Rubber splash guard on waste disposal disentegrating

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OllieF

11 posts

Geek

#278471 18-Oct-2020 16:31

Our robinhood waste disposal rubber guard has nearly completely disentegrated and whats left of it is pretty weak. Its 10 years old and otherwise works fine. Can these guards just be replaced as a DIY job, or do you need an electrician to disconnect from the power supply?

Mehrts

136 posts

Master Geek

#2587161 18-Oct-2020 17:17

The rubber part which is in the sink?

If it's anything like the Insinkerator branded units, just pull it out and replace it, if replacement parts are available. No need to disconnect anything.

It may be a standard size, so others would fit too.

robjg63

3166 posts

Uber Geek

#2587184 18-Oct-2020 18:19

Thought from memory they often have a lead and power plug, so you could just unplug them.

You definitely want the power isolated before you touch it though.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Bung

3503 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2587231 18-Oct-2020 21:07

Mehrts:
The rubber part which is in the sink?

If it's anything like the Insinkerator branded units, just pull it out and replace it, if replacement parts are available. No need to disconnect anything.

It may be a standard size, so others would fit too.

One Robinhood rubber baffle that turned up in a search comes with a warning that it is a unique size. The OP would have the advantage of knowing which Robinhood he's got. It fits into the flange clamped into the sink drain hole. Insinkerator can have a 2nd removable one that cuts down the noise.,

OllieF

11 posts

Geek

#2587351 19-Oct-2020 08:00

Thanks, Its a robinhood one from model SE390Q. It just looks like to replace this one part the whole thing needs to be disconnected in which case might be easier to replace with insinkerator.

Bung

3503 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2587377 19-Oct-2020 08:56

It won't be easier as the same part would have to be changed over. If the disposal motor unit is still working it comes down to price.
$42 for a new mounting flange vs whatever a new Insinkerator costs.

https://www.homeappliancesonline.co.nz/shop/Home+Appliances+Spare+Parts/Spare+Parts+by+Brand/Robinhood+Appliance+Parts/Robinhood+and+Fisher+Paykel+waste+disposer+Waste+Master+Sink+flange+rubber+gasket+fibre+gasket+mounting+ring+hinged+clamp+and+splash+baffle+SE390+SE390Q%3Fsku=04139.html

OllieF

11 posts

Geek

#2587509 19-Oct-2020 10:29

Thanks for that. It does seem as thought you have to disconnect the main body from under the sink to re install the rubber guard which is what I was hoping to avoid.

BlueShift

1568 posts

Uber Geek

#2587510 19-Oct-2020 10:33

OllieF:

Thanks for that. It does seem as thought you have to disconnect the main body from under the sink to re install the rubber guard which is what I was hoping to avoid.

Its a little fiddly, but not a scary DIY. I've done it twice on ours over the years. It'll take maybe half an hour to pop off the unit, remove the rubber bit, replace it, and put the unit back (10 minutes if you know what you're doing, but for a first-timer, 30 minutes).

OllieF

11 posts

Geek

#2587676 19-Oct-2020 11:50

BlueShift:

OllieF:

Thanks for that. It does seem as thought you have to disconnect the main body from under the sink to re install the rubber guard which is what I was hoping to avoid.

Its a little fiddly, but not a scary DIY. I've done it twice on ours over the years. It'll take maybe half an hour to pop off the unit, remove the rubber bit, replace it, and put the unit back (10 minutes if you know what you're doing, but for a first-timer, 30 minutes).

Thank you for sharing that experience. Did you need to fully disconnect the main body from all the plumbing, or can you just unclamp and unscrew the main body and have it sit on something so it holds all its other plumbing connections?

Bung

3503 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2587751 19-Oct-2020 13:57

There's a hinged clamp so if the pipework allows a bit of downward movement you might do it. Details here https://www.robinhood.co.nz/products/details/SE390Q

BlueShift

1568 posts

Uber Geek

#2587797 19-Oct-2020 15:11

OllieF:

BlueShift:

Its a little fiddly, but not a scary DIY. I've done it twice on ours over the years. It'll take maybe half an hour to pop off the unit, remove the rubber bit, replace it, and put the unit back (10 minutes if you know what you're doing, but for a first-timer, 30 minutes).

Thank you for sharing that experience. Did you need to fully disconnect the main body from all the plumbing, or can you just unclamp and unscrew the main body and have it sit on something so it holds all its other plumbing connections?

Should be fine to undo it and rest it on a bucket or something. The pipes will be PVC and give you a bit of flex, and you'll only need an inch or so clearance to remove the perished rubbery bit and replace it. If the pipes are particularly short, you might not get enough movement, but I know mine would work fine.

Worst case, you undo the pipes, they're screw fittings, its no biggy.

empacher48

226 posts

Master Geek

#2587798 19-Oct-2020 15:19

Robinhood ones are an easy replacement. Do need to remove the motor unit from the sink to replace the rubber part as it attaches at the top of the motor unit. You can keep the metal parts attached to the sink, but just undo the clasp and the motor pulls away.

From memory, when you buy the rubber it also comes with all the sink parts too.

If I can do it anyone can because my DIY skills just don’t exist at all.