This was a service call on some Manitowoc Ice Machines with low production. Right off the bat I found that the machines were extremely dirty, the left machine had bad evap sensors and the right machine had a plugged up drain. After solving all those issues I found that both machines needed new thickness sensors and water level probes. We got everything taken care of and the machines are now working properly again.
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So today's call is a low ice production. It's not horrendous. I mean they have ice right now, it's not that! Well, the machines are definitely dirty. I pulled out some deflectors that distribute the ice and we're just gon na watch them Bank ice.

This one right here is the one they think they have a problem with, and it does have an error message. Well, the t3 fault. But a t3 fault is a supervisory fault. I mean it's not going to shut the Machine off.

It just means you got a bad sensor, they're just there to help you with history and diagnostics, but they don't. They won't shut down the Machine. So we will see I'm gon na go and clear the fault. For now, the fault is cleared it'll pop back up in a few minutes, but we're gon na check these guys out and see what's going on, both of them we're full and shut off due to Curtis.

Ok, so we're currently waiting for this guy. So usually, what I like to do is go into service, real time, data time and temp, and you go look at your numbers and you could see yeah. We've got a lot of bad sensors here, because t1 and t2 is gon na, be our liquid line coming in and out of the receiver and then 3 & 4 gon na be our evaporator sensors and we've got one saying 189 degrees, one saying 379 degrees. So we've got actually there's only one evac four, so it's gon na be inlet outlet, so yeah we've got a bad eval for sure at least two, but again that's a supervisory issue so long as it's making ice and it is making ice.

So so that's one thing, but I like to watch the from here, because you can see the frequency at which your ice thickness grow. This guy's got a pretty full sheet of ice. It's like ravans and water, delivery issues, nice and chunky. I said we definitely got to get this guy cleaned up, as you can see, it's not for me, based on the right hand, side waters aren't coming off the spray Wilson evenly because it's gummed up this ice is getting way too thick.

It's just even - and it's also nasty so this thing needs a thorough cleaning, because ice thickness is way out of whack. There's no sense in trying to adjust anything exist dirty. We need to. Let us clean this earth just be fighting yourself trying to solve the problem when cleaning must be done first, so this unit actually went into a harvest.

While I was well, I had the curtain off, which could be a problem, but what you can do so when I put the curtain back on it finished the free site. You know the harvest, didn't he cross the ice, so you can go into service and go to mana harvest. It's gon na harvest the IHL again, and that was just because I had the kerkhof on the winning go harvest. So don't want to put the curtain back on it reset it.

This is interesting. We've got a plugged up drain line, those machines are dunking and lonely. Water is coming out of one of them. It should be the one on the right.

The far right, the one in the middle, it's got a little slime booger in it to you, but so we're in a dump mode. Right now and it's pouring out the vent pipe is from behind the machine. That's gon na be interesting to replace, there's a problem somewhere. Just look at that monstrosity of a drain.
It's totally not the right way to do a drain on one of these machines. It's just crazy and you can see. There's like something inside that vent to the vents totally wrong. It's probably got an upward slope on it too silly people this was done by a plumber and really the ice machine installation people should be doing this.

Our general contractors probably installed this or something like that. I could just tell by the way it's supported and everything what a mess I don't even Amelie get back there good night Mary, but it's got to get done that drains. Gon na have to be replumbed all right, so we are back the approvals to do everything we ended up having to get up here and completely remove the sealing grid, because of the way that these things are piped, there was no room. The ceiling grid was all in the way and then look at these silly people.

The roof drain is like literally not movable. We had to drop the tile down instead of lifting it up, but now we'll get some play, we'll be able to move these things forward and get behind and redo the drains I'll show you guys once we get them apart and then once we do the drain, Then we'll get in here and clean them and go from there so because of the way they piped these, we had to cut all the little fittings off all over the place down here to be able to get these drains loose and then now we're gon na Pull the whole bend forward all right, so we had to take the center cross beam apart, because we can't slide beside my tummy is too big, they're gon na have to go under and then put a 4-foot ladder into there and then work from the backside. This is a two-person job and we're gon na go and repipe float and ice machine drains. So you could see how they did the drain wrong on both of them.

We're gon na get rid of all that and do them proper and correct. I'm just gon na cut all these drains off this one right here is the one: that's actually plugged up and leaking everywhere, and this is how the drain should look just a straight tea with an 18 inch riser coming out of them. You got to put that 18 inch, riser man offend or the factory wants you to. If you actually look, I'm an instruction thing right here that tells you how to plumb them.

