Norcold Ice-Maker Capability?

[RustyTools]

How long does your Norcold icemaker take to spit out a batch of ice?

I replaced the dead one out of our Norcold 1210 refrigerator with a new one from Lowe’s Home Improvement, and although it wasn’t a ‘plug-and-play’ installation, at least it’s now making ice.

But, it doesn’t seem to be making ice as fast as I remember the old one did (when it was working). I’m getting about 2 dumps in a 24-hour period, whereas previously it seemed like I’d get quite a bit more than that. Since I never actually paid much attention to it when it did work, however, I don’t have a good frame of reference. Freezer hovers about 0* to -3* (well within the ice-range) so that part’s ok.

Am I just expecting too much?



TIA!

["007"]

My seven year old one will put out about over a half a bucket full during the night after using all the ice day before.
If you can watch it in one of its unload cycles and just make sure nothings binding I would say your OK.

[RustyTools]

Thanks 007. As luck has it, I just got to watch it do its thing a few minutes ago. Nothing binding and nothing jams or 'freezes-up' (pun intended). ice is definitely hard enough, and the mold-heater is allowing the ice to come out smoothly.

It just takes FOREVER between each dump-cycle. A half-bucket?? It's been running for almost 2 days and just now is covering the bottom of the bucket!!

I know the clock-motor/timer determines the actions DURING the dump-cycle, but what tells it all WHEN to dump? How do I tell it to speed-up?

[macadnphyl]

I'm with 007 on this one. Mine will fill the bin in 2 days. I'd check with Norcold,
sounds like your new one is not cycling as fast as it should, assuming your
cubes are large.

[RustyTools]

Hi again -

Thanks for the suggestions. I got so frustrated, I yanked out the new ice-maker with intentions of trying to put the working pieces from each together in hopes of one good one.

But I tried the original one last time first. Musta scared it, because it's working fine now. Never knew mechanical devices to 'heal themselves' but I guess they can.

["007"]

For future use here is a PDF for maintenance of the ice maker.
PDF for ice maker operation.

[wa8yxm]

The rate at which it cycles is based on 2 things.. One is the temp's in the freezer compartment (Colder = faster) and the othe ris the size of the ice crescents (Smaller = faster)

Of course smaller cresents fill the bucket slower

You need to understand how the unit works.. that is the ice making cycle.. So I'll review it for you.

Starting with a freshly filled ice cube tray, unit at end of cycle the ice slowly freezes.. at a pre-set temp (I think 25 degrees but that is a "rusty" memory) a thermostat closes, This starts the motor, it also starts a heat element.. The motor runs EVERYTHING.

First it turns till the ice pusher fingers hit the ice and stall.. then it stalls till the heater melts enough ice so the crescents move.. the motor again re-starts (Well it's been trying all this time) and pushes the ice out.. As the ice clears the tray a switch (Adjustable) closes and turns on the water solenoid, fresh water now enters the tray at a rate determined by line pressure on yours,, by the solenoid's regulator on mine (I upgraded) the ice crescents are moved around to the ice stripper fingers (the ones that do not move) and either fall into the "bucket" or will be stripped off on the next cycle.

If the crescents are not large enough (Adjustable) the bucket will fill slowly.

To adjust, remove the front and observe the screw with the PLUS/MINUS signs and arrows.. that's the adjustment.

[BarbRN]

Our new used Norcold just started up this week and in one day the bucket was full. I couldn't believe it! The first batch wouldn't even fill until the temperature was right, though. I learned this after reading the literature.

We had the temperature set on 5 or 6 I remember.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm First it turns till the ice pusher fingers hit the ice and stall.. then it stalls till the heater melts enough ice so the crescents move.. the motor again re-starts (Well it's been trying all this time) and pushes the ice out.. As the ice clears the tray a switch (Adjustable) closes and turns on the water solenoid, fresh water now enters the tray at a rate determined by line pressure on yours,, by the solenoid's regulator on mine (I upgraded) the ice crescents are moved around to the ice stripper fingers (the ones that do not move) and either fall into the "bucket" or will be stripped off on the next cycle.

Thanks for that concise description. I've got a question though: what causes an intermittent failure of the heater to start up? Often when we start ours running once we get to a campground the first batch of ice seems to get "stuck" - the motor tries to push the ice out of the tray, but apparently the heater doesn't come on to release the ice. It just moans like an unhappy motor. I end up getting a heat gun out to warm everything up until the motor can spin again and release the ice. From then on it works fine.

It only happens on initial startup - once it releases the first batch it'll work fine. Happens maybe 25% of the time - have never figured out a pattern. We've tried setting the bail as soon as we arrive, waiting to set it until the freezer is down to temperature - doesn't seem to make a difference.

["007"]

When your freezer is fully cooled than operate your arm for ice maker.
With the ejectors for ice cubes frozen in cubes ice maker cycle is interrupted.
Check the PDF posted.