Oh, the irony. Here am I with a driveway full of snow watching Mustie fix an ice maker. In summer I was watching him fix a snowblower.

I think its good to have a variety of content. This is the kind of thing that people run into all the time. Some insight onto making repairs is always helpful. I'm sure Taryl appreciates you using his mug ! Thanks Mustie

I just got to work on our refrigerator . It quit and by the time we noticed things were warming up it was too late to save most of the food . So wife immediately starts shopping for a new one . $1,800 . I said let me take a look at it first . A little KZfaq searching and found a common part that fails . Pull it out and remove rear cover. Pull part in question and you can hear rattling internally . Call around on a Saturday and finally find a place that has 22 of the said part in stock . This was about 12:27 PM and they close at 1 . Can I make it , well I almost did , had some road work 3 blocks away . Pulled into parking lot at 1:03 . Talked to several people that came out . One gentleman in particular , he was a contract repairman for many major brands . He asked what part do you need and do you have it with you . I did and when I brought it out he was standing there with the exact part I needed ! Asked him what he wanted and he said , a gift for your day . Nice !

Video you made 3 years ago can still be a great service when troubleshooting the same problem and how you fixed it. Thanks Mustie

Whatever you fix, or even attempt to repair, is fine with me. The interest in these videos is your deductive reasoning and natural talent for talking to yourself!

"Don't get any ideas"! Hey, we're guys. We're always getting those ideas! The wire wheel umbrella was a great touch!

I took one of these and put an upgraded computer fan in it with greater airflow and it made thicker ice.

My dad was a lot like you before he passed over 30 years ago. He said the only thing he couldn't fix was a broken heart. I have one of these ice makers that is doing the exact same thing. This will be on my list to fix after I try fixing a pressure washer that continues to dump fuel out of the carb and air cleaner after it ran out of gas. I have learned a lot from you, thanks!

Just trash that little motor, and let's adapt & mount a 18volt cordless drill motor to the side of that bad boy !! ...Hell we could make it pitch ice across the counter into your glass !! 😂🤣✊

My favorite part of any Mustie video is his chuckle. Always makes me smile.

We have one of those. Ours stopped working after about a month. Would go through the dump cycle and just stop. Traced it to one of the little limit switches on the left side. Found one in my junk box, replaced it and has worked like a charm ever since...

My mother is on her 3rd ice maker just like this one! Looks like it’s time for me to wrench... Outstanding video!

I dont care what you work on...I'd still be glued to the screen watching....great videos!!!!

You are in rare form today, Sir! The wire wheel accoutremont and "Don't judge!" admonishment at the end of the video is pure you, my friend. Another top shelf production!

I love these appliance repair videos, it's amazing to me how electromechanically complex these little kitchen devices are.

Dude! Priceless video. I'm so tired of buying these every 1-2 years. Thank you

Wire wheel drink umbrella was a very festive touch.

A true mechanic that drinks out of the cup he catches gas from carberators.!

Perfect video. Solved my problem, right down to the stuck bushing. Did exactly what you advised and the ice maker works perfectly, although I did have 3 screws left over. Thanks alot.

My machine stopped working recently and I've been putting off opening it up until I watched this video. I had the exact same issue; rusted motor spindle, but was able to get it working by just cleaning off the rust and using pliers to manually rotate the mechanism and gears. Plugged it back in to see if the motor would run the full rotation cycle and it did--the machine works now! Thank you so much for the informational upload.

I'm always amazed that the videos are an hour long, I sit to watch one and by the time it's over it feels like maybe 10 minutes went by. So much good tech and knowledge displayed in each vid. Keep up the great work Mustie, always looking forward to the next one!

"The Tetanus Shot" 1/2 oz. Rum, overproof/151 proof 1/2 oz. Rumple Minze 1 oz Southern Comfort Add ice from rusty ice maker.

