EC5100XFW1 Whirlpool Ice Maker - Instructions

I removed the cutter grid and unplugged the light bulb and wire heating plug ins. I slid the front cover plate off the cutting grid and loosened the screws on the front of the cutter grid and unthreaded the broken, top grid wire, leaving the bottom wire in place as it was in tact.
I then threaded the new wire through the cutting grid frame starting in the center and threading right and then left. While the threading was not difficult, the wire was easily kinked. The process up to this point was only 15 minutes or so.

Once it was completely threaded, I worked for a couple of hours trying to smooth and straighten the wire so that is was somewhat taut and straight enough to create symetrical ice cubes.
My frustration came in pulling on the wire from the center point to each outside ending point where it was to be wrapped around the screw and the screw tightened back down. The wire was fragile enough that it would break, by the time I was finished I barely had enough wire left to touch the screw let alone hook around the screw.
After 3 or four days of successful opperation, the grid quit cutting again. As I took it apart, it was obvious that the weight of the ice was enough to pull the wire, that was already too short, away from the screw. I refastened it again, but think it is unlikely to hold.
If it won't hold, I would be hard pressed to purchase another wire. I may bite the bullet and purchase the entire grid mechanism with the wires already installed. Even though the cost of the entire grid mechanism is $200 more than the purchase of another wire, it may well be worth the ease of installation!

I removed the three nuts that hold the old pump, easy. Next step was to replace with the new pump, tricky, because it goes real deep in the machine and my arms barely reach it.
After several attemtps, I finally reached one screw and bolt it immediately. Rest was piece of cake.
What I liked most, is that you don't need to do any wiring connections, because it uses a simple plug-in connector that goes in at the same time when you bolt the new pump.
What it surprised me, was that my machine it's over 20 years old, and the new replacement water pump it's the very same design !!!
Last night I fixed it, and today I'm enjoying again fresh ice.
One plus for PartSelect : I inherit this machine and didn't have an Installation & Operation Manual,and PartSelect have it On-Line, so I printed it, and I believe I'm ready another 20 year period of fresh ice!
Thanks a lot PartSelect !!!

This is a stand alone ice maker that uses a standard water valve. When the valve fails (usually stuck open) the water never chills enough to freeze because water is constantly flowing into the hopper. The valve is in the very front. Remove the front panel. Turn of the water supply and disconnect the valve. Replace the valve and turn on the water. Let the machine run through 1 cycle before the new valve will dispense water. Done.

Easy to do.!

First I removed the cutter grid assembly by removing two screws. Also disconnect the wire that powers the grid. Once on the bench, simply remove the broken cutter wire. String in the new wire, starting at one end and working back and forth to the other end. Tighten the terminal screw on the first end, and then "strum" the wires, one at a times, pulling the wires taught. Pull the excess wire thru the second terminal, until all wires are taught, with equal tension. Tighten the second terminal screw, and cut off excess wire at both ends. Re-assemble cutter grid into Ice Maker.
Problem solved!

remove tray from icemaker by removing 2 screws and disconnecting 2 electrical connectiona. Remove broken wire and restring new wire. Reinstall tray.

Removed the grid. Removed the existing top to bottom wire. Restrung the grid with the new wire. Then, it cut ice just fine-better than new. Note: wire provided is only sufficient to rewire side to side or top to bottom, not both. If you need to do both, you'll need 2. Yes, lots of money for a few feet of wire.

The post I read said start at the middle and work your way out towards the left and right. This was incorrect. All I did was secure one end to the torx screw and tighten it down. I then slowly pulled the wire as tight as I could around each insulator, going slow so as to not kink the wire (very easy to do). Once I was at the other torx screw I used a pair of linesman plyers to gently tug each wire tighter, I needed an extra pair of hands to hold the grid down. Once everything was tight I wrapped the last torx screw and tightened. Here's what no one is saying, you will not get the wire as tight as it originally was but that's ok. After I got everything reinstalled the ice maker is making ice like a champ.

removed broken wire, replaced with new wire and screwed the 6 tensions screws to tighten the grid wire.

I removed the two wing nut type screws and pulled grid cutter out and then disconnected both the electrical power plug and the light power plug. Then I removed the front face plate and put it on the new grid cutter after cleaning and re-inserted the new grid cutter into ice machine along with re-connecting the electrical and tighten wing screws and then turned the ice machine to on and within approx. 2-3 hours, we had ice. Very simple to do and machine works perfect now. Just like new.

Removed two thumb screws holding old cutter in place, Replaced old cutter with replacement part the same way I removed the old cutter. Problem solved.

At the top of the unit is the grid-cutter, to remove, I unscrewed the two turn screws (usually can do by hand but mine were a little tight so I used pliers to turn them). I slid the unit out and disconnected the power supply and light switch. I removed the plastic cover on the front and put it on the new grid cutter, lining up the light between the plastic and the edge of the grid. Slid the cover back on and then slide the grid cutter back into place. Hand turning the two screws and it was making ice in no time.
I saved more than $200 doing it myself!!!

My top grid was broken. After removing the old wire and loosening the screws on both ends of the old wire, I carefully unrolled the new wire so there were no kinks. Next, I put one end of the wire in a vice to hold it in place. I put a loop in the other end and attached it to the one end of the frame. You can then hold the grid in both hands and put tension on the wire as you make the wraps. When you get to the end, attach it to the grid screw and tighten the screw while maintaining tension. You can then cut the remaining wire and reinstall the grid. I think this was much easier than the directions that came with the wire. Took 5 minutes to install the wire on the grid and 15 to 20 minutes to everything back together and start making ice.

I took out old grid and removed the top broken wire. I attached the end of new wire to the terminal screw and carefully threaded the new wire back and forth without kinks. I was not able to get wire as tight as it was originally, but able to get it tight enough with pliers. I attached the other end to the opposite terminal screw. I had plenty of wire for the job and cut off the excess. I re-installed the grid and had ice the following morning. Feeling good about myself and saved a lot of money.

Removed broke wire and replaced new wire. Use gloves to pull the wire tight. That's very important.