What Is A Modular Ice Maker?

I'm often asked what the difference is between a self contained and modular ice maker.  A modular ice maker is an ice machine that has 2 basic parts, the ice machine head and the ice storage bin.  Now, the ice machine could be either water, air, or remote cooled, but if it's seperate from the bin, then it's considered modular.

Another common ice machine would be one that's described as self-contained.  This means that the ice maker and storage bin are physically one piece.  If the ice machine were to fail, you'd have to replace the ice maker and bin.  Although typically less expensive up front, it could cost more to replace in the future in the event of failure, because in a modular unit you'd only have to replace the top(ice maker head) part.

Modular ice makers will also provide the ability for more storage.  In addition, as demand for ice increases, larger bin capacities could be purchased to place under the ice making head.  In some cases this can save the owner money, since only one component of the ice making unit would need to be replaced at one time.

Ice Maker Troubleshooting Help

Looking for help in troubleshooting your ice machine?  Ice Maker Parts Shop has just launched a new forum where anyone can register, ask questions, and provide feedback on anything ice machine related.

The ice maker help forums are designed for people to assist with people looking to self service their ice machines.  However, having 10+ years of experience in the industry, Ice Maker Parts Shop can help answer even the harder service side questions.  Keep in mind, this forum is not just for Manitowoc machines, but also for Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Hoshizaki, and other off brands.

Sign up is free, no purchase necessary to become a member today and start getting help on troubleshooting your ice machine.

Ice Machine Help Forum - http://icemakerpartsshop.com/help-forum/

Nugget Ice May Not Be For You

Nugget Ice

Nugget ice is marketed as a soft, chewable pellet.  It's appeal comes from those who primarily like to eat their ice, instead of have it just cool a drink.  Possibly one of the more popular places to enjoy nugget ice is at Sonic chain restaurants.  It's popularity is real, but nugget ice may not be the best option for your business.

Consider this, nugget ice is a very wet ice and is produced much differently than conventional cubed ice.  A wet ice is more difficult to produce and requires a special evaporator, to extrude the ice.  This special evaporator is shaped like a spiral, forcing the water up through the evaporator, chilling it as it goes, and extruding it out enough to cut.

The ability to spiral ice requires a very strong motor and gear box assembly.  The evaporator is often times under enormous strain, compounded by being dirty and lack of maintenance.  It becomes problematic when the evaporator can no longer turn, eventually breaking some component within the ice machine.  Often times the motor and gearbox will break down, leaking oils and grease into the ice.

Most nugget ice machines require complete break down and cleanings at least once a quarter.  The cleanings are much more involved, compared to how to clean other ice machines.  Most of the time a professional technician is required, which is costly.  Failure to clean regularly will result in breakdowns.  Compared to traditional cube ice machines, which would simply shut down until cleaned.

Replacement parts for nugget ice machines can cost twice as much as their cuber counter parts.  A motor and gear box can easily reach $800 or more.  Nugget machines also cost more up front, require higher maintenance costs, more expensive replacement parts, and actually come with shorter warranties.

• Higher up front cost.
• Higher maintenance costs.
• More expensive replacement parts.
• Shorter warranties.

Please keep this in mind when deciding to purchase a nugget ice machine.  Unless you are in an industry that requires nugget ice, like the medical field, or as a luxury item, nugget ice may not be for you.

Manitowoc Ice Machines Manuals for Service Techs

There are many different Manitowoc ice makers on the market and even more different methods to diagnose and repair.  It’s impossible to remember everything, that’s why professional service technicians use the help of a book, known as a Service Tech Handbook.  The manual is treated just like any other tool, like a screw driver, this book should be on you anytime you work on an ice machine.

Unlike the information found in an installation use and care manual, Service Tech Handbooks go into detailed maintenance information.  In addition to covering proper installation techniques, details on line sizes, temperature requirements, and operation details are included.  Each technician handbook comes with all the information you need to properly diagnose an ice maker.  These same books are the same ones used in house by Manitowoc service reps, to help diagnose machines over the phone.

Many of the most common problems associated with faulty ice makers can be solved with simple flow charts.  These charts, included inside each handbook, provide step by step processes to follow.  By filling in the information asked, the chart points you to the problematic ice maker part.

Just looking for refrigeration pressures or even basic cycle times?  Manitowoc service manuals provide all the details you need, covering varying temperature statistics, wiring diagrams, and sequence of operations.  All of the information included in the manual was written and designed by Manitowoc Ice.  The information is guaranteed to be accurate and relevant to the ice maker series you purchased.

Most Manitowoc ice maker boards provide simple safety limit codes, to help in the diagnosis.  However, the codes are not always readily explained, these Service Tech Handbooks solve that problem.  Each handbook covers what the safety limit means, what could have caused it, and ways to fix it.

Ultimately, a Service Tech Handbook is the secret weapon of the foodservice repair industry.  Professionals that would charge upwards of $80 or more per hour to repair your ice maker, turn to the help of a Manitowoc Service Manual.  Whether you have a water, electrical, or refrigeration related problem, these manuals will help you get your ice maker back to peak performance.

Find Manitowoc Ice Machines Manuals for just $10 each at IceMakerPartsShop.com.

Download free KoolAire Service Technician Handbooks from Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Why Are Some Ice Cubes Hollow

A typical problem with commercial ice makers is that the quality of ice can change over time. Cleanliness, quality of ice maker parts, and quality of water can all affect how the ice turns out. Bad ice is usually referred to as hollow ice or cubes that don't seem to completely form properly.  These types of ice chip easily and even cause problems with the ice maker's operation.