This worked beautifully with my Frigidaire. I could hear the motor running but cup was not moving. I took the motor out and the shaft that turns was seized up with rust. So I sprayed it with WD 40 and let it sit for an hour. After that I grabbed the shaft with pliers and started turning the shaft by hand until I freed it up where it turned by itself freely. Awesome job man. Thank you very much . Saved me $100+ buying a new one

Thank you for this great video!! I had shut off my ice machine for a few months but needed it for the summer months. When I started it up the motor was frozen. I followed your steps and it works fabulous again!!!! Thanks for your video 😊

Nothing wrong with something a little different. I would have figured plastic gears with chewed up teeth was the culprit. Good call on rust being the issue. Looking forward to more on the Econoline. Keep up the great work! And I loved the wire wheel drink umbrella!

I am a refrigeration tech and that little ice maker is clean, you should see some of the big ice makers I have to work on. when you pull the covers and see how nasty some places let them get you would never order a drink with ice again. I owned a packaged ice co for a few years and our maker made several tons of ice a day and we did complete cleanings each month.

Yesterday I found a machine identical to this one, discarded in a downtown alley. It had the exact same problem, and I fixed it the exact same way. Thanks for the video!!

Back in the mid-80s, I was living in SF, working in data comms and went on vacation to Cape Cod. Naturally, we picked a cold, drizzly, miserable week to be there. We took the ferry out to Martha's Vinyard, where the sun was shining and the breezes were warm. I turned to my wife and told her that I wished to defect to this marvelous land, where I would set up a table under a tree and do small appliance repair for the rest of my life. Thank you for bringing that memory back to me.

The decorative drink 'parasol' at the end, was a true touch of mechanics class.

Another amazing repair. Topped off with Watermelon Juice and a wire wheel umbrella. Great job as usual.

These fix-it videos are a nice change of pace. Encourage people to try and fix things instead of throwing them out. If it cannot be fixed, at lease someone can see how it works and maybe get some parts for other projects. "Take it to bits" as Clive would say.

This type of motor doesn't have a "polarity" or "direction". Every time it gets AC power, it just spins a random direction. You can turn it off and on several times, and it will randomly start spinning one way or the other. There is also no current detection on the logic board. The only inputs to the board for motor position is those two limit switches on the far side from the motor. Typically, the machine will store the tray in either the dumping position or the filling position, and not between (because it can't tell where in between it is). This is why every time it turns on (plugged in), if it is not in the dumping position, it goes to the dumping position (restart position) and stays there until you press the power button. It knows its there because it's limit switch is pressed. When the machine wants to move the tray from one position to the other, it just energizes the motor, and the motor picks a random direction to move. If it is the "wrong" direction, it doesn't move very far before it just automatically changes direction (it can't go the wrong way, because the tray is already against the limit switch and can't physically go that way). Eventually, if it is working properly, it will run until the opposite limit switch is pressed, and that tells the logic board the tray is in the correct position and to proceed with its program. However, if an error occurs (the tray hits something, or in the case of this video, the motor binds), it just changes direction and presses the wrong limit switch. This tells the logic board the tray hit something, and it will typically try again a couple times before giving up and throwing an error.

This appliance has no serviceable parts. Mustie 1 - "Hold my beer"

Looks like a laboratory for incubation of Legionnaires Disease

You sir, are a true handyman, success or not. I love your attitude and thought processes. Thank you..

Just had the exact same problem. Was going to just buy a new motor but saw ir video and inspired me to take apart the motor and clean off all the rust. Works like new. Thanks for the info

It's 'refreshing' to watch you fixing something so 'cool' Blessings from Hopatcong NJ to you & the family. :)

I have the same issue and to my surprise you did everything I was about to do to mine. Was great to see the whole thing before I got into fixing mine, it helped tons! Thank you :D

Thanks for this! My ice maker had the same problem and watching your video gave me the confidence to fix it.

I am a single gal who loves to fix what I can. After watching this video, I ordered a new one from Amazon! This was way too complicated for my skill level- but loved watching the process.

