Manitowoc Noise?

[RedRunner]

Worked on a Manitowoc Q1400 series for the first time. Has air cooled condensor. Repaired refrigerant leak and charged unit. It does not seem to be in the manufactures specs though. Starts out at around 45# suction and begins harvest at about 31#. Mfg states 52# start and 25# end. I lowered the thickness control sensor to where there is almost a 1/8" layer of ice over the cubes so they would break up when they fell. It was close to 1/4" and the sheets would not break. This layer is consistant over both the plates. It seems to be working properly, but in the last 2 or 3 minutes before harvest, the ice or plates are making a creaking and popping noise. Like it is over freezing. It takes 11 or 12 minutes to go into harvest.

Is this noise normal for this machine? Or do I need to adjust the charge.

On the last stage of harvest, the top of the compressor looks to be flooding back a little, however the oil sump temperature does not seem to change. During the freeze cycle it is fine.

Glen

[rango]

Calibrate your gauges. Looks like everything is normal. Cracking and popping is good. Times are good. Check your gauges. On remote machines frost can be normal.

[intellitech]

If you weighed in the correct charge, vacuumed the system, and changed the filter drier accordingly then you are fine.

I would not get hung up on exact pressures if you have charged the system correctly......11 or 12 minutes is pretty good (is the condenser filter clean?). If your bridge thickness is 1/8 of an inch like you said then you are good on that part too.

The creaking and popping noise is normal when the machine is about to go into harvest.

Be careful not to jump right into adjusting the charge though.....critical charges (typical on ice machines) if off by a small percentage can affect the system performance, in this case, ice production. This could be noticed by an uneven freeze pattern on the evaporator plate (if under charged).

Just be sure to read the service tech handbook on the machine....I recommend checking out Manitowoc's website and look under the service section and look for online training.....it will teach you everything about the sequence of operation and over all operation of the machine.

[Recovery Unit 1]

I Love the sound of Cracking and Poping on a Manitowoc ! Almost Ready for Harvest ;) It is Normal

[kerreckt]

I agree. That's a good sound it's breaking loose and ready to drop ice.

[mike robinson]

I agree. That's a good sound it's breaking loose and ready to drop ice.

Creaking and poping is good that means the wait is over time to gather up the tools and get on to the next job.

[Kelly T]

Sounds like you fixed it to me:) popping noises is perfectly normal on a Manitowoc, if it didn't pop that would be bad.