LG Refrigerator LMX, ice cubes too big

[erkme73]

I have had nothing but buyer's remorse since buying this fridge in 2009 at THD.  It's pretty, but just about everything you can think of from a functional/practical standpoint is an overwhelming frustration.  If it weren't that the wife likes how it looks so much, I'd have returned it on the second day.  But, I digress.

My biggest pet peeve, is that to fill a small cup with ice takes long enough that you almost need to pull up a chair while you wait.  I had a service guy out once for an unrelated issue, and he commented that all the in-door ice makers have this issue.  He said it was because the 'drop distance' from the maker to the tray is so short, the ice cubes don't break apart and get stuck in the chute. 

There are three ice cube sizes (S, M, L) - but even the smallest setting still ends up producing a string of 6 or so cubes in one strip that don't break apart.

Today, on a whim, I closed the water fill valve (on the wall hookup behind the fridge) by about 90%.  While the water fill rate through the door is now all but useless, the ice cubes are about 1/2 their normal size, and come out of the tray as individual cubes.  It's like heaven.

There are no (obvious) adjustment screws or knobs on the maker - so I imagine that dropping the fill rate or amount though some built-in mechanism is likely not possible.  I did find the two-valve solenoid in the freezer door, so I could install a restrictor valve at the output of just the ice maker supply line.  But before I do that, I figured I'd ask here if anyone knows of a more practical way to reduce the amount of water added to the ice tray.

First post, go easy

[MajorApp]

Does your pretty refrigerator have a complete model number?

[erkme73]

Sure... I wasn't at home when I first posted... it's LMX25981ST

[MajorApp]

  AJ should be along soon to post the service manual for your frig and icemaker but I think your going to be just another unsatisfied LG customer. It should be a crime that companies like LG and Samsung do their research and development testing at the consumers expense and frustration.

[wildimaginations]

It sounds like the icemaker has a problem.  It is supposed to time the water into the ice tray.  The lower led setting is 5 sec, middle led setting is 5.5 sec and the uppr led is 6 seconds.  The water pressure should be somewhere around 40 to 80 psi. 


Look for the icemaker fill tube.  Press the test button on the icemaker and watch the ice get extracted out and the water fill up the ice tray.  When the water turns off, look for signs of water still dripping into the ice tray.  If that happens, you may have a leaking water valve or an air leak in the tubing.  Water should stop flowing once the valve shuts off.


Also time the water fill.  On the lower led setting, time the water flow.  It should last 5 seconds.  If it doesn't, then you have to replace the icemaker.  There are no adjustments that can be made on the circuit board of the icemaker.



Ice Maker #AEQ36756901


Water Valve Assm  5221JA2011J


Hope this helps.

[erkme73]

Thanks WI,

Sorry - but where is the 'test' button located? 

I'll be happy to test the timing, and whether the water stops immediately.

Is there any way to change the 5-6 second time interval?  I'd love to drop it to 4 seconds...

[wildimaginations]

It is the button that adjusts the ice cube size.  Press and hold it for about 10 seconds till the icemaker starts into the extraction mode.  Can't adjust the time.  It's not possible.

[erkme73]

I feel like I need a drum roll...

I started the test cycle, and it extracted the current cubes.  With stopwatch in hand, I timed the filling cycle start to finish... 5.5 seconds.  When it stopped, the water coming down the fill spout stopped immediately.  No additional drops.

I don't know what my water pressure is in the house, but so far, the only thing I've been able to do to get the cubes to the 'correct' size is restricting flow.  Given that there is no mechanical or electrical way to reduce the fill cycle time, I feel more confident adding an inline mechanical valve between the ice maker supply solenoid and the ice maker.  There's a nice little compartment in the bottom of the door that will provide ample room.  I just didn't want to go to that extreme without verifying first.

Thanks for your help!

[erkme73]

Just a follow up to my original post/comment.  I purchased a $5.00 miniature valve - like the kind that come with an ice maker kit, and installed it on the output side of ice maker solenoid (located underneath the bottom shelf on the door containing the ice maker).

I then adjusted the valve so that the amount of water that filled into the tray during each cycle was JUST ENOUGH to distribute water into each ice recess.   It took a few tries, but now, assuming my home water pressure doesn't fluctuate too much, I get perfect ice cubes.   Each cube is already separated as it comes out of the tray - so no more long sticks of 6 cubes that won't fit down the chute.

Given that the 'fill time' is now electronically limited, and the range is predefined, where the shortest time is still too long, I saw no other alternative.

Hopefully this will give other the confirmation that it can be done, and the encouragement to do it.

FWIW, I can now fill a large glass with ice in < 3 seconds - it just POURS in the cubes!!

[Ghoff]

The addition of the valve on the outlet of the ice maker solenoid is the right fix. I removed the cover on the lower part of the left door, identified the line that went from the solenoid to the ice maker and installed a 1/4” valve. Adjusted this valve until cubes were desired size and done. This method leaves the water pressure to the door water unaffected.

[Pnwdad1981]

Or just get an in-line pressure regulator to knock your home down to a 60psi where it needs to be at for proper functions.
https://www.amazon.com/Hydronix-SB-FPV-60-Pressure-Reducer-Protection/dp/B01CFOGH2I/ref=sr_1_5?crid=XRKBVAIF9M28&keywords=ice+maker+water+pressure+regulator+60+psi&qid=1652232202&sprefix=ice+maker+water+pressure+regulator+60psi%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-5