You tend to crack me up mustie1! Showing the world that cheap bs can still be repaired! Awesome job!

Buys pack of ice cube bags. Fills 2 bags with water. Lays them in the freezer. Next day, icecubes. Works every time🤣

I worked with a guy whose brother-in-law serviced industrial type ice-makers for restaurants, hotels etc, when dining out he ordered all his drinks without ice because he knew how filthy alot of these machines are and there isn't any real standards for cleaning them. Great. New to the channel but think it's fantastic, keep up the great work Mustie1, cheers.

Great video! Fixed my unit saved it from land fill. Cleaned the sensor for water flow. It was saying out of water,but it wasn't. Thanks you very much ! Ontario Canada

Hey Mustie, foolproof ice maker advice, go to Wallyworld snag 2 plastic ice trays and a small bucket, fill trays from tap, place in freezer remove ice when frozen and place in small bucket. Works every time.

The umbrella in the drink made me laugh out loud

Great video!! Just bought a used ice maker and tray wasn't working because the same exact thing had happened to the motor in it 🤯 they really do need to fix these up some so they are more waterproof. Thank you so much for taking the time to figure it out!!

WOW! you have the patience that I could only dream of having. That was a total wreak of a design with that motor interface. Great job on bringing it back to life.

I applaud your efforts on this one, Mustie. Those motors don't usually take too kindly to being opened up and reassembled. . . For the record, they are geared synchronous non-directional AC motors, commonly found in microwave ovens (turntable motor), tabletop rotisseries, 'flame effect' electric fires, ice makers! and a whole host of other products. Just trash-pick a few microwave ovens and strip them for parts. You'll get these little geared motors, a useful fan (We have one above the workshop bench), heaps of microswitches, some useful electronic timer parts (even a usable clock!), a usable small lamp and loads more other bits. Just be sure NEVER to power up the EHT transformer out of the appliance - those things are literally lethal, but everything else can be reused. Just strip the transformer for its copper wire. Alternatively, those motors can be bought on eBay etc for "ten-a-penny". These motors will turn in which ever direction is easiest. If they stall, they will simply turn back the other way. There's no magic, no electronic gizmology nor anything else, just simple physics. Watch a microwave turntable and notice how sometimes it will turn one way, and other times it will turn the other way. It's a 50/50 probability which way they turn, but once turning they will continue to turn the same way until either, they are stalled, or switched off, and back on again, and even then, it's back to the 50/50 probability. Oh yes, I almost forgot, if you have a few hours to spare, you can actually build a functional and accurate clock out of one of those motors - True! You just need to know the output RPM, and then buy, or make, some suitable gearing to drive the clock hands. The motor is synchronous to your local AC mains frequency, so will never run fast, nor slow - to point of fact, you can set your clock by them, literally!

My brother had an industrial one of these that was originally in a pub. Quite fascinating things to watch, especially with the lid off :-D

Thanks again for your work and for taking us along with you.

I have a brand new one of these. I was just browsing around trying to find out how they work and I came across your video. It is interesting to know where my unit will eventually/probably fail. I get a kick out of your videos, watching you repair items much the same way I like to do... trial and error, process of elimination, etc. You, however, have this "way" about you as you work, almost like talking to yourself, yet including the viewer as you decipher and repair, and that is a true talent- a talent I do not possess. An incredibly rare and great skill along with your editing expertise makes you a very unique and interesting KZfaqr. I love my garage workshop, but glimpses of your workshop leave me a little envious as well. Thank you, Mustie, for all of your videos.

they make a silicone grease that is fda approved for ice makers {tip from an old technician}

Brilliant bit of wrench'n bro. Non serviceable yeah right, not on your watch.

Ever since I saw this video 3 yrs ago, I was on the lookout for one of these machines that I could purchase really cheap. I found it today. Thanks for the video. Was exactly the same problem. As is ice machine for $10... not bad. Thanks Mustie.

