Scotsman ice machine not dropping ice

[ectofix]

olivero, you might think I’m trying to be smart by asking this, but I must:  Have you cleaned this machine?

 

Although I’m out of the loop on ice machines nowadays, that one appears to be similar to Manitowocs.  Standard cubes (or half-dice), nickel-plated evaporator, thickness probe, etc.  A far different design than their earlier CM3 machines I became ALL too familiar with.

 

Anyway, cleaning it is a TWO-fold process. 

FIRST CYCLE – using the nickel-safe ice machine cleaner for removing scale.  SECOND CYCLE- to sanitize it.

 

The first step is VERY important to remove scale…which the cubes might hang up on.  FWIW: You can’t see the scale when the evaporator plate is wet, so you must look for it when the plate is bone dry.  The fastest way to dry it is to run a harvest cycle with no cubes to drop.  If water flow is part of a harvest, disable the water pump during this harvest cycle.  The plate will then heat up and evaporate any moisture.

Once the plate is completely dry, shine a flashlight at the plate to see if there’s a white, powdery residue coating the plate.  If you see any, then it needs to be delimed.

[olivero]

No worries Ectofix I know you wouldn’t smartass me, your a serious man, lol.

 

It hasn’t been cleaned for some time, just sanitized but I ran out of descaler so I got some coming now but even then, It seems a bit severe to hold on to it this much I have other machines that have a need for cleaning but they are not doing the same up.

 

Perhaps that’s all it is but I doubt it, eventually it would drop regardless and it seems it might just not register the drop or something. I’ve caught it right at the drop and the curtain’s partially open and it’s trying to harvest or it’ll be flashing 2 and the ice is there,  I push it off the evap and the door closes but it doesen’t restart freezing…..

 

I thought it would start the freezing cycle again after retrying but perhaps I am wrong?

[eritech1]

Ive had a similar issue with an ice o Matic.

1 -I found scale build up on the harvest assist pin that would get caught once in a while and not return to its place or not able to push even though ice was ready fall. 

2- the area were the harvest assist pin is located had less ice buildup, therefore allowing the pin to push thru even though  the complete ice was not ready for harvest. (There was an issue with the charge)

 

This model Ice o Matic didn’t  use an ice probe.

it used a pressure switch and timer.

[ectofix]

Refrigeration is quirky.  Ice machines are more so.  I’ve learned two fundamental things about BOTH when the cause of a problem isn’t immediately obvious:

You can’t troubleshoot them until it’s back to virgin state. For a frozen up walk-in evaporator coil, REMOVE THE ICE… and THEN run it to find what caused the problem. For an ice machine not dropping ice, CLEAN IT… and THEN run it to find what caused the problem. Never discount (and therefore overlook) the very basic fundamentals in its design that makes it all work smoothly together. For walk-ins, bad temp control settings…or the door not closing/being left open. On ice machines like yours, the nickel plating is a crucial part of its design for releasing the ice.  So is the regular and proper cleaning requirements to avoid scale buildup.

 

FWIW: I once had EXACTLY your problem on a Manitowoc machine.  I called tech support and they said “Clean it”.

I did so…and the problem went away.

[fixbear]

I forgot to ask one important question.  What is the ambient temperature of the room the machine is in?  If below 65F you will commonly have harvest problems.

[fixbear]

Olivero,  Cleaning is important,  but on today’s eco machines, so is level both front to back and left right.  Watch your controller curtain switch for it tripping before harvest is complete. The machine should stay in harvest till the curtain switch opens or it times out at max.  If it does time out for 3 consecutive 3.5 min cycles it will show a long harvest code. otherwise if a long harvest it will shut down for 50 min before resuming ice making. Also if the bridge is to thin, part may harvest causing a false curtain/ end of harvest.

 

Check that the curtain switch was stuck on touching the curtain.  The foam double stick tape that they use doesn’t always stay where it belongs.

[olivero]

Got it guys, I guess I’ll have to find some descaler somewhere and run it though and see what happens, I’ll let you guys know what I find.

 

Ambient is about 75*F, room is air conditioned but it’s definetley not below 70*F.

[olivero]

Here’s an update to the above, the plate looks like some of the grids are separating, just opening up a small crack.

 

I guess that’s enough? I called a co-worker over to take a look at the plate and he pointed it out to me, so there ya go.

 

Is there a way to fix it? Even if it’s just temporary till i can get a new machine?

[badbozo2315]

> just opening up a small crack.

 

Uh oh, stand back. We all know how much Olivero loves his mad welding skillz! 

[olivero]

Lol, definetley crossed my mind to try and weld it back together.

 

Would it work? What’s the plate made of? 

 

I’ve welded nickel plated boiler stainless before and it sucks but it’s doable with silicabronze.

 

Great things happen in great desperation, lol.