- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Anyone here have any experience working on ice makers? I have a three and a half y.o. Amana side-by-side that has recently stopped making ice. When the bail is down the ice maker makes a creaky noise and the ice that it made just freezes at the top without dropping. I had to break the cubes off, that makes me think that something has frozen up, either the water line or the mechanism itself. Any ideas?
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Yeah I was thinking ice build-up in the mechanism that makes the cubes and I think that is what the "groaning" noise is. The manual states that a low water pressure is one cause of it not making so that is what lead me to frozen lines but I am leaning more to your moving parts theory. I may move everything out of the freezer and let it thaw.
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: November 2003
- Post Count: 1,106
Re: repairing an ice maker
Go to
Appliance Parts from RepairClinic.com - HomePage. You should be able to find an answer to you question. You can also get the parts to fix it. If you don't find an answer in the FAQ's you can email them and they'll tell you what you need to do to fix it.
\"and no one seems to understand the glory of guitar, when out of tune, the off timing, the singers who can't sing, - the beauty of flaw!\"
"I apologize if there is anyone in this room I have not offended" - Brahms
My Band - The Bailout Plan
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
That is a cool site. It just might instill enough confidence in me to tackle the job myself, thanks
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: November 2003
- Post Count: 1,106
Re: repairing an ice maker
Yeah, they helped me fix my dishwasher, dryer and washer.
\"and no one seems to understand the glory of guitar, when out of tune, the off timing, the singers who can't sing, - the beauty of flaw!\"
"I apologize if there is anyone in this room I have not offended" - Brahms
My Band - The Bailout Plan
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
One thing that would bother me is waiting on the part. I may try to source locally, however, I do need a new ice bucket so I may order one there. From the site, there are three things to check for, I have already checked to make sure the bail is down (obvious) and of the two others, a broken gear seems to be the problem due to the noise it is making but clogged/frozen lines seem plausible as well.
Appliance Parts from RepairClinic.com - Troubleshooting: Ice Maker
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: November 2003
- Post Count: 1,106
Re: repairing an ice maker
They ship really quick, I think I get the parts within 2-3 days shipped regular.
\"and no one seems to understand the glory of guitar, when out of tune, the off timing, the singers who can't sing, - the beauty of flaw!\"
"I apologize if there is anyone in this room I have not offended" - Brahms
My Band - The Bailout Plan
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jon_Are
If you think it might be frozen up - a good possibility - take a hair dryer to it.
Jon
|
Probably what i'll try first although without knowing which part is frozen, I'll probably warm the whole assembly before I go pulling the cover off the gear assembly, I just need to get home to try it (honey, can I borrow your good hairdryer for a sec?)
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Ok, I think I warmed it enough for something to happen but did not hear water running through the tube and now, I don't even hear the groaning anymore. Repair Clinic says to check the incoming water pressure but would I not have water through the door if that was clogged?
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Update: I didn't hear anything so I stuck my hand over into the mold and lo and behold, it is completely frozen over in there. I don't know if I caused it by warming it enough to melt and refreeze solid or if it was already like that and I didn't heat it long enough. I think the next course of action is to disconnect the ice maker and let it thaw in the sink.
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: January 1999
- Post Count: 2,440
Re: repairing an ice maker
Quote:
| I don't know if I caused it by warming it enough to melt and refreeze solid or if it was already like that and I didn't heat it long enough. |
Trust me, it was already like that, and you didn't heat it long enough. Thawing it out in the sink (assuming you can take it out like that) should work fine. Give it time to dry out, too. Be prepared to find more frozen stuff to fix when you remove the ice maker, like airways blocked with ice.
-Brian
Come, Rubidia. Let's blow this epoch.
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Yes, a safe bet it was like that already. I saw bolts attaching it to the freezer wall and a wiring harness that is easy to get to so I don't think it will be too difficult to remove but I am concerned there might be an underlying cause for the frozen mess and will return once it is re-installed. The schematic showed a heater that sits in the mold so that may be the cause as well.
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by CRyan
I just make sure I use the water in the door a bit more often now.
I would certainly thaw it and go from there.
|
Yeah we use the water in the door everyday. I refill my 20 or 25 oz. bottles all day, i'm getting good aiming the small bottle opening to where I think the water is going to shoot out.
I think one of the problems is that there is only my wife and I and we don't use that much ice, it has a tendency to sit there and not cycle more often as it would with a large family. I guess we need to start throwing out the old ice and let it make new once and awhile.
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,573
Re: repairing an ice maker
Just an update, I finally had time to remove the ice maker and let it thaw outside, it took half an hour and I was able to get the ice out, it appears that it was indeed frozen up. I have several ice cubes already made. Thanks to all who responded!
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