I actually bought this same one about 15 months ago. Has always worked well. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

I got a portable icemaker myself for the same reason to replace the one broken in the fridge. mine has a little better design as far as keeping the motor away from the water but it cracked at the socket that drives the tray. bought a new one for the house because of course it broke when we needed it the most. Took the old one out to the shop and ended up fixing the socket in the tray with some stainless steel wire and epoxy. it's been making ice for the shop drinks for years now just gotta go thru and clean em once in a while

In a world of "throw away buy new", great video

Just another OUTSTANDING production! Thanks!

Your timing is perfect on this video. I've been mulling around getting one of these for my office, but all the reviews of it dying kept me from doing so. Now that I see it's that simple to fix (and exactly how), will pick one up. Seeing the cause, I may take it apart before I ever use it and spray fluid film or something all over that spindle and bearing to hopefully keep it from rusting for a while.

had the same issue only in my case the tray was cracked by the motor drive, replaced the tray worked good for few months and cracked again, turned out it wasnt level causing the cubes to stick together at the top of one side which cause a ice jam breaking the tray, leveled everything out the best i could and worked for a few more years before the compressor took a crap, its good to know im not the only one that goes thru all this to save a buck lol

When I first looked at the video title I thought it said ‘fixes a portable pace maker’!🤣That I would like to see......

Funny thing is my niece just bought this very similar if not the exact model. Seems to run well a week in but I was looking at it and wondering how it worked, I could see the same parts as yours and now I better understand whats going on. I am now waiting for the two weak spots, that bearing you fixed and also the IR sensors to go and then her calling me to see if it can be fixed, LOL. With this video and one of the comments below on the IR, I believe I can take a crack at fixing it. Thanks for another great video buddy! The FREE education you provide is priceless and well worth the time to review.

Awesome job! Fixing things for your parents is very rewarding

Very informational, I had no idea a portable ice machine even existed. I wonder how many of those got thrown away because they had the same problem? probably quite a few and many of them are still sitting in people's garages waiting to be sold at yard sales.

good video with an interesting , successful repair ...& that ending , 😂

Love the return of the moment of zen. Beautiful.

Thank you so much for making this video. I had a very similar unit with identical problem. Thanks to you, it's back in service and works well.

LOL you should have finished with "And there's your beverage" in honor of the cup you are using. Good video

It's Sunday, it's lunchtime (UK) and Mustie just dropped another video! The highlight of my week!! 👍

Thank you! I was debating on trying this or throwing mine out. Looks like I'll follow your example.

I actually watched your whole video.. I have the same Icemaker and with your video I was able to fix mine... thank you

I like, “no parts left over”. Always a good feeling.

Since you always ask what would I do, LOL, I have a couple suggestions. I worked for years as a mechanic and back then we overhauled wiper motors, master cylinders and etc. I also worked as an electronic technician and we still had a lot of old style electro-mechanical devices that had motors similar to yours and were out in the weather so, I've done much the same as you did. I've never used WD-40 penetrating oil but, the best I've found were Kroil and PB-Blaster. I think Kroil is an older brand than PB but, I'm not sure. One more tip: as plastic ages it becomes brittle and when you try to cut new threads in it the plastic can crack or break. So, when I reinstall screws in aged plastic that already has threads in it I put gentle pressure on the screw while turning the screw backwards until you can hear and feel it "click" in place. This is when the threads on the screw are lined up with the threads in the plastic so, you now turn it to tighten. I also do this for wood and sheet metal too. Good diagnostics on the unit and good fix.

Thank you for this lol. I have one myself, I’ve taken apart. It’s does the exact same thing as your dads and I couldn’t figure it out. I never noticed that was a bushing spinning on mine when I took off the motor. Now I know how to fix mine, thanks. There’s not a lot of info out there on these

I just fixed an ice maker that was given to us. Exact same problem of the shaft stuck on the bearing. I was able to free the shift without having to pull the motor apart. Thanks a lot sir.

