Block Heater Install

[sandyc]

Just bit the bullet and bought a block heater for my B2620. With the price of propane going up I figure it will be cheaper to turn a block heater on for two hours rather than my shop heater. Anyway, looks to be straight forward except there is no spec for the torque to install the heater. I really don't want to screw up the block! Does anyone have any idea as to the torque for this accessory?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Is it the kind that has an expanding screw, or one that threads in? The expanding on my Ranger was 13in-lbs, IIRC, and the thread in one had none. Use some high temp silicone or threadlocker and snug it pretty good, prob 15-25 ft lbs.

 

[haveissues]

I just snugged mine and made it a bit tighter than the plug that it replaced on my 2620. It was maybe a 15 minute job.

 

[shatter42580]

Just bit the bullet and bought a block heater for my B2620. With the price of propane going up I figure it will be cheaper to turn a block heater on for two hours rather than my shop heater. Anyway, looks to be straight forward except there is no spec for the torque to install the heater. I really don't want to screw up the block! Does anyone have any idea as to the torque for this accessory?

That is a great idea, how many watts is the block heater that you got?

 

[sandyc]

It's 400 watts on 115 volts. Should warm it up a bit!

 

[Dpm708]

Just had one put in my BX25. 400 watts. Paid someone rather than screw it up myself. Punched out a freeze plug and installed. 2 hrs or so and block is VERY warm to touch. Starts right up with only about 5-10 secs glow plug time. Should have done it long ago....

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Best thing to do for winter starts! Easy to install!

 

[Dpm708]

It did look easy but I don't have a garage to work in. Otherwise I probably would have done it quite a while ago... If you want a chuckle look for my previous post Snow: Cold Weather adventures for my BX25

 

[haveissues]

I also set it up on a belkin wemo wifi controlled outlet. Instead of having to walk out to my garage I can turn the block heater on from my phone a couple of hours before I need to use it. It works great!!

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Haveissues, Did you have to have internet at the outlet? That sounds like a great idea since my barn isn't next door for me!

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

I also set it up on a belkin wemo wifi controlled outlet. Instead of having to walk out to my garage I can turn the block heater on from my phone a couple of hours before I need to use it. It works great!!

Well aren't we a princess!!!:laughing:

 

[fish6942]

I also set it up on a belkin wemo wifi controlled outlet. Instead of having to walk out to my garage I can turn the block heater on from my phone a couple of hours before I need to use it. It works great!!

I have mine plugged into an RF controlled AC adapter which was $8 at Menards. The remote stays in the house.

 

[haveissues]

Well aren't we a princess!!!:laughing:

Sure am. My garage is a few hundred feet away and down hill a ways. I don't feel like putting on my boots and trudging through the snow just to plug in a block heater and turn around. What can I say, I'm a little girl. :cowgirl:

 

[haveissues]

Haveissues, Did you have to have internet at the outlet? That sounds like a great idea since my barn isn't next door for me!

It does need to have wireless internet. They make some that just use a radio signal and a little remote but I have no idea about the range.

 

[sandyc]

The last needed tool arrived yesterday for the install of the block heater. Had to buy a 17mm hex socket wrench to remove the freeze plug and a 1 3/8 socket to install the heater. The draining of the coolant was easy now that Kubota has a "master" drain that does both the block and the radiator. All told, maybe 10 minutes work. Set it up with a remote switch from Amazon ($15) so I don't have to walk to my barn to turn it on. Works slick! thanks for the info guys!

 

[Looking4new]

Love those remote switches. I have two. One for the tractor and the other for the Heep.

 

[varmint]

I would just suggest that a couple of hours of block heater is probably a lot longer than needed, and may be "using" up the heater element. My B8200 is cold blooded- a bear to start without a block heater, but it only takes 20-30 minutes and it is good to go. I have a Canadian Kubota screw in heater.

 

[sandyc]

I noticed that there was a bit of antifreeze leaking out of the block heater threads. Tightened it up a bit more (maybe 20 lbs) and it still weeped a bit. Bit the bullet. Drained the A/F, and removed the heater. Took off the Teflon tape I used (recommended by Kubota) and replaced with thread/pipe dope compound. Tightened it up again and have no leaks yet. Other than that, the heater works slick....motor fires up and runs smooth after an hour of using the heater! Got to be easier on the motor to start up warm versus zero degrees!

 

[devildog1]

Yes Teflon tape sometimes does not work if it's put on ever so slightly wrong. There is a new to me product called brush on Teflon, looks like white pipe dope, works the nuts.
Devildog