TFT27PRBCAA General Electric Refrigerator - Instructions

I removed the plate covering the water valve for the ice maker and water dispenser, removed the nut holding the 5/16" tubing to the valve and took off the tubing and nut. I did not need to turn off the water supply or unplug the unit. I removed the kick panel in the bottom front of the refrigerator, replaced the existing plastic fitting with a new push-on fitting, then spliced the tubing coming from the water chiller to the valve where the leak was thus bypassing the broken tubing with new tubing. I reassembled the valve using the original plastic compression nut, replaced the cover and ran the water dispenser while checking for leaks. The water dispanser works great with no leaks.

Removed icemaker from freezer,
Removed 3 screws from cover plate, and removed screw securing main gear, removed gear.
Pulled back cover plate to expose switches and mechanism.
Removed screw holding switch to remove switch, and installed new switch.
I should have taken a pic of the cover plate, the interior mechanism and the wiring as I went along. It would have saved me 45 minutes in reassembly. Also, as luck would have it, I reversed the wiring on the switch. So off was on, and I had to remove it, switch wires and re-install.
But it works!

This should have been an extremely easy, quick job, but because I'm not that familiar with refrigerator parts, and NO INSTRUCTIONS came with the part, it took quite a while. The fittings for the water lines to icemaker and water outlet were dramatically different from the old part. The old part had screw-on fittings. The new one did not. I went first to Ace hardware-they had never seen fitting like this, and didn't know what to tell me. I drove 20 minutes to Home Depot, and the guy there told me that, rather then screwing on, or needing another part, the fittings were a quick connect, where you just shove the plastic tubing into the fitting. Finally an answer!

I went home, did as he'd said, hooked it up (shoved the tubing in, used the provided electrical adapters for the contacts, and screwed the thing on. It takes a good while for the icemaker to get cold enough to start it's cycle (which I found out from an internet search), and about 6 hours later, I started getting ice. It works fine now, love the in the door water/ice on my "new" 10-12 year old $75 plus $35 for the part-huge 26.6 side by side refrigerator, but the part should have had at least an indication that the water fittings just needed to have the tubing shoved into them.

Opened, discovered not flapper but more complicated

Removed lower cover screws removed cover removed copper water feed tubing connector unplugged wire connectors pulled out plastic water line connector and water lines removed water valve assembly installed water lines installed wire connectors secured valve assembly reinstalled copper water line turned on water valve checked for leaks reinstalled lower rear cover

Easy

I unplugged the refrigerator and shut off the water. I removed the back of the frig where the inlet valve is located. I removed the old nuts and cut the plastic water line on the ends. I shoved them into the new fittings. I then turned on the water and plugged in the frig. I could hear the water pumping into the ice maker. I screwed the inlet and back of refrigerator in place.

I used a screwdriver to remove, then replace, the screw that holds in the valve. I used pliers to pull the refer water line out of the old valve. I just used my hands to reinstall the line. I used and open box wrench to remove and reattach the main water line. Nothing blocked access to the valve and it was very easy to remove the old one and install the new one.

Turn off power
Remove operator faceplate by pullling out on outer lower corners
Disconnect wire connectors from circuit board
Remove four screws from dispenser and pull out dispenser assy
Replcae Door ASsembly
Put everything back in place
Power up
Job Done

Excellent video was available on the Parts Select website. It was simple. The selector panel pulled out by hand from the bottom. The subpanel was removed with the four screws. The flapper snapped out of the holder with two clips. The new one was inserted in reverse order.

Under the control panel there are three small holes. Insert ballpen or small flat screw driver on both outer holes to push a tab lock that holds the control panel in place. Then pull out control panel and three set of wires will be exposed and disconnect wire connectors (connectors have different sizes so you wont get confused in reconnecting). Unscrew four screws on each corner that holds the ice dispenser assembly (a part where you push your glass against to dispense ice or water. The flapper is exposed and easy to replace.

The valve was leaking from the core and not the in/out tubes. The valve is easy to get to and very easy to replace. When replacing the water in/outs you cut them off the old valve and then slip them on the new valve. 5 to 10 minute job.

Turn off water valve to the refigerator and disconnect line.
Remove the cardboard backing and insulation.
Remove old valve and cut lines close to the valve.
Trim plastic on new valve as needed to fit (generic valve).
Insert water lines into new valve.
Install new valve.
Connect water line and open valve.
Replace cardboard backing and insulation.

First I removed the incoming water line from the valve. I then removed the screw that hold the valve in place. Then I pulled the element out about 3 inches and disconnected the two connector wires. Next I cut the plastic hoses from the old valve.
To install the new valve, I inserted the two plastic hoses into the new valve. (hoses are different diameters so it is next to impossible to insert them incorrectly.) I replaced the electrical connectors (This was the only glitch since the one connector on the refrigerator is larger then the pins on the new valve, A little electrical tape held the connector in place.) I then tightened the screw that holds the valve on the refirgerator and reconnected the household water to line to the valve.
The entire job took less time then it has taken me to type the procedure.

unclipped and replace with new part.