Finally figured out the right way to load the ice machine at the gas station

I work nights at a Shell station outside of Phoenix. That ice machine has been jamming up on me for three years. Last week I realized if you don't pack the bags too tight and leave a little gap at the top, the ice drops in smooth. Saved me 20 minutes of banging on it every shift. Anyone else have a dumb fix for a broken machine that took way too long to figure out?

3 comments

3 Comments

wyatt_hernandez1425d ago

I've been fighting with a beat up ice machine at the Circle K off the 10 for about two years now. What finally worked for me was realizing it's all about how you hold the bag when you slide it in. If you tilt it so the ice falls to one side and then set it down slow, the machine doesn't get that sudden dump of weight that makes it seize up. @jenny47 is right on the money about shaking the bag first too, it keeps the cubes from sticking together in clumps. I used to just yank the bag open and jam it in there like a caveman. Now it's smooth every time.

wadew5125d ago

That line about leaving a gap at the top makes total sense now. I used to just cram the bags in tight and then wonder why the machine would choke up every damn time. Never thought that little bit of space would make such a difference.

jenny4725d ago

oh yeah i used to do the same thing. now i just leave like an inch or two at the top and it feeds way smoother. also helps to kinda shake the bag a little before putting it in so the grass settles down and you dont have to worry about it jamming.