How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP3108059 / 4387020 Cutting Grid Kit

After some light investigation I found that the ice cutter wire broke without the ice cutter wire, the sheet of ice will just build up and not drop ice cubes. I also noticed some calcium buildup around the water inlet valve where it has been slowly leaking over time. To bring this appliance back to life, I decided to replace the entire ice cutter wire with new wire and replace the water actuator and water supply tubing. 

The folks at appliance parts pros kindly sent me a service manual for my ice maker. I eventually figured out I had a broken wire on the ice cutting grid. I ordered the new wire which was simple to replace. Now the ice maker works perfectly. 

I used the "Wire Cutter Kit" i bought, sat down at a work bench and took the old one apart, threaded the new wires through the holes creating a new cutter grid and i was making ice within an hour. 

Ordered the replacement wire package, took the unit apart and removed the ice cutter assembly, replaced the wire per the instructions, reinstalled and the unit began to work as soon as I turned it back on. 

Put new cutter wire on cutting grid frame. 

Replaced both layers of wire needed to stretch each wire to make it tight. Installed and working now. 

I had to replace the cutting wire in my 2008 Whirlpool ice machine (2 kits costing $60 plus shipping and tax) which is about half of the price of a new grid. It was a fairly easy job to do once the cutter bracket was cleaned (soaked in vinegar to break up calcium/lime deposits). To remove the tray from the ice machine I used a 1/4" nut driver. To work the grid I needed a T15 Torx driver, 2 sets of linemen's pliers and a medium size pair of channel locks. The job is fairly straight forward. It took a while to clean up the ice maker. There was a fair amount of water deposit and mold in the machine but it is now cleaned and operating fine. 

Began by shutting off. Did not run diagnostic test due to familiarity with recirculating pump going out. We purchased the ice machine in June of 2010 and have replaced the pump 3 times....so expect a life expectancy of 2 years on a pump max. I also removed the coverlet for the grid and noticed the end wire broken. It had hard water deposits near it - so assumed the wire corroded and broke off. The job itself was simple to replace - however we took the time to deep clean and remove all tubing to soak in vinegar and bleached the ice machine in certain areas. Our project took several hours due to a thorough cleaning. I strongly suggest taking pictures prior to removing anything in order to recall how screws, attachments, and cables are adhered. 

I purchased the replacement wire kit as the grid was no longer available 

Removed the ice cutting unit from the appliance, took out broken cutting wire and weaved a new wire in.