So I don't know why the plumbers couldn't figure that out, but you guys do the math so anyways like I said we went ahead and did this one too, because all the trouble we had to go through to pull it out. The one over here was actually the one that was leaking so so this is how I like to pipe mine. We come straight down from what you guys saw right there we 90 over and I make sure it's not a pitch, and then what I like to do is the way a little bit of solder right there after you get done soldering it together gives it support. We come over here, we're gon na secure it on the back of that metal right there, and then we lay a little thing, a solder right there and it gives it massive support and when we're done, it'll come up to here.
It'll, have a nice three inch drain gap above the pipe you know or above the drink floor sink so make the Health Department happy and everything will be good. So that's how I like to pipe mine now, if you ever needed to move it, you just heat this up just a teeny bit and that solder will come right off. So that way, you can individually move the machines, but there's also flex and there's room to individually move them up on the top too. So that's how I like to pipe mine and then they're good and you don't have any problems with it.

Alright, so we ended up using the Panduit drill. The hole secured drains are secure. Everything looks clean, nice and me so we're gon na go ahead and do an ice machine cleaning. Now, okay, we've got the machines back together and we're gon na run it through a cleaning cycle.

Now I'm gon na break down the cleaning process for you guys, okay, so the first thing machines are off, the bin is empty, so we're good, safe everything can't rip. No problems, we're gon na do a clean cycle first now this is a. This is a thorough cleaning. Okay, this isn't what the manager logbook says to do.

Don't find the machines we're gon na put them in to clean we're gon na wait until it says, add chemical, the first process that it does on a cleaning. Is it purges all the water out? Now it says water fill. So it's filling the machine right now and then in a minute it's gon na say, add chemical, it's technically safe to add it when it's in the water fill cycle to because it's not going to dump again so. But if you follow the instructions, you wait till says, add chemical, so we're gon na go and add the amount of chemical.

You follow the instructions on the Manitowoc instructions and also follow the instructions on the back of the chemical. Today, we're going to use the viper nickel safe, this is made by refrigeration technologies, use it a little bit here lately and it's a pretty good, cleaner. I like it now, if it's something you want to do, you do have the option to make an auto end. So if you turn that check mark on after it flushes, you know, however many times it does after the 28 minute cycle, it'll just turn the machines on and start making ice.

So if you, if you follow the instructions to a tee and add the right amount of cleaner, you do have the ability to just go ahead and auto end and walk away. Now. I've never done that before, because I always break them down after I run the cleaner through. So that's it.

This is a single evaporator machine, there's two of them next to each other. Nothing fancy! The one thing I do like about this particular model is the dump valve is right: there, that's the valve that dumps the water out and that will get plugged up or go bad sometimes and on the old machines. They were in a really hard spot to get to, but this machine is pretty easy. Okay, so hold pumps out everything drain pans.
Now that we've ran the cleaner through we're just going to disassemble the whole machine, give it a scrub down underneath we're gon na get under here scrub this down, because it hasn't been cleaned in a long time. So I use these Rubbermaid totes because they're great for soaking and then use an individual pan for those, because you don't want those to tip over completely. You just want them to be just the sensor. Submersed and the same thing with the water pump use a fitting brush.

There's a Granger part number watch this. This thing's gon na be nasty. This never gets cleaned. Look at that dinner YUM, I'm gon na grab it you're gon na get a mouthful.

So it's not gon na get too much better than that. There's a couple little spots I'll hit up. Okay hit up this a little bit more, but what we're gon na use is the bin now because it's empty we're gon na use it as a sink. So we can rinse off because I get the water hose here and we can rinse off all the parts and scrubbing check out the bottom of these pumps that comes right off nasty stuff got ta watch this impeller screen it'll get gummed up like it is right.

Now can get it clean. Those up, I'm gon na make sure on the water level, probes. First stuff, you don't to submerge them okay, so I just have them sitting in a pan focus or no some of the hard time, but I pull them apart. So here's a nasty I haven't cleaned yet see it's just full of gunk and sludge, but they'll come apart.

So that way you can clean them really good, so we're starting to assemble that's about as good as we can get it. That other stuff is like a hard calcium. That is what it this is gon na, be a cover plate coming right up. I don't know what they were thinking with this silicone.

We tried to pull off as much as we could with some goober silicone the whole freaking bag. Okay, so we got the machines back together and we are just running another cycle a cleaner, because these things are so nasty and then, after that's, cleaned and flushed out, we're gon na run sanitizer through them and then we'll start them up both the early things. So, to cut sometimes a little cycle, so when we're all done, you got to use sanitizer, you've got to follow the instructions on the bottle, enter the right amount and it's going to sanitize all the surfaces. So it's safe for Burke and you know to make ice and safe for people to eat and all that good stuff, basically always want to sanitize them.

