Ice Machine Service Support
Manitowoc Ice Thickness Control January 15 2014, 9 Comments
The ice thickness control goes by a number of names, like an ice thickness probe or harvest switch. Essentially the Manitowoc ice thickness control will serve 2 functions. As the first name suggests it will control the bridge thickness of the ice and it tells the ice maker when to go into harvest. In most Manitowoc ice makers the ice thickness control is the only thing that will tell the control board to terminate the freeze cycle and initiate a harvest mode.
The most common ice thickness control is a single wire probe. All Q, J, and B Series ice makers will use the same probe, a part number 7627813. The newer S Series Manitowoc ice machine also uses a single wire probe, however the newer ice thickness control has a longer plastic base and is not interchangeable. The part number for an S Series ice thickness control is 200802.
Ice thickness or bridge thickness can be set by turning a screw located on the ice thickness control. This physically moves the metal part of the probe closer or further away from the ice maker evaporator. By moving the probe further away from the evaporator the bridge on the grid will actually become thicker, before going into a harvest mode. Manitowoc's ice thickness probe on S Series and older ice makers used continuity to tell the board when it was time to harvest the ice. After 6 continuous seconds of contact with water, the board will then initiate a harvest cycle.
Most commonly the ice thickness control will fail due to being dirty. Scale build up will cause the ice maker to go into a premature harvest cycle and attempt to harvest when no ice or little ice has formed. It's possible to simply clean the probe and re-install. Use Caution, a soft nylon brush is all that is recommended to scrub on the plastic and metal parts of the control, scarring will also ruin the probe.
New Indigo Ice Thickness Control
New for 2011, from Manitowoc, is the Indigo ice maker which features a newly designed ice thickness control. The ice thickness control for the I Series ice maker uses sonar to sense the bridge thickness of the ice and no longer looks for contact with water. This will improve the life of the ice thickness control and cut down on how often it needs to be cleaned. Unfortunately there is no retro fit kit for the new ice thickness control to work on older style Manitowocs.
New Indigo Ice Thickness Control, Part Number 000008660 available now!
How To Remove Manitowoc Bin Door January 15 2014, 13 Comments
This article will cover how to properly remove the bin door from a Manitowoc under counter ice maker. Following these steps will help you remove the ice maker parts, without damaging the plastic.- Grasp the rear of the bin door and pull bin door forward approximately 5".
- Slide bin door to the rear while applying upward pressure (The rear door pins will ride up into the track slot and slide backward to the stop tab).
- While applying pressure against the bin door pull down on the rear of each bin door track until the door pins clear the stop tabs.
- Slide the rear door pins off the end and then below the door track. Slide bin door forward allowing the back of the door to lower into the bin. continue forward with the bin door until the front pins bottom out in the track.
- Lift right side of door until the front pins clear the track, then remove door from bin.
- Remove rollers (4) from all door pins.
Get Free Manitowoc Service Hand Books January 15 2014, 43 Comments
Service technicians at every level rely on special tools to assist with repairing food service equipment. Ice machines can be especially troublesome, considering the mechanics behind freezing and then harvesting a batch of ice. There are service handbooks available for purchase, but you can also download this same manual, for free!
Manitowoc Ice makes the service tech manuals, for every model ice machine, available on their website. You can download the specific model machine you are working on. For example, there are different service books on the under counter models, Manitowoc Q, S, B, and J series ice machines. They even provide a free Indigo model service tech handbook.
Warning, these handbooks are long, so the download may take some time.
To get started:
- Visit ManitowocIce.com
- Scroll to bottom center of website, under Literature 'Downloads'
- Select the drop down for 'Select Document Type', select Service Manual.
- Then select the model of ice machine you are working on in the 2nd drop down menu.
- Under select document drop down menu, select which language you want to download the manual in.
- Lastly, a DOWNLOAD or VIEW button should appear. Select 'download' to save to your hard drive and view offline.
Adobe Reader or comparable application is required to view these documents. However, once downloaded, you can search and have access to all kinds of service information, specific to your Manitowoc ice machine. For example, service tech handbooks include wiring diagrams, diagnostic tips, refrigeration pressures, and ice machine specifications.
If you need help, we provide service support as well, please email sales@icemakerpartsshop.com
Manitowoc Ice Machine Water Curtain January 15 2014, 3 Comments
The water curtain on a Manitowoc Ice Machine is the white plastic cover that rests over the front of the evaporator. This ice maker part can become problematic in a number of ways, but most commonly it simply breaks. Over years of use the plastic will become brittle and usually crack or break at the top corners where the pins hold the water curtain in place.
What does the Manitowoc water curtain do?
Most Manitowoc ice makers have water curtains and they serve 2 main functions. The first thing they do is keep water from splashing out of the ice making zone and help keep the water channeled back into the trough. This cuts down on meltage in the bin and keeps the ice maker efficient by not wasting water. The second function involves the harvest cycle.
A water curtain will have either enclosed or mounted to the outside a small magnet. This magnet is what makes a proximity switch known as a magnetic bin switch. When the water curtain swings closed and remains closed it tells the ice maker that the bin is still empty and to continue making ice. However, once the bin fills up, the water curtain is held out, thus telling the control board that the bin is full and to stop making ice. The slab of ice falling off the evaporator will physically hold this swinging water curtain open, breaking the proximity switch.
Sometimes it's possible that the magnet will either crack or fall out. When this happens there is nothing to make the bin switch, thus the ice maker thinks that it's constantly full. This will lead to a no ice complaint with the ice machine, replacement of the water curtain is highly recommended.
Popular Manitowoc Water Curtains
Manitowoc Water Pump Installation January 15 2014, 3 Comments
There are two main water pumps for Q Series and older Manitowoc ice makers, a 115v and a 208v version. These 2 pumps will fit most any ice maker made 9 years and older. However, please verify fitment before ordering or send us an email if you have any questions.
Most common Manitowoc water pump part numbers 7623063 115v Water Pump, 7626013 208-230v Manitowoc Water Pump.
- 1 water pump
- rubber reducing boot
- barbed connector
- plastic hose clamp
- set of instructions
Installing a new water pump requires the removal of a water flow clamp, if your machine is equipped with one. This typically applies to under counter ice makers. Depending on the type of water system your ice machine operates on, you will install the pump in 1 of 5 different ways. However, each method is covered by the included components, along with instructions on how to do all 5 within the instructions.
On most ice makers it's a simple bolt in installation and the above listed components will not be required. If the pump outlet tube doesn't quite line up, it's possible to rotate the assembly. There are 3 screws located under the motor, which once removed will allow the pump base to rotate freely. Once it's in the desired position, simply replace the 3 screws.