ice maker?

[JimM68]

Is on my list to check out and fix today. Has not worked once while I've owned the m/h.

It's in a dometic 2 door side by side (1200 model I think?)

How do I trip it to force it to run thru a cycle?

I've read about doing this, but have never seen exactly how. :(

[wa8yxm]

To force a cycle.. Remove the front cover (I find if you use your right hand and grip the usually white plastic at the rear edge and pull it works best)

Behind that cover is a large gear, There is an Arrow in an ARC over the gear (Also a small gear which turns the big one)

Turn the big gear in the direction of the arrow

This will start the cycle

I will describe the cycle for you

Thermostat senses cold enough (i think 25 degrees) and closes. this starts a motor (Which turns the small gear) and a heater. As the motor turns it turns the big gear which closes a switch bypassing the T-Stat. This gear also turns the shaft with the plastic ICE PUSHER finers on it. A cam (Also on this haft, it's all on this shaft) raises the wire "Bail" ice level sensor.

When the fingers hit the ice.. it stalls

now when the heater melts the ice where it joins the tray, the fingers can again move pushing the ice out of the tray and lifting it over the arm where other plastic fingers (ICE STRIPPER) can strip the crescents off on the next cycle if they don't fall off on their own.

As the shaft continues to turn the cam operates yet another switch, (Which is positioned by the screw with the spring on it by the way) which opens the solenoid vavle allowing water to flow into the now empty tray.

When the shaft completes it's full rotation, the Thermostat will be open cause it has gotten warmed by the heater and the bypass switch will also open shutting it off till next cycle

possible problems include bad wires
Bat T-Stat
Bad bypass switch (Very rare) or bad water switch (Also very rare)
Bad motor
Bad solenoid

One biggie on the problems list is NOT COLD ENOUGH

Testing the motor.. If it turns the gears after you start it.. GOOD
(If not it might be motor or it might be wires)
Testing the switches If the motor keeps turning after you start it the bypass switch is good

Testing the water switch Put a volt meter on the leads to the solenoid if it does not work on the first try

Testing the solenoid Well, if water flows, it's working

Testing the T-stat.. Sorry, that requries you get it quite cold (20-25 degrees cold)

[cbeierl]

Also worth noting that the icemaker typically requires 120V to operate.