You usually put some in a spray bottle and spray down the outside surfaces too. So we're just waiting for the sanitizer to run through we're going to do another cleaning cycle and then we're going to turn it on. So we're going to take the sanitizer spray down. We take sanitizer and we're going to spray like this, so we watch this machine to make ice and when I'm noticing there's no it's hard to see those sheets coming off.
This side are way too thick and that ice thickness, probe too thick should not be that thick we're gon na start out with the factory specs of starting with a 9/32 drill bit. Just like the book says right here: 9/32 drill bit so we're gon na start with the 930 seconds on the outer edge and then watch the Machine make ice and adjust the thickness from there. It's important to understand that these machines, they self calibrate the thickness sensor when you first start them up, so you can't adjust them in the middle of the cycle. You have to wait for the machine to stop.

Adjust them then run another cycle. Okay, so we're gon na check the ice thickness probe, use a nine thirty seconds drill bit and you basically just want it to touch barely at this point, we've watched a cycle. The ice thickness is better on both machines. The refrigerant pressures are kind of close to where they should be so we're gon na.

Let it run and come back in a day or so and see how the ice productions been other than that we put everything back together, they're clean the ice that just came out is the small stuff. It's not those big giant chunks, those big giant chunks for the other one, so it came out and it uh fell and broke up into pieces like it should be, so it seemed like the thickness was decent all right. So these are the cubes that we made a minute ago. Those are decent, decent, a little bit on the thin side on the bridge, but it's okay, we're gon na go.

Follow a nice, solid cube. This was before we adjusted the ice thickness sensor, which is way too thick a big thick part right here at the top right here. It's called the bridge, and that should be about an eighth of an inch 3/16 to 1/8. That's like quarter-inch, so what we want to see much better there you go it's a good cube! Okay, so I listen machines run for a day and I came back and I found another problem.

Besides I'm just being dirty. This guy is overfilling, so what's happening, I've got it set up to sense the water level, and so it says water, low, yes, water, high, no well we're gon na give it a second it'll start overflowing. So you see the water's starting to overflow and it has something to do with either the water level probe most likely or the cable that goes between the water level. Probe is on this guy right here and you see the bin is not showing any sorry the board.

There's a water level probe light and it's not lit up, but you see how it says: water high, no, but our waters definitely high. So we're gon na home out the sensors and see what we find. So what I've done is I pulled off the sensor and we're going to ohm out the water level poke, so each one of those wires should have continuity between one of these probes. So currently, nothing nothing, nothing that one has nothing switch it over switch.
So the red has no continuity. Black does now we'll check the white. This is the white on the White House, continuity, so the red wires not getting continuity to the short probe. I tell you what they do not make it easy that sensors, you can barely see it down there.

I fingers that and had to cut a zip tie off to get to it, but now I'm going to fish the wire through we got a new one. So alright, so once I went ahead and replaced the cable we're getting the right reading now I went ahead and replaced the water level probe to see any sense of replacing that cable without changing the probe to change them both now we're shutting off and we're gon Na watch the ending go through a free cycle also before I turn this on right now, I ran sanitizer through the solution through the machine because anything you touch you want to sanitize, I sanitize the outside of the curtain and everything. So you don't want to be getting your dirty hands on that stuff, because that's you know nice that people gon na be eating this stuff, so we're gon na watch a cycle now so check this out. This looks kind of like a multiple issue unit.

Look at my frequencies. That's the microphone thickness sensor. You notice the big difference between the two. You would expect that if you had a conscience, we did the high frequency senses the higher and the low since it's the lower.

So but look at the big spread between those and look at this machine. That's working correctly. It's not a very big spread and I verified that it's not adjusted to thin, so I think we might have a bad thickness sensor. Also these machines are sitting next to each other, so they're hearing the same things.

I don't know if I open this door, it still hears the same thing. You can see how they react to the sound so notice how the frequencies are working together. Unlike this one they're, not we're gon na change that thickness co2 before we go any further turn it off. So I got the new one installed.

What you do is you take a 9/32 drill bit. You put it on that plate of the evaporator and you want the flat edge right here to barely touch the drill bit run the sensor over down into the circuit board and then we're gon na watch. It make guys alright. So this was a service call on some ice machines with low production, as you guys saw in the video.

