Removing Plug to Install a Block Heater - Need some ideas

[rScotty]

It would seem that getting heat into that entire block is important to loosening the thread grip BEFORE attempting to remove the plug.

That's right. Getting that plug out is the reverse of shrink-fitting a cylinder into a hole.
To get the most good from the heat... to get the hole as large as possible.... that whole block needs room to expand without any resistance, so a heated block surrounded by air is ideal.
Just heating one little area of of the block without also heating the surrounding metal doesn't give the hot metal anywhere to go. The hole can't grow much that way.
rScotty

 

[chriswheeler]

Heating the engine to operation temp could be the most important part of loosening that plug. Fit on the square is important as well. I used to do heat shrink new wheels onto RR axels. We could fit .02 shrink fit ( that is to say .o20 small on the bore ) on a well heated wheel, it would grow that much with enough heat. Never had a wheel come off.
Chris

 

[phatgemi]

All this work makes me glad I installed a heater in the radiator hose. Much simpler.

 

[blacklion66]

110 volt Circulating Engine Heaters are mostly used where it gets cold (-10 is a sign that spring isn't far away)
The main drawback to them is about every 2-3 winters you will have to replace the hoses.

 

[bedrock61]

Just installed a Hoye blocker heater in my Ym165D...removed the starter
for clearance. My 3/4 inch square socket fit better than then a 20mm. Was basically uneventful...merely apply a bit of propane torch heat, used a 2 ft breaker bar and the plug came right out. New Hoye block heater fit perfectly.

 

[Jtullis13]

Just installed a Hoye blocker heater in my Ym165D...removed the starter
for clearance. My 3/4 inch square socket fit better than then a 20mm. Was basically uneventful...merely apply a bit of propane torch heat, used a 2 ft breaker bar and the plug came right out. New Hoye block heater fit perfectly.

Your 165d is almost identical to my 155d. I installed the same block heater and had to remove my starter for better clearance as well. The heater works like a charm. Congrats on getting that installed.

 

[bedrock61]

Just installed a Hoye blocker heater in my Ym165D...removed the starter
for clearance. My 3/4 inch square socket fit better than then a 20mm. Was basically uneventful...merely apply a bit of propane torch heat, used a 2 ft breaker bar and the plug came right out. New Hoye block heater fit perfectly.

Well tried first cold start using new block heater. Plugged heater in for about 2 hours prior...worked great..fired right up. Worked better then magnetic heater I was putting on oil pan. Wasn’t really cold out, maybe 20 degrees..the cold stuff is coming!

 

[ruffdog]

The sizes 3/4" and 19mm are nearly identical.

 

[Scotty Dive]

Ok - Going to give this another try.....assuming I do have some success.....What block heater did everyone use?

 

[bedrock61]

Ok - Going to give this another try.....assuming I do have some success.....What block heater did everyone use?

Hoyes....good luck...if you can get it installed..it’s well worth it effort