Taylor manufactures some of the best ice cream machines in the industry, but as with all other equipment, they must be regularly maintained to minimise downtime, to ensure efficient running and top performance. Keeping on top of your cleaning and maintenance is key, but in the rare instance your machine isn’t working properly, we have some tips for troubleshooting a Taylor soft serve machine.
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Problem #1: Machine Won’t Run
If the machine isn’t working after pressing the AUTO button, check the following potential issues:
- Unplugged machine – It happens to the best of us 🙂 See if the power cord is unplugged from the wall outlet. Plug it back in.
- Circuit breaker is off or the fuse is blown – You need to turn the circuit breaker on or replace the blown fuse.
- Beater motor stops on reset – Reset the freezer to reset the beater motor. If it still goes out, you should contact a service engineer.
Problem #2: No Product Coming Out of the Machine
If no ice cream or mixture is being dispensed while the draw valve is open and the machine is switched on and in AUTO mode, check the following:
- No mix in the hopper – Check and adjust the amount of mix in the hopper.
- The circuit breaker is off or the fuse is blown – You need to turn the circuit breaker on or replace the blown fuse.
- Freeze-up in the mix inlet hole – Book in an authorised Tayor service engineer to adjust the mix hopper temperature
- Beater overworked – The beater in the machine may have been overworked, causing the motor to overload. To remedy this, you will need to reset the machine. Consult your user / service manual for the correct procedure to do so.
- Beater motor stops on reset – Reset the freezer to reset the beater motor. If the freezer still doesn’t work, contact a trained Taylor service engineer for assistance.
- Beater is rotating counterclockwise – If the beater is moving counterclockwise from the operator’s end, this will need correcting by an engineer.
- No air orifice / mix feed tube – Commonly called a cap for the breather tube, this part helps regulate the air product mixture in gravity-fed soft serve machines. See if the air orifice was accidentally removed or not installed.
Problem #3: Product is Too Stiff
If the ice cream or mixture is too stiff, check for the following:
- No air orifice/mix feed tube – As above, whilst your Taylor machine can run without this part, when missing it may affect the quality of your product and should be replaced.
- Viscosity needs to be adjusted – If your product is coming out too hard, slowly or in chunks, you may have a problem with the temperature control system. To fix this problem, gradually adjust the temperature control, but do not set the temperature lower than 18F. If the temperature control unit is damaged, you will need to call an engineer to replace the unit.
Problem #4: Product is Too Soft
If the ice cream or mixture is too soft, look for possible issues below:
- Worn scraper blades – The scraper blades wear out with consistent use. Make sure to replace them regularly at the first sign of wear.
- Out of date mix – Check the expiry date on your mix. Dispose of any expired mix. You should only use a fresh mix in your Taylor freezer.
- Dirty condenser (air-cooled units) – A dirty condenser can restrict airflow and overheat the product. Clean the condenser at least once a month to avoid this.
- Overheating – A crowded air-cooled machine can cause the unit to overheat. Move the unit to an area where it can receive adequate airflow across the condenser.
- Loss of water (water-cooled units) – Check if there are any leaks near the machine or by the water supply valve. Once you locate the source, remedy the cause of the issue.
Problem #5: Product Not Feeding into the Freezing Cylinder
If the ice cream or mixture won’t feed into the freezing cylinder, check for the following issues:
- Inlet hole for the mix is frozen – This may indicate a bigger problem, empty and switch off the machine and book in an authorised Tayor service engineer to adjust the mix hopper temperature
- Not enough mix in the hopper – Check and adjust the amount of mix in the hopper.
- No air orifice / mix feed tube – Check to see if the air orifice was accidentally removed or not installed (see above).
- Incorrectly installed air tube – Follow the instructions in the service manual to install the air tube in the mix inlet hole, using the end with the small hole in the side.
Problem #5: Leaking from the Door Spout
If you see leaking from the door spout, check for these possible problems:
- Missing or worn draw-valve O-rings – Install the new O-rings following the directions in the operation manual. O-rings should be replaced frequently to avoid future leaks.
- Draw-valve O-rings aren’t properly lubricated – Following the instructions in the operation manual to ensure each O-Ring is lubricated correctly.
- Incorrect lubricant is being used – OEM Taylor Lube is the only lube we would recommend, do not use a petroleum-based lubricant.
Problem #6: Leaking into the Rear Drip Pan
The drip pan is there to catch any excess fluid from the cooling system, but if you feel the leaking is excessive it’s worth checking the following:
- Missing or worn drive-shaft seal – Install the new seals following the instructions in the operation manual. Make sure you replace seals on the drive shaft frequently to avoid future leaks.
- Worn rear-shell bearing – Contact an authorised service engineer to replace the rear shell bearing.
Problem #7: Mix in the Hopper is Too Cold
If the mix inside the hopper is too cold, the mix hopper temperature may need adjustment. This should be undertaken by an authorised Taylor engineer.
Problem #8: Mix in the Hopper is Too Warm
If the mix inside the hopper is too warm, check for the following:
- MIX light is off – Press the MIX button.
- Temperature is out of adjustment – The mix hopper temperature will need to be adjusted (as above).
- Hopper cover is off or out of position – Place the cover on top of the hopper or adjust it accordingly.
- Hopper gasket is worn/missing – Install or replace the gasket around the mix hopper following the instructions in the relevant operation/service manual.
Problem #9: Drive Shaft is Stuck
If the machine’s drive shaft get stuck on the drive coupling, look for the possible causes below:
- Mix and lubricant buildup is in the drive coupling – Use a brush with a little warm water to remove the buildup by the coupling. Make sure to clean the area around the rear shell bearing regularly to avoid future buildup. Follow cleaning instructions in the operation’s manual.
- Rounded corners – See if the driveshaft, coupling or both have rounded corners. Contact an authorized service technician to repair or replace the components. Taylor ice-cream machine parts are available to purchase though FES. Do not lubricate the hex end of the drive shaft.
Problem #10: High Bacterial Count
Soft serve machines tend to harbour bacteria if not adequately and regularly cleaned. The machine should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily to prevent a build-up of bacteria.
If despite regular cleaning your unit still has a problem with bacterial build-up, you should disassemble the unit and use the brushes and cleaning solution provided to thoroughly clean each part.
Need more help troubleshooting your machine? Call us and we will do what we can to help. We sell Taylor ice-cream machine parts to help get your machine fixed quickly!
Guidelines above refer to the following:-
C152, C161, 750, 751, 754, 774, 791 and 794 Taylor soft serve freezers.