The left machine had an error message when we arrived and I found that both machines were extremely dirty. The right machine had a plugged up drain and then we had just you know a bunch of other little issues. Okay, so the machines were so dirty that I couldn't do anything until they got cleaned properly, but I couldn't clean them until we fixed the drain. So we scheduled and got approval, so we came back out removed the ceiling grid repaired the drains secured them to the band instead of to the wall.
So that way, you can slide them in and out, went ahead and did a super thorough cleaning on the ice machine. Then, when all is said and done, we changed water level, probes and ice thickness controls on both machines. We changed the the cable that goes from the water level, probe to the circuit board on the left side ice machine, and then we also changed evaporator sensors on the left side, ice machine talk to the managers a few days later, everything's still working fine call them Again, it's been about two weeks since we did the job everything's working great on those things now, so it just goes to show how much a cleaning can do for those things, and you guys saw that fitting brush that I pulled out of the distribution hose going Up into the machine that was nasty, that's that's something that gets forgotten on that model machine, nobody ever those hoses to clean them. So it's very important that you guys use those fitting brushes.

Even when you're working on any brand, I suggest using those fitting brushes, because the cleaners and the sanitizers really don't get the cake, tough stuff off of the walls of the tube. You know anyways just want to say thanks so much for taking the time to watch. My video, if you haven't already please consider subscribing to my channel, put new content up all the time. Popping up right now.

Also is some other channels. I highly recommend you guys check out, give those guys a shot too and other than that. I will see you guys on the next one: okay.

44 thoughts on “Manitowoc ice machine problems”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Evan Perry says:

    Can we get those books without going to A training seminar?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Patrick Sieradzki says:

    I'm shocked how dirty these machines are. 😱 That's disgusting.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Commieslayer says:

    I got Kenmore under-counter home unit not using it for about 10-13 years. Got it from Thrift store as not running for cheap and I just found a time to test it. Rums but the ice slab slide made of SS and all rubber transparent hoses for water circulation are covered by sticky transparent substance. Even in this condition it turns RO water 25ppm I am feeding it into 3ppm cubes. I am not sure if the sticky coating hard to remove is there intentionally for the process or if it is just the slime which dried out after so many years. I cleaned only those rubber hoses but not the SS slab slide yet.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars MAREK WELKA says:

    Funniest part is when back diagram is showed….

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sam B says:

    Why use copper for the drains and not pex/pvc Service area Ottawa??

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kim Kelley says:

    I've cleaned a lot of Manitowoc Ice Machines, but never one this dirty! Monthly cleanings are a must for sure. Keep up the great work! Service area Nepean??

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jon Larsen says:

    These ice machines are designed to make clear ice. The resturaunt paid extra money to buy these ice machines and maintain them. My question is do they use municipal ground water? And if so do they soften the water? Municipal water from ground sources will have minerals that produce scale and in many areas iron. Most municipalities remove iron but not the other minerals. Softening the water would pretty much eliminate scale build up, improve taste and extend the life of the equipment. It wouldn't add much cost either.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gplus sucks big says:

    We had two old Manitowoc's in the office, never managed to make them work correctly. That thing is useless, like a McDonalds ice cream machine thats always broken. you'd call the specialist to fix it and it would work max for 4 months, then the same. Not to mention huge electricity bill and all that wasted water…

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Buickstage1 says:

    I love there service books I keep them all on the truck Are you in Kanata ?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Buickstage1 says:

    Do you remove all the ice using the Manitowoc special cleaner / so much pressure working in restaurants

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars pete andreas says:

    Retired HVAC tech after 45 year career, I never ever ate a ice cube after seeing and repairing for the first time, they really get nasty when there is no PM

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars War Eagle Fishing says:

    Is there any videos or can someone guide me on what to look for on a noisy Manitowoc Indigo series i-60? It's been cleaned and makes ice just fine. Only thing is right before harvest cycle the thing is extremely loud its in our eating area. I'm offshore on a drillship.
    Thanks for any input.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joey Caron says:

    I'm just here to try to figure out how to fix my ice machine, but everyone and their mom thinks they need to make a witty comment about how nasty the machine is. Ffs 🤭

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HVAC EXPLAINED says:

    I would admit I’m a bit of a stickler on cleaning and sanitizing an ice machine. Believe it or not when people get sick at restaurants it’s not always from the food it can be from mold from a dirty ice machine!

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars J S says:

    How often ice machine needs to be clean ? Where do I find training for this machines online or in person ?

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kendrique Lawton says:

    Hey do you have a video showing how to take the pumps out?

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Moorgoth67 says:

    Ice machines and milkshake machines are usually the nastiest places in restaurants.

