it loose. Popped a penny in there, gave it a couple taps with a hammer, and the thing spun free. Anyone else use this hack or am I just lucky it didn't crack the housing?

2 comments

2 Comments

cooper.drew8d ago

Did you check if the penny left any dents or scratches in the slot after you tapped it?

morgan_king368d ago

Why would anyone even think a penny could scratch metal? @cooper.drew, you're overthinking this. A penny is soft copper, the slot is hardened steel or brass. The penny gives way first, not the other way around. I've tapped coins into slots for years and never seen a scratch. If anything, the friction from the tap helps seat the coin better. The real damage comes from jamming it in sideways or using a screwdriver to pry it out later. So no, no scratches or dents from a gentle tap. That's just common sense.