How to remove and replace the block heater on a BX-24?

ayelvington · Jan 26, 2014

The block heater on my BX-24 died recently. The contact pins completely rotted off and there's no saving the plug or the heater. Since the heater is pressed into a freeze plug hole, I'm left to wonder how to pull it out!

Anyone have any experience to share?

Here's a video for you to ponder: Kubota BX 24 Blues: Clogged fuel filters, and dead block heater - YouTube

Chilly807 · Jan 26, 2014

I think a lot of the Kubota block heaters are threaded in to a pressed in insert in the block. In other words, it had a frost plug initially, which was removed and an insert was installed with an adhesive sealant. Then the block heater was threaded in to the insert. Yours may not be like this, however.

If not, about all I can think of is a slide hammer with some way to grip the existing heater. I've used an old pair of vise-grip pliers welded to a slide hammer in the past.

Sean

diesel lover · Jan 26, 2014

Hey there! Replacing that won't be too bad. On some newer tractors there is a pipe plug fitting that can be removed from the block and a engine block heater screws in there. This is on international tractors not sure what else. I'm a truck mechanic and most trucks have this type of block heater.

Yours as it is may not be hard to replace as long as it is accessible. You can punch a hole with a large screw driver or punch and cut it across half way sometimes.

art · Jan 26, 2014

Alan I believe that yours is screwed into a sleeve so with just draining the coolant down you should be safe. Rather unique way of getting to it! In less then five minutes the loader is off. The nose removal is easy without removing the grille guard when the loader is removed.
When you put the cord on don't forget to use some dielectric grease.

ayelvington · Jan 29, 2014

Well, it's pressed in, not threaded. The threads on the outside of the heater are garden hose threads, so I got a brass female garden hose to 1/2" NPT adapter and build a slide hammer with some pipe. I'll thread the fitting onto the heater, and use a slide on the pipe to unplug it. My mechanic neighbor is going to help me in his heated shop, so I'm hoping it'll be a tidy process. I suspect that it'll take longer to put the front end up on jacks and pull the engine cover off

Chilly807 · Jan 29, 2014

It should be pretty much straight forward, block heaters are one of the easier mechanical additions.

Sean

ayelvington · Jan 30, 2014

Well, the remove and replace went smoothly using a home made puller. The external threads on the block heater match a male garden hose bib! I got a 3/4" female garden hose to 1/2" NPTF adapter from a big box for $4, and joined it to a short piece of 1/2" gas pipe that I had around. I threaded everything together to give me a solid purchase on the block heater: