How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6006686 / WP2220457 Refrigerator Ice Bin Coupling

Replaced Ice Bin Coupling. 

Changed the couplings took about 5 minutes 

The ice bin coupling halves and washer fell out when I looked to see what had happened. I also noticed significant frost on the underside of the ice bucket. When the replacement part arrived, I emptied the ice into a plastic bowl, and then used warm water to defrost the underside of the ice bucket. I then removed the screw, holding the auger while unscrewing. I put the washer (which I'd saved) and the new ice coupling on the ice tray and then put the screw back in, tightening it down. I put the ice bucket unit back in the fridge and added most of the ice from the plastic bowl back and tested the mechanism and it had returned to correct functionality. 

There is a hexagonal shaft that connects the ice dispenser motor to an auger/chopper in the ice hopper. The end of the shaft had rounded-off. A new shaft was needed to fix the problem, but I realized that the real problem was that only about 1/8" of the shaft actually engaged the auger coupling at the top end. I needed to raise the shaft a little to make it better engage, so I dropped 4 #6 washers into the motor socket which raised the shaft about another 1/8", giving it about 1/4" engagement into the auger coupling at the top while maintaining about 1/2" engagement into the motor socket at the bottom. 

It was a good experience and the repair only took 20 minutes or so. I ordered both couplings, the one on the door and the one on the ice maker. When I removed the coupling from the door I could see why the coupling was worn. The spring which keeps the coupling engaged was jammed. So just making sure the spring was working and replacing the one coupler did the trick. 

I took ice maker apart and replaced the coupling 

Simple replacement…Remove one Phillips head screw be sure to retain thrush washer…Be EXTRA CAREFUL to not let the auger assembly come out…You will spend hour reassembling washers, blades and spacers..Ask me how I know. 

Diagnosed the problem, searched online to find the part, found the part and the info on how to replace it on AppliancePartsPros.com 

Took about 10 minutes. I watched a youtube video. Very easy. 

Was able to locate the part quickly on appliance parts pros website. Watched install video and put new part in. Now it works great!