The ice thickness control is the ice machine part that tells the board when to initiate harvest.  If the ice thickness control or ice probe is set to thin, it will cause a premature harvest, which would then lead to hollow cubes.  Freeze cycles can also vary, so consult your ice makers installation use and care manual on what thickness  the ice probe should be set at.  Manitowoc ice makers recommend an ice thickness probe be set at at an 1/8th of an inch.

Like a premature harvest a long harvest can also cause hollow cubes.  Consider this, if the ice maker is not harvesting properly, the ice will simply hang on the evaporator.  The cubes will eventually melt off of the evaporator and fall into the bin.  Long harvests are most commonly indicated by a dirty ice machine.  Minerals and scale build up will hold the ice onto the evaporator, forcing the slab of ice to melt partially before harvesting and falling properly.  Solution, thoroughly clean your ice machine.

Ice Maker Service Warning #1

Never, ever use anything to pry ice off of the evaporator!

If your ice machine is having trouble harvesting and you must remove the ice to diagnose, use warm water.  In most cases you should simply shut the machine down and wait for the ice to melt off.

To properly diagnose a Manitowoc ice maker it is important to monitor each individual cycle.  Depending on the time the ice machine takes to freeze and whether or not the harvest cycle is initiated is very important.  But remember, never force the ice off ocf the evaporator or you may damage the freezing plates.  If the plates become scratched or damaged the ice maker may never harvest properly.

Can You Change The Ice Cube Size?

No.  Unfortunately most modern commercial ice makers do not allow for a change in ice cube size through any kind of setting.  The ice machine purchased will come making a specific sized and stylized cube.  While there are cube size differences, there is no easy way to convert the ice maker to another.

The ice cube size is determined by the evaporator on the ice maker.  The evaporator is the plating where the ice actually forms and is then harvested.  There are many different ice types, but typical cubes are all made the same way, by freezing cascading water over an evaporator.

Therefore to change the ice cube size you must change out the evaporator, which is not a cost effective method, nor is it even always possible.  If you are in need of a different size ice cube, simply purchase another ice machine.

When purchasing a new ice machine, consider the size and style of ice that you will need.  Modern commercial ice makers are capable of producing a wide range of ice types, from wet and soft pellets, to hard and large squares.  Choose wisely, because the ice size you choose, will be all that maker is capable of producing.

Manitowoc Ice Types

Diagnosing A Safety Limit

Manitowoc ice machines are programmed to shut down under situations that could potentially damage the machine, these are called Safety Limits.  Depending on the model of ice machine that you have, it could contain 2 to 4 different safety limits.  However, all safety limits can generally be broken down into 2 categories.

The first type of safety limit shuts the ice maker down when it's been in the freeze cycle too long and the second is when it stays in the harvest cycle too long.  If either limit is reached, it's an indication that the ice machine is not working properly and needs to be locked out.  It will remain shut down until someone resets the maker, either through the toggle switch or by resetting the power.

Why would a Manitowoc Ice Machine shut down on a long harvest safety limit?

The #1 reason a Manitowoc will shut down on a harvest safety limit is because it's dirty.  A dirty evaporator will hold onto the ice, making it slowly melt away until there is no ice to break the bin switch.  Which leads to the second most common reason for a failed harvest safety limit, bad bin switch.

When Ice falls from the evaporator it opens the water curtain, which breaks the proximity of the bin switch.  If the switch is bad it will not read that the ice has fallen, thus terminating the harvest cycle.  Typically, after 3 consecutive cycles of long harvests, the machine will lock out.

Why would a Manitowoc Ice Machine shut down on a long freeze cycle?

This safety limit is a little more difficult to diagnose than a long harvest, however is most commonly associated with a water problem.  If there is not enough water in the trough or able to be pumped over the evaporator, then it cannot make contact with the ice thickness probe.  The ice thickness probe is what would terminate the freeze cycle and initiate a harvest.

Places to look would be a faulty water inlet valve or a dump valve that is stuck open, causing the ice maker to lose all it's water down the drain, before it can freeze.  However, never underestimate a good cleaning, clogged distributor holes or a clogged up pump can also lead to a long freeze time, thus shutting down your Manitowoc ice machine.  In addition, make sure your water level probe is not dirty, causing it to misread, scale build up on the probe will tell the board that it's full of water.

Most common parts replaced on a Manitowoc Ice Machine:

Ice Thickness Probe
Water Level Probe

Manitowoc Water Pump Problems

Manitowoc water pumps are another commonly replaced item on an ice machine.  Over time they can either lock up or, as hard as it is to believe, gain strength.  What can happen is the pump will eventually increase in power, forcing water too fast through the distribution tube.

When water comes out of the distribution tube too fast, it does not allow the water to cascade down the evaporator, instead splashes over the water curtain. Ice will not form properly or efficiently when this happens, luckily there are 2 ways to fix this issue.

The first fix is to simply apply a clamp to the molded tubing running from the water pump to the distribution tube. This will slow the water flow and allow the water to exit the distribution tube properly. Another option is to simply replace the water pump.

Most Q Series Manitowoc ice makers and older use only 2 different pumps. There is a 115v water pump and a 208-230v water pump, that will work in most cases. If you have an S Series Manitowoc ice maker then your water pump will be different, depending on which model number you have. You can purchase both pumps for just $222.18 from IceMakerPartsShop.com


115v Water Pump - $222.18
208-230v Water Pump - $222.18