Refer ice maker repair

[Larry & Rita]

I have a 1999 Pace Arrow 34n, with a Domestic Refig.
The water supply line in the back, that supplies the ice cube maker (M1). Has over the years crumbled.
I know I have to remove the body of the Refrig, which is 280 lbs. I will enlist my neighbors to help.
Problem is the supply hose unit, Where do I get one or can I make one ?
I know there has to be someone here that has tackled this problem.
PM me

[Our Time]

You can buy a ice maker installation kit at any Lowe's or Home depot. It will have the fittings and about 10-15' of tubing.

[wa8yxm]

The hose, itself is 1/4 inch plastic tubing, any hardware store.

Depending on the routing of the hose and a few other issues, I have a theory that you might be able to replace it without removing the fridge.. But I"ve not yet dug into my Dometic enough to be sure just how.. Start by pushing a wire through the old tube, then you need to worry the old tube out and the new one in over the wire... This only works if there are no sharp bends.. I think there might be a bend.

[rgreen45]

The correct replacement hose comes in a sheath along with a heater wire. You risk a freeze-up problem if you don't use the proper parts. Any RV dealer can order the kit for you if you give them the model number of your fridge.

If you have bottom & top access on the side of your coach, you may be able to change it without removing the fridge. If you vent out the roof though, pulling it is best.

[bobdutchstar]

My ice maker line has crumbled and needed replacement. RV repairs shops wanted $400+, since it is about a 3 hr job for them. I ordered the heated water line for my Dometic fridge. The line is heated when temp drops below 32 deg F. The line costs $70 and came with installation instructions.
Fridge removal was going to be the biggest problem, but it wasn't too bad. Since I am average or below average in skills I was able to do it all in about 4 hours. I built myself a stand to slide the fridge onto, since I wanted to take my time and keep the fridge up a bit to make it easier to work on. Turn off propane, light stove to burn off propane. Turn off water to fridge.
Back fridge panel remove 4 screws from heat shield, remove water line from top and bottom of solenoid. remove propane line. unplug fridge. remove 12 volt lines and cover with tape (blue and yellow hot line, white ground). remove 2 screws in base of fridge holding fridge to ply wood base.
Front of fridge remove 4 screws in each corner.
I put my supporting base on a mat so I could turn fridge when I got it out.
Slide fridge out onto supporting base. Turn fridge on mat to access the back.
Install the new line as per instructions. My instructions said the plastic water tube was on the back of the fridge. It was actually on top. Loosened the clamp to put the water line out.
Briefly the instructions said; place one metal insert into new plastic water line and clamp back into place. Remove solenoid valve and wrap the heater blanket around the valve. place one metal insert into the solenoid valve end of the plastic water tube and connect it to solenoid using the plastic connector, finger tighten only. I had a black relay switch already installed. Replace old automatic temp switch with new one supplied. Connect one black wire from temp switch to blue wire of black relay switch. Connect other black wire from temp switch to black wire from heater tape. Connect red wire from heater tape to 12VDC block. Use the supplied aluminum tape to hold line in place especially away from the hot cooling unit flue.
Reconnect everything in the reverse order.

[wa8yxm]

IF this is the hose from the solenoid to the ice tray.. Any hardware store will have suitable hose, AND.. it will very likely be of higher quality!!!!

[RV Wizard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm IF this is the hose from the solenoid to the ice tray.. Any hardware store will have suitable hose, AND.. it will very likely be of higher quality!!!!

In order to use the ice maker in weather below freezing the line must be able to withstand the possibility of freezing. That is done with heater along side of tubing in a sheath as well as a thermostat to turn it on. Most of the time the line becomes brittle because the line is drained and the coach is left plugged in and the heater cooks the line. If the line is drained for storage, unplug the ice maker power cord, or on the newer style disconnect the power to the heater.

[336muffin]

We pulled our fridge out last summer(Nocold 1200), it was nowhere near 280 pounds. My wife weighs in at 115 and I have a bad back. Basically it is a styrofoam box.

[JimM68]

I did the same repair on a 99 pace arrow 36 vision. Fridge was a Dometic side by side.

It is do-able without pulling the fridge.
Pull the icemaker, and then the larger plastic tube that goes through the back of the fridge.

I used hardware store plastic tubing, wrapped in some heat tape I also bought at the hardware store.

I tied a small nut to some fishing line, and pushed it thru the hole in the back of the freezer by sticking it on the tip of a pencil.
Pop it off the pencil and feed the line out as it falls.
A little jiggling and the nut and fishing line came out the bottom.
Tie the fishing line to the tubing, and pull it up and thru the hole in the back of the fridge.

Then just puush the larger tube back into position, apply a lil caulk, and reinstall the icemaker!

[dons2346]

You can buy a "ice maker install kit" at either Lowes or Home Depot. It is a pex material that will withstand freezing without rupture. It is the same size as used on most refers so it fits. No need to use the heated wiring used to keep the old tube from freezing and the kit is 10-12 bux.