When my disposal stopped working and produced the hum, I did research and found the solution to get the flywheel unstuck. It turns out it wasn't stuck; it moved freely in both directions. As I was fiddling around with it I found that I am able to get the disposal running if I get the flywheel going. I insert a long plastic handle into the drain and get the flywheel turning, the motor then takes over and the disposal works fine. I would rather not have to do this whenever I want to use the disposal and was wondering if there is a solution to getting the thing to get started on its own?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Your start switch is bad in the disposal, sometimes fixable but you have to remove the disposal.