Replacing range bake element

What do the bake element terminals attach to? My lower bake element has failed and the replacement seems very easy / straightforward, but taking the bake element out the terminals aren't attached to anything? If I look at any installation video that's basically how it goes, and when new bake elements are installed it just looks like they kind of stick them into the hole and screw the plate back on. When I attempt to reinstall the bake element and insert the terminals I don't feel them touching or inserting into anything, so how do you know you've installed it properly?

 

The ends of the element go through a hole(s) in the back of the oven. The flat plate on the element screws to the steel back of the oven. Then you remove the back of the oven where you can see the ends of the bake element sticking through the insulation and you connect the wires. Your element does not look like a direct replacement since the mounting holes don't match.

 

That element looks to be too long where the connection are.
Most are shorter so they don't hit the metal back.

Many ovens have a large square hole where the element can be changed from inside the oven. Your does not so it will be more like the oven in the link below.

If you post the oven model number I could check further.

GE element replacement - video

 

This is the element I'm removing, that was OEM to the stove - I haven't receive the replacement part yet (had to order). The holes all match up fine and this was just pulled out easily once the bracket screws were removed.

 

So the wires pulled out thru the holes or did you yank on the element until it disconnected ?

 

Neither. I unscrewed all of the supports and it slid right out without any resistance. Check out just after the 6 minute Mark of this video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ABope7vl...SIkaIECMiOmarE

That video leads back to the exact replacement part I'm trying to work with, but any other similar video looks the same as this.

Regardless, doesn't sound like anyone here knows how it works so I thought I would check. Seems odd.

 

NVM, I have it sorted. Certainly my bad for missing it the first time but that video could certainly be indexed better. But watching yours made me go back to it.

Makes me curious if the terminal connections were the issue and not the element, but I've already ordered the new one so I'll just install it.

 

Yes, if the connections are loose or grease covered it can prevent it from working. You want the spade connectors to fit tight. If you just pulled out the element and the electrical unhooked itself that's too loose. I often have to grab them with pliers to remove.

 

In your video if you watch from beginning they disconnect the wires from the back of the oven.
Sometimes one wire will fall off the element...,. rarely both of them.
Typically Murphy's Law kicks in and the terminal comes off the element and welds itself to the back metal service cover.