Block heater installation question

[RedHawkRidge]

I have a X595 and asked the JD dealer to install a block heater. I've been lucky with getting it started in the Wisconsin winters for a couple of years, but it's touch and go.
Got the unit back from the service dept, plugged it in, and checked on it 5-6 hrs later (by feeling the adaptor that the heater element plugs into) -- cold.
So I decided to look at the heater's coil and found that it was loosely screwed in -- I screwed it out with my fingers. More critically, the copper coating had melted right off the u-shaped coil.
And then I found that the location on the block where the unit was bolted onto was not opened up.
Question: the part no. description of the heater is "coolant heater" -- isn't the block supposed to have a plug knocked out so the element can sit in the coolant?
thanks for any thoughts.
Jim
PS I emailed JD, got a limp response from the parts people which said to consult the operators manual. I wanted to respond nastywise that nothing exists in the manuals on this, but instead I asked for a product engineer to talk to. We'll see....

 

[JD5210]

You might want to go to the John Deere Parts URL. It will show a picture of where it goes, looks like and part numbers. Hope this helps. You should not be able to get it out without tools, it should have had locite on it. These kits come with instructions, maybe the dealer still has them that you can give you.

John Deere - Parts Catalog

 

[joes_427_vette]

My 4110 came with a " cold weather package " that included a block heater. Have no idea if it was dealer installed or factory. In the 4 years I have owned it I haven't plugged it in as it is kept inside. A block heater was in the deal when I bought my NH TC 55 but it was overlooked at time of delivery. For what I have to pay to transport it back to the dealer I could buy four of them.

 

[diesel466]

Jim, By looking at parts diagram I would say yes a soft plug gets removed and threaded adapter bolted on and heater screwed in. If dealer just did this I would be talking to them.

 

[Willl]

isn't the block supposed to have a plug knocked out so the element can sit in the coolant?

Yup, sounds like somebody messed up.
Can you post pics ?
Is this your setup ?

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Sounds like a MAJOR Dumass at the dealer.

On teh smaller Yanmars the block heater is in a bolt on casting as shown in the pic above. This casting bolts onto teh cylinder head, BUT the frost plug that lies within needs to be removed so that coolant can get in.

Your heater is now junk thanks to the installer. It burned itself up tryinmg to transfer it's heat to air. Lucky it did not start a fire.

 

[Zebrafive]

Could the dealer have forgot to put coolant back in?

 

[RedHawkRidge]

Thanks for the comments. When I talked to the dealer and his service guy, they got real cautious about what happened. I told them that they should contact JD directly for the proper installation instructions. That was 6 days ago; yesterday I was told that JD had not responded yet. Of course I'm getting the run-around -- the dealer isn't looking forward to having to order a replacement element and eat the cost.
I'm torn -- this dealer has been very good about negotiating prices and taking trade-ins, both on JD equipment and Stihl chain saws, so I don't want to burn bridges. But I'm disappointed in the apparent amateurish installation, and at his foot-dragging. I guess you just have to accept some headaches when doing business with sellers.
Jim
PS Yes, the schematic is exactly what the adaptor and the heater look like. The heater is a u-shaped coil with a surface coating of copper over ceramic. When I pulled it, the copper was melted off the ceramic on the bend; in fact I found a bead of copper lying in the bottom of the adaptor.
And of course, we are due for sub-zero temps and more snow. What a pisser.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

So if I follow, you have the heater out and there has been no coolant lost. Is it dry inside the housing?

If so, look inside for the frost plug. May need to take the housing off, but then you'll see for sure and can point out to the dealer ah-duh doesn't that plug need to come out in order to immerse my IMMERSION style heater?

 

[Willl]

But I'm disappointed in the apparent amateurish installation, and at his foot-dragging. I guess you just have to accept some headaches when doing business with sellers.

Disappointed would be a understatement. I'd be POed.

Were not talking about some 'Joe Blow' repair yard, this is JD

Just tell 'em politely this is their F up on an easy project and work with them to make it right.