450C Coolant Heater, where to install

[DrLoch]

I'm thinking of installing a coolant heater on my loader. Those of you have one or have installed one, what line is removed to install it. I've looked at the parts breakdown and one of the places that looks feasible is the bypass line coming off the thermostat housing.

[Duke350B]

What is your heater brand. Did you buy it from DEERE? If so there is a sheet that shows how to do it...

[Lavoy]

I don't think you want to do that, but not sure, depends on which side of the thermostat the bypass is. Not sure if it is the same location on a 450, but on the 350, the temp sender is at the back of the block, take it out, put in a tee, put the sender back in the top of the tee, and a barb fitting out the tee. Normally the tank heaters come with a barb fitting that is the right size to go in where the block drain cock is.
Lavoy

[CatD8RII]

There is a block drain and a port in the cylinder head, both are 3/8" pipe thread, and both are close together. No drilling, teeing or whatnot needed. All you need is some heater hose and barb fittings. Also is a 1/2" bolt hole to use to clamp the heater to nearby. Deere recently changed their vendors for the tank heaters, the new ones are much too large to use on a 350 crawler. I doubt there's much more room on a 450

[DrLoch]

Thanks all. It wouldn't be a Deere heater, it would most likely be a Kats 1500 watt.

Lavoy, the bypass is below the T-Stat

CatD8RII, I will look for those plugs, that would make that portion of the install simple. Where to mount it will be the most fun. I will report back when I've got it done.

Thanks again.

[CatD8RII]

Make sure you measure the Kats heater beforehand if possible, they are much larger then the old Phillips type. Also there should be a boss in the left side of the block with a 1/2 NC bolt hole in it to use for mounting. Most kits come with a clamp mount that can take advantage of this setup.

[Scottyb]

This is the setup on my 450c
Everything we own up here has a heater on it, This one works well.




Scott

[DrLoch]

Perfect, thanks for the picture Scott. That is where I thought it would fit.

[NWJD fan]

The engine heater on my 350 quit working this spring and the replacement I ended up with won't fit in the same place. I was thinking about plumbing it in with quick disconnect fittings. Plug it in when I need it and remove it when I am done.

[Lavoy]

Quick coupling will likely reduce flow, increase temp in the heater, and shorten life would be my fear. No real reason to remove it when not in use.
Lavoy

[DrLoch]

This is the setup on my 450c
Everything we own up here has a heater on it, This one works well.




Scott

Scott, I took a quick look those location yesterday, did you open up the hole for block drain? Mine appears to be 1/4" NPT, and the hole in the thermostat housing where you connected the top end of your block heater doesn't exist on my . I can drill and tap the thermostat housing, there is a boss there now. I can open up the hole at the block drain area....if there is enough meat in that area.

Dennis

[Scottyb]

My units are using the block drain as tapped from the factory. I would drill and tap the thermostat housing however others have also used the temp sender location on the head by installing a T. I have a 350 done this way. It works ok.
Scott

[DrLoch]

Thanks

[cordlesscarpenter]

This is the setup on my 450c
Everything we own up here has a heater on it, This one works well.




Scott

I know this is an old thread but I'm hoping for a little naive clarification. To me, a "coolant heater" sounds like an oxy-moron lol . I am in the middle of a full on 450B restoration that had the engine catch fire and it's missing a bunch of parts... Right now I'm close to having her fully broken down and while developing my huge parts list I stumbled upon the "coolant heater". My new engine does not have one but I'm super curious as to when one would install one and why? Once this machine is complete, I will be hauling it to extreme NW Montana up in the mountains, I'm assuming it raises the engine temp to operating temperatures faster so one can get to work sooner? Should I consider adding this during my restoration since I'm moving to a cold climate? Thanks

[B Town]

A coolant heater is used to warm the coolant and surrounding metals/liquid to allow faster turn-over and starts at low temps. I bet NW Montana has these low temperatures we are talking about. Yes, I would definitely install a electric tank type heater.