John Deere 1020 circulating block heater

Hello, I recently acquired a mechanically
sound but cosmetically rough 1973 1020 and
am looking good to install a circulating
block heater. I see the part for sale, but
am looking for specific instructions on how
to install it. I'm fairly competent with a
wrench but want to do it right the first
time; as I can't risk screwing things up
because money is tight, I need a working
loader, and my Wife may kill me. Thanks!

Here is a good photo from the web of a heater installed on a 1020 to give you a visual of where to look for the two connection points for the hoses on your engine and how it should look when you finish. The hot water outlet must always be the top port and it must be below the point hot coolant returns to the block - hot water naturally rises and gives you circulation through the heater. According to the JD parts site you need different fittings to connect the hoses depending on if your exhaust is vertical or horizontal.

Welcome to YT
Coolant heater mounts on LH side of engine block

(quoted from post at 05:00:36 11/17/18)
Welcome to YT
Coolant heater mounts on LH side of engine block

Click to expand...

Bottom hose goes to the drain pet cock on side of motor? Hard to see where upper hose connects to

There is a fitting in the block almost directly above the drain petcock. The top hose, in the photo I posted, shows the location to look. It may have just a plug in it.

Jim has it correct. One thing to make sure and do is bleed the air out of the heater BEFORE plugging it in the first time. Just hooking up all the fittings/hoses and then filling the block with water will often leave the heater bone dry with it air locked. Then you plug it in with the element burning out in seconds.

So hook up your plumbing. Makes sure the fitting on the heater with the check valve is on the bottom. Also keep the heater as straight up and down as you can when mounting it. Hook up your lower hose and tighten everything up. Install the top hose on the heater. Fit everything and install the block fittings. Leave the hose off the top block fitting. Start filling the block with water. When you get water coming out of the heater's top hose you have it bleed. Hook the top hose up and fill full of water.

Also try to make the hoses as short as possible and route them to have smooth flow to the top port. A drooping hose will act like a sink trap and hold air. These heaters circulate the water using a thermal cycle, no mechanical pump. So the water heated by the element raises. This draws cold water into the bottom of the heater to get heated. Simple system that works well if installed correctly.

Glad to see someone using a coolant heater. Too often the question here is "how much ether to use" or something to do with charcoal fires, heating torches, salamanders and tarps.

Install the heater as low as possible so it always stays full and bleeds easily.

Thank you so much guys! I'll be installing it withing the next week or 2 and will let you know how it goes!