The crack in the bucket leeks water in to the motor. I glue the crack and by a new motor on Ali express. I by 5 motors at a time :)

Please clean it! I hear that many restaurant so-called food poisonings are really caused by dirty ice makers!

Hi Mustie, THANK YOU! I took apart the impeller as shown and had this crunchy stuff stuck to the magnet part, guessing it stopped it from turning. I scrapped it off gently and all is working fine. I did have 2 tiny washers on the shaft that went into the impeller and almost missed them because they were super tiny and clear. AGAIN THANKS for saving my machine.....

Thank you so much. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get the top off my ice machine because the manual was useless and you were a big help!!

Was that a 120V motor marked CW/CCW and an RPM range? It looks suspiciously like a cheap microwave oven turntable motor. If it is then they are commonly available. The synchronous motors have no fixed direction and just slam into reverse themselves if stalled.

"whole motor is probably a dollar on eBay, but that's not the point." LOL!!!!

I painted my mm deep sockets orange color 25 years or so. Saw your sockets orange, reminded me. Nice videos as always!

way to get going in this deep deep, you not only went over switches you skipped right over that to the motor itself. that's just bravo man. nice fix

Disposable Society Mentality We live in a disposable society for several reasons: 1). Prices for products have come down. 2). People have gotten away from learning, developing DIY skills, and having interest. 3). We are in the age of instant gratification. This leads to lack of patience, and persistence to see a project through to the end. 4). Society has gotten increasingly lazy, and complacent. 5). Demand for repairs decreases as each decade goes down. Great fix! Love it.

Classic Mustie1: Not a serviceable unit. They are not talking to me. LOL

Great vid mustie I must say I’ve watched all your vids I’m a small engine mechanic and work out of a small shop I built in my back yard and my buddies turned me on to your vids they tell me that we are so much alike that I have to check em out so after watching your vids I take that as a compliment hats off to ya sir I luv your no nonsense approach and the witty commentary keep it up my brutha!👍

Mustie1, thanks for the video. This helped me take my ice maker apart and get it back together. I found a replacement motor and it is on order. Great work!

The “eye” at the top drives the “Ice Full” system. It fails frequently, giving a constant full signal. It can be overridden by holding the Select button for 10+ seconds. It will go ahead and make ice ignoring the Ice Full sensor. You have to do it all the time, but at least it’s a way to get it working. There is an IR LED and an IR photosensor; one on each side. To determine which one is bad, point your video camera at the LED (on the right side, as you face it I think). You should see the lit LED in the camera view (it is invisible otherwise). If you can see the light, the opposite side sensor is bad and should be replaced. No light and the LED is at fault. I have a bad LED in mine; haven’t bothered to fix it just yet.

Finally, somewhere to dump all that water he's been collecting from carburetors!

This was kinda like clock repair. Amazed it was salvageable. Great save.

Thanks, I have the very same problem with my ice maker, I just got online to order a new one, as I was looking at the reviews for ice makers I came across your website. As I watched I realized I was having the same problem. I will give it a go tomorrow and delay ordering that new one. Great when money is saved, thanks again! I had the same thoughts about the cleanliness of my ice maker, my wife cleans it every week but there places that she didn't even know was there. You would think they would make the top come off without tearing the whole machine apart. Pull that bottom screen out with a pick hook and you will be groused out again.

I use a bore brush for small inner diameters, the brass cleans up the surface without removing metal.

looks just like a microwave turntable motor... these type of motors run in one direction and if they encounter any resistance they will start to run the other direction...

Thanks for using that tiny ignition pliers. I had forgotten they existed, haven't seen one in decades. Time to get one!

I’ve learned so much by watching your channel!!

Mustie1 you could start a video with 'let's watch paint dry today' and I would still watch. Love the content and your approach to making it.👍

I've always said you could make watching water boil enjoyable. I guess same goes for making water freeze.

You know, that was one of the best videos I've seen you do. I enjoyed watching it and seeing the end result. Brilliant !

Worked for my Ainfox Portable Ice Maker Machine. Thank you so much !!!