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Scottamu says:

    Ahh, memories… Great post. I used to do this every 6 months on a crap old ice machine, and I thought it was the age that made it so gross so quick. NOPE – brand new replacement machine had pink slime just like the old one within the first 6 months. These things need so much cleaning and maintenance – quarterly at most – but virtually no one does it. At ANY restaurant – yeah, hold the ice, please! (and not just cause you're ripping me off by filling the entire glass with ice…)

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars wades623 says:

    that thing was fucking disgusting. should have dragged that piece of shit outside and pressure washed it Are you in Barrhaven ?

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jacob olesen says:

    regular customer to bartender: excuse me the icecubes taste funny !!
    bartender: what do you mean?
    customer: they are tasteless……
    bartender: (starts nervous whisteling) Are you in Ottawa ?

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars J H says:

    I use to do plumbing, hvac and repair/install RPZs and it has always amazed me what you find in pipes and ducts.

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Benadryl soda says:

    The yellow stuff on the ice maker makes me not want ice anymore

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RADMAN0257 says:

    And, how much did that cost the customer?

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ronald Zeigler says:

    I have seen bad ice machine’s and that was bad brother. good job.

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ronald Zeigler says:

    There are lots of gubbers out there ha!

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Cruz Fernandez says:

    Very appreciated thanks, I am starting learning about ice machines. Service area Orleans??

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mike Kaiser says:

    1 day I was griping to myself that i was working on an Ice machines again and the I walked outside and it was 103F, hmm maybe this isn't so bad after all?

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jonny Fandango says:

    "Everything looks clean" … Well, your work does, at least.

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Đorđe - George Cicovic says:

    Great video. How long it takes you to clean ice machine this way including checking ice production as well? Thanks

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kenneth McGuire says:

    Im not a fan of Manitowoc, even less so since they screwed the pooch when they rolled out their flakers, my two favorites are Kold Draft (believe it or not) and Hoshizaki.

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RandomSilly says:

    I don't know why, but this is entertaining

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Martin Piper says:

    And this is why I don't have ice in my drinks.

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John Michelotti says:

    Thanks for proving again the value of your knowledge and experience or from any Tradie. I work in software and I agree with the programmer. these are systems and you have to trace to get to the real issues. I hate those people who say the average programmer writes three lines of code a day. They don't know or understand what they are talking about.
    Questions
    Did you have an expectation of how long you were going to be there? Communicate that to the client?
    Do you bill for the follow up? (I hope so)
    How many hours were you there in total and for each visit.
    Did the client get to choose if they got the drains repiped? If so , if they said no, would you have walked or left them in place?
    Do you leave clean outs so you can get to the entire drain system?
    Great vids and great public service. I totally understand why non HVACR guys watch this and other channels

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Al Butterfield says:

    That is one dirty machine, No health inspector?

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brian Garton says:

    How many man-hours do you spend on something like this?

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars one trooper says:

    thanks for sharing this very interesting .. love the videos

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sean Wicht says:

    i work in fast food we have one in my last store. i use to do this (no one wants to do it) and we i went on an long holiday 2.5 weeks and we i 1st started cleaning it was this bad. now head office gets Coca-cola to do it fortnightly.

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars KarIgnishaYumi says:

    im soooo glad the ice machine is deep clean at my workplace all the time. omg.

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Bj Hazelgren says:

    Great video! Nice to see someone doing their job correctly, especially in a tech position. loved the "dinner" reference. Love your content, keep up the work!

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars The Duffster says:

    That machine wasn’t that bad compared to some I’ve worked on lol slime and snotty everywhere and still serving it 😱

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Thomas L. says:

    Currently doing this in my apprenticeship program. I can say this is more common than anyone wants to think about =/

  42. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ryan Harner says:

    my dad runs an HVAC business that my grandpa made. I told my dad I didn’t want to go in to this business when I was 16 I didn’t like the work. I’m 20 now, you can guess why I’m here

  43. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mark Flatt says:

    As a emergency nurse and np student…one thought…people take care of their equipment like they take care of their body…🤔 I bet there is a correlation between those who do regular maintenance on their equipment and those who exercise and eat right…anyway interesting to watch a skilled craftsman at work…a science and an art to this… Service area Kanata??

  44. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Sanders says:

    Not a top priority for ALOT of food establishments. Typically, with lack of a preventative maintenance contract that includes 1, possibly 2 complete tear downs for hygienic cleaning measures. Customer's are known to ignore dirty ice machines, until machine malfunctions and service is required. Think about that your next bourbon and soda, ect. Just saying……….

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