How to Install Refrigerator Ice Crusher Housing WR17X11497 in a GE Refrigerator

Quick answer: Empty and remove the ice bucket from the freezer door. Take off the rear cover of the bucket, unscrew or unclip the old crusher housing, seat WR17X11497 over the crusher blades with the chute facing the dispenser opening, refasten, then run cubed and crushed ice to confirm it dispenses.

The ice crusher housing WR17X11497 is the molded plastic shell that covers the crusher blades inside the ice bucket of a GE side-by-side refrigerator. On models such as the GSH22JFTDBB, GSS25WGPJBB, PSE29NHTACBB and PSS27NGNAWW the bucket sits in the freezer door, and when you press the dispenser paddle an auger pushes cubes through this housing, where the blades either pass them whole or crush them. A cracked housing lets ice spill inside the bucket, jams the auger, or drops shards of plastic into your glass.

The job is done at the kitchen counter with the bucket removed, so nothing in the refrigerator cabinet is touched. The tricky part is the crusher assembly itself: the blades are sharp and the housing must sit squarely over them so the auger shaft turns freely. This guide walks through removing the bucket, opening the crusher, fitting the new housing and testing both cube and crushed modes before you put the bucket back.

See part details and every compatible model: WR17X11497

⚠️ Safety First
  • Turn the ice maker off or switch the dispenser lock on before removing the bucket so the auger cannot run while your hands are near the blades.
  • Wear gloves. The crusher blades are sharp even when stationary.
  • Let the bucket warm a few minutes before handling so frost does not make it slippery.
  • Keep fingers out of the dispenser chute in the door while the bucket is out.

Tools and Parts You Need

  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flat-blade screwdriver for clips
  • Work gloves
  • Towel to work on and to catch meltwater
  • Flashlight
  • Small container for screws

Step-by-Step Installation

  1. Switch off the ice maker and empty the bucket Move the ice maker arm or switch to off. Open the freezer door, lift the bucket slightly and pull it straight out, then dump the ice into the sink.
  2. Open the crusher end of the bucket Set the bucket on a towel with the crusher end toward you. Remove the screws or release the clips on the rear cover that encloses the crusher housing and lift the cover away.
  3. Remove the old housing Note how the housing sits over the blades and which way its chute faces. Remove its fasteners, ease it off the auger shaft and set it aside. Collect any broken plastic from inside the bucket.
  4. Inspect the blades and shaft Check that the crusher blades are intact and turn with the auger shaft. Bent blades or a stripped shaft coupling will damage the new housing and should be replaced now.
  5. Seat the new housing Slide WR17X11497 over the blade assembly in the same orientation as the old part, with the chute pointing toward the dispenser opening. It should drop onto its locating tabs without force.
  6. Fasten and close up Reinstall the fasteners snugly, then refit the rear cover and its screws or clips. Turn the auger by hand to confirm the blades spin freely inside the housing.
  7. Reinstall the bucket Slide the bucket back onto its rails in the freezer door until it seats fully and the auger coupling engages the drive. Close the door and switch the ice maker back on.
  8. Test both modes Once there is ice, hold a glass under the dispenser and select cubed, then crushed. Ice should flow without grinding noises, and no plastic should appear in the glass.

Fit Checks Before You Call the Job Done

  • The housing sits flat on its locating tabs with no gap around the blade assembly.
  • The auger and blades turn by hand without rubbing the inside of the housing.
  • The chute lines up with the dispenser opening when the bucket is installed.
  • The rear cover closes fully and the bucket slides all the way onto its rails.
  • Both cubed and crushed ice dispense cleanly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Installing the housing rotated If the chute faces the wrong way ice packs up inside the bucket instead of leaving through the door. Match the orientation of the old part before fastening.

Leaving plastic shards in the bucket Fragments from the broken housing will jam the auger or end up in a drink. Empty and rinse the bucket before reassembly.

Overtightening the fasteners The housing is plastic. Snug the screws until they seat and stop; cracking a new housing on installation is common.

Reinstalling the bucket without seating the coupling A bucket that is not fully home leaves the auger disconnected, and the dispenser will hum without delivering ice. Push it in until it stops.

Troubleshooting After Installation

Dispenser hums but no ice comes out The bucket is not seated or the auger coupling is not engaged. Remove the bucket and reinstall it fully.

Grinding noise in crushed mode The housing is rubbing on the blades or a fragment is trapped. Open the rear cover and check clearance.

Crushed mode delivers whole cubes The crusher solenoid or its lever is not engaging the blade gate. The housing is fine; check the lever and solenoid in the door.

Ice spills inside the bucket The housing is not aligned to the chute. Reseat it on its tabs so the outlet points straight at the dispenser opening.

Care Tips After the Repair

  • Empty and rinse the bucket every few months so old ice does not fuse and overload the crusher.
  • Do not chip ice from the bucket with tools; use warm water on the outside if it freezes solid.
  • Keep the dispenser lock on when children are around to avoid running the auger dry.

Compatible Models (Sample)

This part is listed for 60 GE models in our fitment data. Always confirm your exact model number on the appliance's rating plate.

Repair Difficulty and Time

Difficulty: Easy. Typical time: 20 to 40 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GE refrigerators use WR17X11497?

It is listed for GE side-by-side models including GSH22JFTDBB, GSS25WGPJBB, PSE29NHTACBB, PSS27NGNAWW and PSE25SGTCCSS. Check the model tag inside the fresh food compartment.

Do I have to replace the whole ice bucket?

No. The housing is a separate part that covers the crusher blades. If the bucket body or the auger is cracked, the bucket assembly would be the fix.

Do I need to unplug the refrigerator?

Not for this repair, since the bucket is removed from the door. Switch the ice maker off and use the dispenser lock so the auger cannot run.

The blades look dull; should I replace them too?

Dull blades still work, but bent or broken blades should be replaced with the housing so the new housing is not damaged.

Final Checklist

  • Ice maker switched off and bucket emptied
  • Rear cover removed and old housing orientation noted
  • Blades and auger shaft inspected
  • New housing seated on its tabs with chute toward the dispenser
  • Fasteners snug, not overtightened, and cover closed
  • Bucket fully seated and both ice modes tested

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