FD3-50

Overview

The Hobart FD3-50 is a commercial food waste disposer for handling food scraps in kitchen cleanup areas. Its motor turns a flywheel that moves food waste against a stationary shredder ring. Flushing water assists grinding and carries ground waste into the waste line. The disposer is self-feeding: the manual says food waste does not need to be forced into the grinding mechanism. It may be filled with waste while idle and is described as able to start and operate at full load.

The FD3-50 belongs to the Hobart FD3-50, FD3-75 and FD3-125 food waste disposer family. The family’s product literature describes control groups and accessory groups that can be selected to suit an installation. Those groups are separate options and should not be assumed to be included with the disposer.

Key Features

• Continuous-duty motor: The FD3-50 is identified as a 1/2 HP disposer. Its motor has a manual-reset thermal overload protector and permanently lubricated ball bearings.
• Grinding assembly: A 1 3/4-inch-high stationary shredder ring has four machine-ground primary-action breaker bars and 42 secondary-action grinding teeth. The 6 3/16-inch-diameter Ni-Resist flywheel has a centre breaker blade and two hardened stainless steel cutter blocks.
• Replaceable cutting edges: The cutter blocks are fastened to the flywheel with nylock screws. They can be replaced and indexed to present new cutting edges.
• Reversible grinding: The disposer can grind in either direction of flywheel rotation. With Control Groups 2, 3 or 4, the operator can control the direction; the product literature notes this can help free a jam and increase the life and efficiency of grinding elements.
• Serviceable housing assembly: Heavy aluminum grind and discharge housings are joined to the motor unit with four bolts, allowing the motor unit to be removed from the grind chamber.
• Sealed motor shaft: The face-type seal uses a sintered bronze mating ring and a spring-loaded carbon ring insert in chemical-resistant neoprene bellows. A flinger and drain tube direct moisture away if it passes the seal; a lip-type oil seal below the bearings provides additional water-seal protection.
• Vibration isolation: For cone mounting, a vinyl isolating ring separates metal surfaces and reduces vibration and noise transmission.

Specifications

• Manufacturer and model: Hobart FD3-50 food waste disposer.
• Motor rating: 1/2 HP; continuous duty.
• Motor overload protection: Inherent, thermal and manually resettable.
• Single-phase motor options listed for FD3-50: 110–120/200–240 V, 50/60 Hz, 1 phase.
• Three-phase motor options listed for FD3-50: 200–240/380–415/460 V, 50/60 Hz, 3 phase.
• Motor bearings: Permanently lubricated ball bearings; the upper bearing is sealed on both sides.
• Shredder ring: 1 3/4 inches high, with four primary-action breaker bars and 42 secondary-action grinding teeth.
• Flywheel: 6 3/16-inch diameter, Ni-Resist, with a centre breaker blade and two hardened stainless steel cutter blocks.
• Mounting: Standard cone mounting uses a 7-inch inside-diameter throat opening. Accessory Group E is an exception and is for a sink adapter installation.
• Drain connector: Chrome-plated brass tailpiece for connection to a 1 1/2-inch standard drain trap.
• Shipping weight: Approximately 60 lb for the disposer family, excluding accessory group and controls.
• Listings and standard: The family product sheet states that the disposers are listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and meet A.S.S.E. Standard No. 1009. It notes that 50 Hz electrical specifications are not UL Listed.

Installation & Requirements

Before installation, check the disposer for shipping damage and verify that the electrical service agrees with the unit’s data plate. The manual instructs installers to provide temporary support for the disposer during installation to avoid excessive stress on a welded or soldered cone-to-table connection. Electrical and grounding connections must comply with applicable national and local electrical codes.

For a regular-duty cone installation, the manual describes fastening the disposer assembly to the cone flange with top and bottom clamp rings and screws. Position the disposer as required, then tighten the screws evenly to form a water-tight joint. The standard mounting arrangement is for a cone with a 7-inch inside-diameter throat opening. The manual also identifies Accessory Group E as a sink adapter for a 3 1/2- to 4-inch sink opening; use that group only with the applicable short-upper-housing disposer configuration.

The disposer must connect to a dedicated, acceptable motor control switch with a marked OFF position that disconnects all ungrounded supply conductors. The switch must be within sight of the disposer or the sink opening. The manual notes that knockouts are provided in the motor junction box and calls for flexible conduit so the unit can be moved for periodic servicing and maintenance. Select the wiring diagram supplied with the machine that matches the disposer and electrical service. Confirm the actual motor voltage and phase from the unit data plate before connecting power.

Operation

Before starting, make sure the disposer is clear of foreign objects that could have entered during installation and check that the flywheel turns freely. Never use a hand to check flywheel rotation or remove material. The manual directs the operator to use a stick or similar object to turn the flywheel, and tongs or pliers to remove foreign matter.

Start the disposer before feeding food waste and make sure water is flowing. With typical optional controls, water flow and disposer starting are simultaneous and automatic. Feed food waste into the disposer without forcing it into the grinding mechanism. Do not put china, metal, rags, clam shells or similar material into the unit, and do not dispose of grease or oil; the manual warns that oil or grease can clog the drain.

After grinding is complete, allow the disposer to run briefly so water can flush the disposer and waste line. Some optional controls manage this flushing automatically. The manual also cautions operators never to reach inside while the disposer is operating. Operation of the unit and any additional controls depends on the control devices selected for the installation.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Keep the disposer clean and sanitary. After disposing of food waste, run the unit for a few minutes to flush the interior. The manual notes that food waste left to accumulate because of inadequate cleanup can produce offensive odours. If that occurs, clean the interior with a stiff brush and a strong soap-and-hot-water solution. For light cleaning, grind ice and a lemon through the disposer. Do not use chemical solvents or drain-cleaning compounds through the unit.

No lubrication is required. If cutter-block edges become worn, a qualified Hobart Service Technician may rotate the cutter blocks to present fresh cutting edges. Do not plug or put grease in the small water-seal vent hole in the side of the lower housing. Water leaking from that hole indicates water-seal leakage; the manual says the water seal should be replaced.

Troubleshooting

• The motor overload trips: The thermal resettable overload protector trips if the motor is overloaded. Allow approximately five minutes for cooling, then press the manual-reset button on the motor shell opposite the motor junction box; an arrow on the shell indicates its location. Restart using the normal operating procedure. If the overload continues to trip, contact a local Hobart Service Office.
• The flywheel does not turn freely or an obstruction is suspected: Do not reach into the disposer. Use a stick or similar object to check or turn the flywheel, and use tongs or pliers to remove foreign material. The product literature notes that controlled reversal is available with Control Groups 2, 3 or 4 and can help back the flywheel free of a jam.
• Water appears at the lower-housing weep hole: The hole vents the dry side of the water seal. Leakage there indicates a failed water seal, which should be replaced. Do not plug or grease the hole.

Applications

The FD3-50 is suited to commercial kitchen cleanup areas where food waste is collected at a sink or cone and ground waste is discharged to a connected drain line. The product literature presents the FD3 family for small- to medium-sized cleanup systems and lists accessory groups for different feed and water-control arrangements. Confirm that the selected cone or sink adapter, controls, water inlet and plumbing arrangement match the installation before specifying the disposer.