RF491R3 Hotpoint Range - Instructions

The bake element was completely missing from the stove. There were two wires sticking out of the back of the oven, one with a terminal on the end and the other with the insulation still on and no bare wire showing/ The right side mounting screw was there..

The left mounting screw hole on the oven had been drilled out oversized, so I drilled another hole in the mounting plate above the original., after attaching the element with a single screw.

I removed the one screw, removed the bake element and pulled the electrical wire without the terminal end. Next, I put a terminal on the wire and attached the wires to the element. Finally I installed the element with the two screw into the rear of the oven.

Unfortunately the element didn't work, so my next step is to trace the wiring and determine if a switch or thermostat might be faulty. I have checked the continuity of the wires from the bake element to the thermostat.

More in chaper two..

The very first thing we did was turned the circuit breaker off and unplugged the range.
My husband removed the back panel and unplugged the switch. Drew a diaghram of the color coded wires. When we received the new one he broke the extension bar off to fit the knob, plugged it in and we were back in business. It was very easy for my husband as he is a mechanic (millwright). However, if you are mechanically inclined it is an easy fix.

Removed 2 screws (with 1/4" nut driver) on bracket holding heat element at back of oven. Pull element forward to expose the 2 wires connected to element, remove screws on wire corrections with flat head screw driver. Remove element from oven......Reverse the steps to install new heat element.....very easy job....except I cleaned the oven while I had the element out of the oven.

1. Turn off power to range and remove element.
2. Remove clips from ceramic guards.
3. Disconnect wiring.
4. Connect wires to new element.
5. Install ceramic guards and clips
6. Attached element to range.
7. Restore power.

I first unplugged the stove as that was easier than going to turn off the breaker. I removed both oven racks for more room to work. There were two screws to removed inside the back of the oven. After pulling the element out a few inches I was able to unscrew the two screws that held the wires onto the element. I made sure to note which wire went on which side. Then did everything backwards with the replacement element.Plug the oven back in and make sure it works. This was the easiest repair I have ever had to make on any appliance! It's good to note the new element could heat much faster and hotter than the old one. I plan to check the temp when baking. The replacement one also hinged so cleaning in the future will be much easier as well.

Pulled range out from the wall. Unplugged cord from outlet. Removed old knob, removed two phillips screws a very top of chrome trim, removed six nut-head screws from back to reveal the switches...removed two set screws from the front at knob base. Visually checked to make sure wiring post of new switch matched the old one. There was enough slack in the wiring to remove one wire at a time and connect it to the new switch in its appropriate place. Put new switch in the panel and secured with the two set screws. Select the bushing that would take up the slack for the old knob to fit on the new switch stem. Held new stem at its base with pliers and used another pair of pliers to snap the stem at appropriate length. (The new stem could not be broken off short enough to have the knob as flush to the panel as the other knobs...this was the only negative factor in the repair) Replaced nut-head screws and phillips screws. I was especially pleased with the quick delivery of the part...even without special shipping rates I received the part in less than 18 hours from the time I ordered it online!

lift eye slide in bowl and trim ring, put the eye back down,

The part arrived ahead of time by mail. I removed the old coil, very simple,, I installed the new one just as easy , Turned on oven and it worked prefectly , its a very simple procedure, thank you

unscrew two screws pull the old element out put in new one and screw back in . We had to wire it direct because our oven had quick connect connectors and this part did not. But it was no big deal and didn't take any time to fix.

The repair was pretty easy. I unplugged the stove and took the 2 screws out that secured the element into the back of the stove. I then used a pair of needle nosed pliers to pull the wires off the element that wasn't working and then attached the wires to the new element. I then put the screws back in place securing the element to the stove and it was done. It took me about 5 mintues and the element worked immediately.

I was worried at being able to locate the part as the oven is over 35 years old. I put in the old part number on your site and it gave me the correct replacement. On my model you unscrew the two screws securing the element to the back of the oven. Then pull out the old element carefully because the wires are screwed onto the element. I pulled it out 4 or 5 inches and unscrewed the wires and connected the wires to the new element. I then threaded the wires back into the hole at the back of the oven and screwed the element back in place. Works perfect.

First, turn off the power. Remove the two retaining screws, pull out the broken element far enough to unscrew the connectors, remove the element, reconnect the new element, screw it back in, turn the power back on. Yes, it is that easy! Took me all of five minutes. Took longer to find my tools!

Customer service is great. Fast shipping. Great communication. I have them bookmarked from a previous order. Same good service as the first time. Thank you.

I used a philip screw driver to remove two screws which enable me to pull the wires out about three inches from the back of the oven and replaced it with the new one after disconnecting the wires from the grill. The hardest thing was the limited space.

Turned off breaker,first . Then removed 2 nutscrews and pulled unit out , 4 inches ,removed 2 nutscrews joining the 2 wires and the 2 terminals of the bottom element. Removed bottom unit and replaced with new unit . reversing the process. Turned breaker on and tested the oven. Works fine. Took less than 15 minutes.