Kubota G1800 block heater installation help

bclaggett · Dec 20, 2008

I need to install a block heater on my G1800. The instructions say to drain the coolant and to remove the plug from the "frost plug located on the front side of the cylinder head next to the air intake breather."

A) How do I drain the coolant?

B) Where in heck is the frost plug?

The air intake breather looks to be, from the front of the engine, top right. The air flows from the filter on top of the battery to a intake located top right on the engine case. I don't see a "plug" underneath that location.

My wife picked up the part for me and I forgot to tell her to get the parts man to print out an exploded view of the engine. Can anyone save me a trip back to the dealer?

Thanks in advance.

Brian Phelps

P.S. I'm installing the block heater because when the weather gets "cold" out here in California (oh, brrrr, like 32 deg F -- sorry if you are in Minnesota), the engine cranks with difficulty. I replaced the battery last week hoping that would solve the problem, but it still won't start. I'm hoping the block heater solves the problem.

escavader · Dec 20, 2008

Im not too familar with your machine,but you can remove the lower water hose from the radiator to drain the fluid.The frostplug is located on the side of your engine block,its a soft round thing probably slightly larger than an inch. There are posts on here about removing the frost plugs.Ihavent had to do it ,but another poster told me hang on to it so you dont drop it inside the motor.One said wind a screw in it and put a peice of wire on it,another told me drive one side[think you have to do this to remove ] in grab other side with vice grips so you dont drop it.Most use some lock tight on them also before restall.
ALAN

bclaggett · Dec 20, 2008

What does the frost plug look like? Is it merely an indentation in the side of the engine block? Thanks.

B

escavader · Dec 20, 2008

bclaggett said:
What does the frost plug look like? Is it merely an indentation in the side of the engine block? Thanks.

B

YES,Its round and if you touch it and press,youll see its soft and moveable.Designed to blow out if your antifreeze/water freezes up,so your block wont crack.Most all watercooled engines have them.
ALAN

bclaggett · Dec 20, 2008

Thanks. I'll have to look under and around, because most of the engine block is inaccessible what with the battery in front, the chassis along the sides, and the mower deck under the middle.

escavader · Dec 20, 2008

BRIAN,
When im working on my bx i remove the hood and sidepanels,makes life easier.

By the way,just noticed your new,WELCOME TO TBN,lots of goodole boys on here.

dex3361 · Dec 21, 2008

I installed a freeze plug on my L4400 and it was afriction fit metal freeze plug about 1.5 inch in diameter. I drilled a hole for a screw in dent puller and pulled it out, put some lock tight around the fit and drove the thread ring in and then the heater theaded in. Here is a link to Kubota books.com that lists your parts manual inPDF hope this helps. Index of Kubotabooks/Tractor Parts Manuals/

lakeside · Dec 21, 2008

I've owned a G1800 for 13 years and I still love it. I installed a block heater several years ago because the winters here go down to -27c. At that temperature, good luck starting a diesel unless its plugging in.

Even at -20c I only plug the tractor for about 20 minutes, any more and I find it's simply inconveniencing electrons for nothing.

I was in a Kubota dealer last week looking at a B26 and when I told the salesman I had a G1800 he told me to keep it. He was telling me the new series are all plastic and they don't make them like the G1800.

Good look with your tractor!

bclaggett · Dec 22, 2008

Dex, thanks for the link to the manuals. My previous hours of trolling the Internet looking for manuals and specifications did not prove as fruitful as this forum has!