Stoelting Ice Cream Machine Troubleshooting Since 1939, Stoelting has manufactured some the best ice cream equipment, allowing places to whip everything from soft serve to sorbet with ease. Like any machine that gets used every day, issues can occur from time to time. We have easy tips for troubleshooting a Stoelting ice cream machine, whether it’s a floor model or countertop unit. That way you can diagnose the problem quickly and get back to serving frozen treats in no time.
Stoelting Ice Cream Machine Troubleshooting Solutions
Ice Cream Too Soft or Thin
When the ice cream comes out too soft, look for the following:
- No venting space – Make sure the machine is in an area that has enough space for cool air to flow freely. There should be a minimum of three inches of air space on the sides of the unit.
- High ambient temperature – When the unit is by hot air or direct sunlight, it can soften the ice cream. Air entering the unit should be below 100°F. Make sure to move the machine into a cooler spot.
- Low consistency setting – Adjust the consistency setting on your the machine so the product is firmer.
- Dirty condenser – A dirty condenser can cause the machine to overheat. Make sure to clean the condenser at least once every three months.
- Incorrectly installed auger – If the auger was installed incorrectly, remove the mixture and clean the machine. Once it’s reassembled, sanitize the unit and freeze it down.
- Broken down ice cream – The ice cream can break down the longer it sit in the machine, fill it with fresher product.
Machine Not Running or Operating Properly
When the machine isn’t running or operating correctly, look for the potential problems below:
- Power is off – See if the machine is turned off or the power cord is unplugged. If not, check if there is a blow fuse or tripped circuit.
- Low voltage supply – A low amount of voltage could be supplied to the unit. Have an authorized technician diagnose the issue and correct it.
- Front door not in place – The front door could be loose or incorrectly installed. Make sure it’s installed securely.
- Freeze-up (auger not turning) – Switch the unit to “Off” and wait 15 minutes to turn it back on.
- Overloaded drive motor – When the drive motor is overloaded, this prevent the compressor from operating. Push the “Drive Reset” lever to reset. If the issue persists, contact an authorized technician to repair.
- Tripped or damaged overload protector – If the overload protector trips, it will eventually reset after cooling down. If there the protector is damaged, have an authorized technician replace it.
Machine Freezes Up or Won’t Dispense Easily
If your machine is having trouble dispensing product, check for potential problems below:
- No mixture in hopper – Check that there is mixture in the hopper.
- Mixture too frozen – If the mixture is frozen or not thawed properly, it can cause the machine to freeze up or cause product to dispense slowly.
- Freeze-up (auger not turning) – Switch the unit to “Off” and wait 15 minutes to turn it back on.
- Low overrun setting or pump pressure – See if the pump’s overrun setting or pump pressure is too low. Contact an authorized technician for more assistance to diagnose or correct the issue.
- Overloaded drive motor – When the drive motor is overloaded, this can keep the auger from running or cause it to kick out. Give the motor about 20 minutes to reset. If the issue persists, contact an authorized technician.
- Auger turns counterclockwise – The auger should be turning clockwise. Make sure this is corrected to prevent the machine from halting operation.
- Large air pockets – Oversized air pockets in the barrel can affect dispensing. Remove air from the barrel.
- Tripped drive motor overload – The drive motor overload trips, allow the machine to reset. If the issue persists, contact an authorized technician for assistance.
- Broken drive belt – If the drive belt fails or breaks, have it replaced.
- Refrigerant charge is low – The freezer refrigerant charge might be too low. This must be troubleshot and fixed by an authorized technician.
Auger Won’t Run or Kicks Out
Whenever the auger (drive motor) won’t run or kicks out, look for the following issues:
- Freezer power is off – See if the machine is turned off or the power cord is unplugged.
- Overloaded drive motor – When the drive motor is overloaded, this can keep the auger from running or cause it to kick out. Give the motor about 20 minutes to reset. If the issue persists, contact an authorized technician.
- Hard ice cream or product – When the ice cream/product is too hard, the auger could kick out or not run. The product temperature will need to be increased, or the overrun will need to be raised.
- Insecure front door – The front door could be loose or incorrectly installed. Make sure it’s installed securely.
Machine Leaking
If you notice leaks from the machine, check for the following problems from the spigot or rear auger seal:
Spigot
- Unlubricated spigot parts – The owner’s manual will have instructions on how to properly lubricate these parts.
- Worn out or improperly installed O-rings – When the O-rings are worn or chipped, replace it for better performance. If they were installed incorrectly, removed the spigot and correct their placement.
Rear Auger Seal
- Unlubricated real auger seal – The owner’s manual will have instructions on how to properly lubricate the rear auger seal.
- Missing or improperly installed seal – See if the seal is missing or not properly installed. Proper alignment can be found in the owner’s manual.
- Damaged shaft – Check if the shaft has scratches or notable wear. If so, have it replaced by an authorized technician.
Low Overrun
If the machine is experiencing low overrun, check for the following:
- Mix inlet regulator plugged or leaking air – See if the mix inlet regulator’s air tube is plugged. Use a small brush to unclog the tube. If there is air or mixture leaking from the regulator, check if the O-rings or floating check balls are damaged, worn or missing. Lubricate or replace O-rings if necessary, or replace the floating check balls if necessary.
- Worn or missing auger flights/springs – If either the flights or springs are worn out or missing, have them replaced.
Slipping or Squeaking Drive Belts
Whenever the drive belts make a squealing sound or slip, look for the possible causes below:
- Incorrect drive belt tension – Adjust the belt tension using instruction from the operation manual.
- Worn or damaged belt – If the drive belt has significant damage or wear, replace it immediately.
- Freeze-up (auger not turning) – Switch the unit to “Off” and wait 15 minutes to turn it back on.
- Low overrun – See section above for potential causes and solutions for low overrun.
Hopper Mix Too Warm or Cold If the hopper mix temperature isn’t steady, check for the following:
- EPR valve to warm or low – Have an authorized technician locate the EPR valve and adjust the temperature appropriately.
- Refrigerant is low (temperature too warm) – The refrigerant could be low. This must be troubleshot and corrected by an authorized technician.
Low mix level (temperature too warm) – If the mix level in the hopper is too low, adjust it accordingly. It should be 1/3 to 1/2 full of mix.