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07-08-2018, 07:53 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA and Canada
Posts: 872
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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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2010 FZ 405
2011 F350 6.7 Dually w/Banks Power making 510 hp and 1065 ft/lbs torque
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07-08-2018, 08:11 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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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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Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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07-08-2018, 09:40 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA and Canada
Posts: 872
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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.
__________________
2010 FZ 405
2011 F350 6.7 Dually w/Banks Power making 510 hp and 1065 ft/lbs torque
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07-08-2018, 10:29 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA and Canada
Posts: 872
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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?
__________________
2010 FZ 405
2011 F350 6.7 Dually w/Banks Power making 510 hp and 1065 ft/lbs torque
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07-08-2018, 10:32 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,319
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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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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-08-2018, 11:11 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: USA and Canada
Posts: 872
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Thanks Chuck. I'll look into that tomorrow. Thanks!
__________________
2010 FZ 405
2011 F350 6.7 Dually w/Banks Power making 510 hp and 1065 ft/lbs torque
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07-08-2018, 12:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Rincon
Posts: 192
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If memory serves me isn’t there a reset button on the heater as well?
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2017 Ram 3500 CC Cummins
2011 Keystone Laredo 266 RL
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07-08-2018, 03:27 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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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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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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07-08-2018, 07:54 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 783
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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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Jeff & Jan - Retired & Full-timing since 2013
2019 Ram Big Horn 3500 Aisin 4x4
2012 Alpine 3450-RL
Double Coin 235/75R-17.5/16 J rated 125lb
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