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Old 07-08-2018, 07:53 AM   #1
Badbart56
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Stuck water heater element

Changing the element in my 12 gallon Suburban water heater. Got the one size fits all element wrench and finally got it broke loose. It only turns about a half a turn and it’s stuck. Trying to find a 11/2 inch REAL socket so I can get some leverage on this thing. Anyone else had this much trouble changing elements? I have it soaking in WD-40 right now.
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Old 07-08-2018, 08:11 AM   #2
hankpage
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If you use a standard socket you will have to grind the face down so that it will engage the very thin surface of the element without stripping it. Try using a penetrating oil like liquid wrench instead of wd40. Good luck and be careful of your knuckles!!!!
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Old 07-08-2018, 09:40 AM   #3
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I got it. I had to dig out my 3/4 inch socket set from the race car trailer and use a punch and hammer to knock that galvanized shielding back so the socket would fit. Then it came off pretty easy. Probably the original element. It had a little rust on the threads but not as bad as I expected. I’m just glad I had the big socket set. That element wrench was a joke. It’s not long enough to clear the water heater housing to where you can get any leverage on it and it was bending where you put the screwdriver through it.
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Old 07-08-2018, 10:29 AM   #4
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OK, installed new element, attached wiring, filled w/h with water until the faucets ran without spitting any air, turned on switch at w/h and turned on circuit breaker. It's been an hour, still no hot water. Not even luke warm water. Did I miss something or what else besides a bad element could cause it to not work?
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Old 07-08-2018, 10:32 AM   #5
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Bad connection, bad relay. On the suburban, the element is in the back behind that rectangular box. Open that box and check the connections. I use a VOM to verify AC voltage at the breaker. Then I test at the box. Then I test at the element.
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Old 07-08-2018, 11:11 AM   #6
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Thanks Chuck. I'll look into that tomorrow. Thanks!
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Old 07-08-2018, 12:07 PM   #7
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If memory serves me isn’t there a reset button on the heater as well?
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Old 07-08-2018, 03:27 PM   #8
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There is a thermostat for the electric part and another for the propane part. Both have "reset" buttons. I had no hot water from the electrical part and replaced not only the element, the on/off button but also the thermostat. They sell all this stuff as a kit and no reason not to replaced it all if you have a problem. It was an easy do-it-yourself project. Also replaced the propane thermostat (130F) with a 140F so less hot water could be used during a warm shower hopefully. Six gallon tanks take awhile to get warm but a 12 gallon must be quite a bit longer.
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Old 07-08-2018, 07:54 PM   #9
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I really hate to ask... did you flip the lil' black on & off rocker switch at the bottom left corner back on? And yes the switch can go bad... mine did! The easy way to check the switch is pull it out, pull the two wires off and put them together. Then see if you get hot water!
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