On a GE ice maker, the shutoff arm (or feeler arm) should be down for normal ice production.
The ice maker arm should be in the down position to make ice. When the arm is in this lowered position, the ice maker is turned on.
The feeler arm (or shut-off arm) on a GE refrigerator ice maker controls ice production by detecting the fill level of the ice bin. When the bin is full, the ice pushes the arm up, which signals the ice maker to pause making ice.
Keep the metal bar down to make ice. The down position is the "on" position.
To make ice, the ice maker arm must be in the down position.
If your ice maker arm won't go down, the most common cause is a mechanical ice jam in the bin or a frozen hinge. Gently pull the arm down (or push the reset button) to reactivate the switch.
A clogged water filter can restrict water flow to the icemaker. Water filters should be changed every 6 months. If your refrigerator has a water filter, try replacing your water filter. You can purchase a GE Appliance genuine water filter online at our GE Appliances Parts & Accessories website.
Feeler Arm - Sensing Cubes: Before the cubes are ejected, the shut-off arm lifts up or pulls in. After the cubes are ejected, the arm drops down again or pushes out to sense the ice.
The bar should be down to make ice. Up if you would like it to stop making ice.
The ice maker control arm (or shut-off arm) is a metal or plastic lever that detects the ice level in the bin, automatically stopping production when the bin is full and restarting it when levels drop. If this arm is stuck, broken, or in the "up" position, the ice maker will stop producing ice.
To turn off your GE refrigerator ice maker using the shut-off arm, simply locate the wire or paddle arm on the side of the ice maker. Raise the arm to the top "STOP" position until it clicks to stop ice production. Lower the arm to turn the ice maker back on.
You need to leave it plugged in and running all the time if you want ice. If the unit is powered off the ice will melt and the water will return to the reservoir. This is just like your refrigerator or freezer in that it needs to be on all the time.
The ice maker feeler arm (or shut-off arm) is a wire or plastic lever that detects the ice level in your bin. When the bin is full, the arm is pushed up to pause ice production. When the bin is empty, it drops down to signal the ice maker to make more.
To prevent this from happening, discard the clumped ice and check the bin periodically to ensure the ice is not building up. If you do not use a large amount of ice, you may turn off the icemaker and stop ice production to prevent this as well.
Keep the ice maker arm in the down position to make ice. When the arm is lowered, the ice maker is ON. When the arm is flipped or stuck in the up position, the ice maker is OFF. The arm acts as an automatic shutoff that detects when the bin is full and raises itself to stop producing ice.
To make ice, the metal or plastic feeler arm (shut-off arm) must be in the DOWN position. Raising the arm to the UP position turns the ice maker OFF.
To troubleshoot an ice maker arm that will not lower:
GE ice makers—whether it is a built-in refrigerator unit or a portable countertop model like the Opal—work by automating a continuous, cyclical process of filling, freezing, loosening, and dispensing ice. The system relies on precise temperature sensors, a water valve, a small heating element, and an ejector arm.
An ice maker arm (or bail arm) is designed to pause ice production when lifted to the "up" position. If it keeps going up or won't stay down, it is usually caused by an ice jam, a frozen pivot point, or a broken spring/retaining clip.
Putting a penny (or any coin) in the freezer is an easy trick used to check if your freezer lost power while you were away, and whether your frozen food is still safe to eat.
A: Whether to repair or replace an ice maker depends on the refrigerator's age, the type of failure, and whether the problem is actually the ice maker itself—or the water valve, fill tube, or freezer conditions feeding it. Many ice maker issues are straightforward and affordable to fix.
Yes, you can run diluted vinegar through your ice machine. It is one of the safest, most effective natural ways to break down hard water scaling, mineral buildup, and musty odors.
To reset a GE ice maker, use either the feeler arm method (pushing it up and down 3 times), the power cycle method (turning the switch off and on), or the reset button for newer models. These troubleshooting steps reset the motor and clear minor electronic glitches to start a fresh cycle.