Official Electrolux trash compactor parts

What to do when the motor runs but the ram doesn't move in your Electrolux trash compactor

The ram won't move if the power nuts don't grip the drive screw grooves or if the drive gear and sprocket chain is broken or disconnected from the sprockets.

Open the drawer and remove the trash container if it's still in the drawer. Pull the trash compactor out of the cabinet and unplug the power cord so you can examine components and find the cause of the failure.

Remove the drawer and the top trash compactor cover. Lay the compactor down and remove the bottom cover. Check for a broken or disconnected chain. Replace the chain if it's broken. If the chain is intact but disconnected, check the drive gear and sprockets for damage. Replace any stripped or damaged drive parts.

If the chain, drive gear and sprockets are all okay, manually spin the power screws to see if power nuts grip the drive screw grooves. If the power nuts grip the drive screws, the power nuts and ram will move when you manually spin the power screws. If the power nuts and ram won't move when you manually spin the power screws, replace the nuts because they are stripped or broken.

Reassemble the trash compactor after finding and fixing the cause of the ram drive failure. Plug the compactor in and reinstall it in the cabinet.

Top Electrolux trash compactor replacement parts

• Drive chain. The drive motor rotates the chain, which rotates the power screws to move the ram up and down to compact the trash inside the drawer.
• Motor centrifugal switch. The motor centrifugal switch reverses the direction in which the motor rotates to change between upward and downward motion.
• Ram. The ram is above the compactor drawer and is attached to the power screws. The ram compacts the trash inside the drawer.
• Drive motor. The drive motor spins the sprocket that moves the chain to drive the ram.