As you lift the bin door, you notice long ice strips laying in the bin. Ice strips, commonly known as bridging, can be the result of a water problem or a refrigerant system failure. If bridging continues, the strips will eventually stick to the evaporator plate and a freeze-up may occur. To find the reason for ice bridging, you need to observe the build-up of ice on the plate. If you see ice bridging on some channels of the plate and no ice on the others, the water distributor tubes are likely plugged. All of the water in the reservoir has to freeze on the plate before the float switch can initiate harvest. If some of the distributor holes are plugged, the water flows down the channels with open holes causing this "spot" bridging.

When bridging occurs on the entire evaporator assembly, the reservoir has more water than it needs. This generally is the result of an inlet water valve not shutting off completely or leaking by. This adds additional water to the reservoir during the freeze cycle. The float switch remains closed and normal cubes grow into strips. This is the beginning of a freeze-up. To correct this problem, clean the water valve diaphragm bleed port or replace either the diaphragm or the defective valve.

If bridging occurs on the inlet evaporator plate and no ice is produced on the outlet plate, you have a refrigeration problem. Check the system charge, TXV operation, and refrigerant flow. There is not enough refrigerant flow to fill the entire evaporator assembly during the freeze cycle. You may also find bridging on the last plate and normal ice cube formation and harvest on the inlet plate. In this case, you do not have enough hot gas to flood the entire evaporator assembly during harvest. Check for a hot gas valve that does not open all the way, low head pressure, or an inefficient compressor. Correcting these problems should eliminate the ice strips and allow for properly formed KM crescent cubes.

More Hoshizaki Tips:

1. TXV Diagnostics

2. SQUEAKY FLAKER

3. ICE STRIPS

4. SIZING ICE MACHINES
   
   

Danny Moore Hoshizaki America, Inc. Volume 107
Editor 618 Hwy. 74 South July 14, 1994
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Care Facsimile: (800) 843-1056