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Hey everyone,
I know a while ago, maybe quick awhile ago, someone installed an external tank water heater on the 254 for cold weather. I’ve had one for a couple of years now and decided its finally time to put it on. I can’t remember where it was plumbed in.
I was thinking of the input to the heater would tee off the coolant drain, back left of engine. The output I was thinking to tee off of the small elbow hose coming from the water pump to the thermostat housing. Actually mounting the tank heater, well I haven’t thought that far yet..
Any thoughts as to plumbing this up? Its a Kats 1000 watt tank heater.
Aubrey
God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy! '07 Jinma 254LE
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Thanks David and Tin for the replies,
I went with the tank type heater since the lower radiator hose is already tight, and thought it would be too much for the inline heater. Probably would work great.
We got down to 12F the other day and got me to dig out the heater from the garage and blow off the dust. Now I just have install it, works better than sitting in the package.
Aubrey
God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy! '07 Jinma 254LE
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What has always kept me away from radiator hose type heaters is if they fail and leak you lose all your coolant. If they fail and overheat and melt your lower hose you lose all your coolant. Here are some crappy pics I just took, it’s around 20 and snowing right now and I’ll still look for better pics at work, but here’s these: As you can see the lower tank outlet goes to the block by the oil dipstick. The upper outlet went into a convenient plug at the water pump.Notice that hose wraps around the fuel filter heating the fuel as a bonus. Damn the oil filter looks disgusting! :negative:
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Thanks Tin,
I have a petcock on the rear of the engine to drain the coolant. I can’t tell from your pic, did you remove it? or just connect on the end and open the petcock?
Up front I did away with that small elbow hose long ago. I have a loop to accomplish the same, and I think I’ll just tee into it.
Aubrey
God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy! '07 Jinma 254LE
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Well everything went together relatively easy yesterday. Filled the coolant back up and did some mowing to warm everything up. Coolant level was fine after it cooled down. This morning, 24F out, I plugged it in and within 15 minutes the hose going to the top of the engine was warm. I waited 45 minutes and started right up.. Pleased with it, and will give it a better test this winter,,
Aubrey
God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy! '07 Jinma 254LE
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The hose size on the heater is 5/8″ so I stayed with that size. The petcock was 1/4″ pipe thread, then an adapter for 5/8 barbed. Make sure you give yourself enough length of pipe as the oil dip stick is fairly close. The only thing I need to change, is put back the 90 bend of hose from water pump to thermostat. I have a loop in place which slows the heating process.
Aubrey
God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy! '07 Jinma 254LE
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Other than hard starting when its cold, I wanted to get the engine warmer before trying to start. I have only had a few problems since 07, mainly self induced.
In the back of my mind I keep thinking of my buddy locking up his combine a couple of years ago, 10f out that morning, he fired it up and didn’t go 20 feet before the engine started to seize. Many things could have caused it, but I’m sure cold thick oil may have contributed a little. Aubrey
God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy! '07 Jinma 254LE
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Snow is forecast for this next week, so I got the heater installed. Couple of notes. I tried to mount the bracket where Aubrey had it but the bolt was long, and I couldn’t pull it all the way out because there was some hydraulic plumbing blocking the removal of that long bolt. I mounted it to the frame up front by the front wheel. It appears there is enough clearance when moving, and the mounted to two of the bolts, (think that mount the engine. there are four in this area.)
The kit from Katz had the 1/4 MIP/5/8 inch fitting to replace the petcock valve. Yes that oil dipstick is very close so couldn’t really get a deep socket on it to screw it in, so had to work around everything with an open end wrench.
Has anyone ever said things are really tight for clearance on the 254’s. My gosh trying to get the hoses on by the water pump (that L shaped hose, I think maybe a bypass hose) was an absolute pain in the arse. Thought I could use a 5/8 T-fitting but no, things were too tight, and ended up using the y fitting that came with the Katz heater. 6 foot of 5/8 inch hose was enough, with a little left over.
Not a mechanic, my soft hands are pretty beat up, and kind of sore as well. I think I made up a few new words that day too. Really appreciate what mechanics do on a daily basis.
Any way it works, and looking forward to plugging the tractor in when the coming storm hits this next week.
Thanks all who contributed pictures and info. -
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