A timing mechanism controls various functions of an ice maker through cams carried on a camshaft. A harvest rake that removes ice from a receptacle is coupled to the camshaft to be rotated thereby. The camshaft is driven by a motor which is coupled to the timing mechanism through a pair of non-circular meshing gears. The gears are programmed such that a slower speed is imparted to the camshaft when ice is being removed from the receptacle by the harvest rake. This provides a slower speed but higher torque to the harvest rake during ice removal and a faster, more accurate timing rate during filling of the receptacle.