The auger sits at the bottom of the ice bucket and has corkscrew grooves that carry ice cubes out for as long as it is spinning. Since it is a purely mechanical unit, you will get no ice cubes when the auger is stuck, or the motor is not running.
Make Sure There’s Mains Power, and the Unit is Plugged in
Since the motor spinning the auger is electric, you won’t get any ice flow if there is a power blackout or the ice machine isn’t plugged into a working power source. Confirm that there is the power to the unit by checking any other parts that use electricity. These include:
Checking to see if the compressor is runningLooking for any lightsUsing the control panel if your unit has digital controls
If there is a power blackout or you have reason to believe your entire ice maker isn’t getting power, start by fixing that problem before moving on.
Test Whether the Auger Motor is Working
If there is power to the unit, but the auger isn’t turning, you will have to verify whether the motor is working. Normally, the motor/gearbox makes enough noise to be heard with the freezer door closed. To test whether the auger motor is working:
Loose or Disconnected Linkage from the Motor to the Auger
The auger motor has to transmit all that kinetic energy it makes to the auger somehow. It could do this through a basic drive shaft or a set of gears. If the drive shaft is broken or the gears are stuck/missing, the auger motor will hum away, but all that motion can get to your auger. Luckily, the linkage should be simple and easily comprehended once the bucket is disassembled. Check for visible breakages, misaligned gears, or stuck gears that fail to move when the motor spins.
Check Whether the Auger Spins Freely
The final thing you could check is whether your auger spins freely. A stuck auger could be more than the motor or gears can handle. Though rare, when the auger sticks, the drive system from the motor will slip, or the motor will downright fail to spin. You can check if your auger is stuck by:
Drain the ice from the ice machine until you can access the augerUnplug the ice maker from the powerHold the auger deftly by hand and try spinning it (in the correct direction)I should spin freely if not stuck
If it seems stuck, you will have to clean it thoroughly, removing any residue or caked-on ice that could be holding it in place. You can try breaking it free further by opening up the bucket and disassembling the auger and its drive mechanism before reassembling the individually cleaned parts.
