ice door would not stay closed. repair guy said problem is with ice door closer (part #1120581). Found part cheaper on line, figured could replace myself. Bought two, ours has gone out every few years-good to have a spare.

I am pretty handy. Took pictures of disassembled when repair guy was here. Not a complicated job. Closer only goes on one way. All other parts are installed properly.

Here is the problem. I put the new closer on and it does not operate properly. The closer has an arm that the ice door piece fits into. Ice door opens mechanically, bringing arm forward. There is no resistence there, so when you are done getting your ice, the arm doesn't move to close the door. Put the second new one on-see if first was defective. Same thing. On old one, tried to backwards wind the arm to see if i needed to build up resistence. Did not work. Any ideas? Closer should work like a kid's swing. Build up resistence (when you push) and should close ice door on backswing, holding the door closed until mechancially opened again. This has me puzzled!

Just in case I have actually gotten two defective units, I have orderd another couple of these closers, and will return the first two. Open to any suggestions. Worst case: have to pay the appliance guy to fix, while feeling really stupid I couldn't figure it out!

thanks for your help

part i ordered and received is the closer-identical to closer that had been installed in fridge.. spring and shaft are both in good condition. the closer is what closes the ice door after dispensing the ice. Without closer attached, ice door stays in open position (therein the problem-warm room air gets into freezer, frosting up ice maker and making food thaw). Trying to determin if closers are defective, or if I need to do something to unit prior to installing closer, to maintain tension on door to keep it closed. According to kitchenaid broken out parts diagram, i am not missing any parts. Any further ideas?

on the back of the brass piece, at the top (you have to take the whole thing apart to see it), there is another spring, that actually holds the door closed. The one at the side of the white piece that you show is used to spring that white piece back into place after you take your glass away after getting ice. That is the motion that should cause the delay device to start up. There is just not a motion that either from the white part moving back into place, nor that brass shaft starts the delay motion. The door doesn't snap back into place, just goes back into place, staying closed (becasue of the spring behind the brass plate). WIthout the delay device installed at all, the door closes after being opened. The delay device actually keeps the door open if you don't give it a nudge to get it to move the door. (I guess you can tell I have spent quite a lot of time with this particular repair!). The new part should be here today or tomorrow to see if the first batch were just defective. I am learning quite a bit with your help! Thanks for sticking with me on this problem.

Hello Brian -

I saw your picture of the delay arm and ice chute door and springs. My chute door doesn't fully close because the white plastic guide on the delay (to which the brass arm on the door is attached) doesn't fully retract. When I detach the door from the delay, however, the door and closing springs operate perfectly. I have tried pushing the guide backward so its final resting position is closer to the back, but it is as far back as it can go. Possible fixes might include bending the brass arm forward, or removing the lock washer where the plastic guide attaches to the delay to reset the guide's position backward. Both of those seem to be workarounds, as the malfunction just recently started. What do you suggest?

Thanks!!