Ice Maker Repair

[stevej37]

The cube maker in my Kenmore Fridge has been working poorly since about Christmas.
It would make a dump or two of cubes, and then nothing for a few days.

I checked the saddle valve in the basement and the pump at the back of the fridge....both are working correctly.

I was about to order a replacement from Amazon for $150...but I decided to watch a couple Youtube videos on the subject first.
One showed how to get at the drive gears inside the cube maker. I did that and immediately saw that the gear that unloads the cubes had a stretch of about eight small teeth that were broken off. (out of about 70 teeth)

Three clicks later on Amazon...I have a $12 replacement gear on it's way!
Friday, I will be back in cubes....ya gotta love Youtube (and Amazon)

[stevej37]

The gear is plastic.
Here is the video if anyone needs....

[MBAtarga]

When ours acted up a few years back, I found replacement sensor boards on Amazon for about $12 when the mfr price was almost $100. I've recently replaced the solenoid valve for about the same cost. Our fridge is about 15 years old but still going strong...

[stevej37]

^^^ Is yours similar to the one pictured above? Mine might be as old..or older.
I'm hoping the plastic gear will clear up the problem...if not, I might have to look at a sensor board also.

[masraum]

I think a lot of folks freak when an appliance stops working right, and many just get replaced.

I've been surprised at how simple they usually are and often, how easy (and cheap) they are to fix. Years ago, there were a couple of websites where you could either post to forums or just post a question to a professional who would provide common issues that caused your symptoms, troubleshooting to narrow down or confirm the specific failure, and then would sell you the parts at what seemed to be wholesale prices. I've fixed refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers and ovens like that. I'm screwed on our current oven because it's too old for parts to be available. The thermostat for the oven is bad. I found a universal, but it was $200 which is more than we're willing to spend on this oven. I've got a thermometer in the oven. The missus doesn't want to buy a range until she's ready to renovate the kitchen, so I'm stuck with this 30 yo oven with dementia.

[stevej37]

Here is the cube-maker and the bad gear....

[MBAtarga]

Mine's a different model. I followed the troubleshooting/diagnostics information to determine the door sensor(s) boards were bad. When the solenoid went bad recently, it was not closing fully, so additional water was dripping into the maker and frooze up everything solid.

[stevej37]

Before the new plastic gear arrives....I'm wondering about spraying or wiping the metal water holders with Pam or a veg oil. When the water freezes, it would make the removal a lot easier.
Or is that a dumb idea?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Before the new plastic gear arrives....I'm wondering about spraying or wiping the metal water holders with Pam or a veg oil. When the water freezes, it would make the removal a lot easier.
Or is that a dumb idea?

It should have a heating element that prevents sticktion.

Heating element is what goes bad in virtually every Samsung ice maker.

They stop making ice because it doesn't release.

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=stomachmonkey;11664604]It should have a heating element that prevents sticktion.


Yes, it does. When it was installed, I sometimes felt on the underside of it just in case a cube was stopping it. The bottom can be real hot at times.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Before the new plastic gear arrives....I'm wondering about spraying or wiping the metal water holders with Pam or a veg oil. When the water freezes, it would make the removal a lot easier.
Or is that a dumb idea?

Awwwww YEAH! Slick 50 FTW!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I sometimes felt on the underside. The bottom can be real hot at times.

Dear Penthouse...

[ramonesfreak]

^^ hahaha

[stevej37]

Well..the freezer is working good enough.

[Evans, Marv]

The ice cube maker in my now 13 yo Kenmore Elite fridge died a few years after I got it. I replaced it with a unit I bought online for about $70. I figured if I fixed it, it might die again in a short time.

[hcoles]

The ice maker module on my Whirlpool started acting up and looks like the module pictured above. Bought a new module for $90 and installed - all fixed good for another ? 7 years.

[stevej37]

^^^ That might be my next move. I did find a matching one on Amazon today.

[stevej37]

Finished fixing it this afternoon.

It's spittin out the cubes....A++++

[stevej37]

Ahh yes!!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Ahh yes!!

Yeah, Boy!!!!!!