hey everyone, was wondering if someone could tell me what is involved in changing my block heater on my tractor (4640). It finally quit. I assume I need to drain the coolant from the block, but I wonder exactly how and also, what concerns I should have for making sure I get the coolant back in the block past the thermostat and how I should go about this..

thanks for any help!!

 

your Jd should have a drain plug in rad. It maybe be a little had to get at. Refill though rad. it will fill ok and not have any air lock.

 

There is also a drain plug in the block under the intercooler.

 

Just wanted to follow up with this in case anyone needs the info. I talked to my local JD Service Mgr. and here is what he said to do.
1. drain coolant at petcock next to blockheater. (hook a 3/8 hose to it and it will drain approx. 10 gal. until it gets below the petcock/blockheater.
2. remove old block heater
3. install new one, (he said to turn it left until it hits a cyclinder annd then turn it right until it hits the other cylinder then split the difference. (it is to point up not down- element is L-shaped)
4. tighten everything up.
5. pour the removed coolant back into the radiator. (assuming the radiator is not already low on coolant) if the entire 10 gal. goes back in without issue, then it is ok. If not, you have to remove the sending wire off the coolant temp. sending unit and remove the sending unit (it is on back left corner of head by tractor door) and then continue to poor coolant into the radiator until you see coolant come out of the hole in the head. Then reinstall the sending unit/ and wire and continue to fill the radiator.

I dont think it sounds to bad. Will let you know once I do it.

 

good luck with it, if you need anything let me know. I am in school right now to be a jd service technician and have access to all the computer programs at school and can look up exact directions on how to do anything to any piece of jd equipment. so if you have any troubles I can look stuff up for you, part #'s, directions, diagrams, you name it. Block heaters are pretty straight forward but I've never done one on a 4640 before

 

Thank you Strokerace..

Ok,

I put the new block heater in last night and it was pretty easy.
Some things to share. I petcock was full of crud, so it would not drain until I used a pic and cleaned it out. Once I got it cleaned out I hooked the 3/8 hose and drained the coolant until it stopped draining. (which was approx .8 gal). The coolant was pretty sad looking so this summer I am going to flush the system. The old unit came out once I used a punch and hit it on the side once or twice. Put the new one in and tighten and filled the radiator with fresh antifreez/water and it took the entire 8 gal. (if you don't get in a hurry). If you listen you can hear the coolant "grigle" down in the block so once I got the 8gal back in and the "grigling" stopped, I plugged the heater in and check and it worked fine and no leaks. I then put out hay and got the tractor up to temp and once I got it back in the shop, I checked all again and it was ok. (no leaks).