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Oil Filter stuck

3K views 17 replies 13 participants last post by  Elpolloflatulato 
#1 ·
Hi all!!

The oilk filter on my Bonnie will not come off it just will not move!!!!!

I have the tools to do the job but grrrrr it will not move a cm....

My mate told me to put a svrewdriver throu it but is that wise???

Any help would be welcome.

Cheers all!!!!!!!!
 
#3 ·
Hi,
Gtorockz's idea is good, take your new filter to the auto parts store and obtain a socket that fits.
Yes you can drive a screwdriver or a spike through the thing but be prepared to make a mess. Also be sure you leave enough room to turn the filter once you have your spike (or whatever) driven through it.
Once on a truck I owned my socket kept slipping off the end of the filter. Finally the end of the filter was rounded off. I had no choice but to drive something through it. It was so tight the metal began tearing. Finally I tore the filter completely apart and was able to get a vise grip on the remains and finally get it to budge.
I've NEVER tightened filters more than 3/4 to 1 turn past where they begin to seat (hand tight but with a LOT of 'hand tightness') but even so, for some reason they seem to tighten up between oil changes... some vehicles more than others.
 
#4 ·
Use the proper filter wrench to put the filter ON, just use a set of channel locks to grab a hold and get the old one OFF. Don't care about denting or scratching the old filter - just don't want to dent or scratch anything else. This way you don't have oil pouring everywhere when you puncture the old filter with a screwdriver.

That's how I do it anyway - works every time.
 
#8 ·
Use the proper filter wrench to put the filter ON
.

Uh, no. I'm a little surprised at you. Do not use a wrench to put the filter on. Put a little oil on the gasket and hand tighten only. Even then, you can get it too tight. Turn it until the gasket makes contact and then tighten half to three-quarters of a turn. No more. It will not come loose and you will probably need a wrench to get it off.

Yes, driving a screwdriver through the filter can make a mess. In my experience, if you can't get it off anyway, you will just shred the can trying to loosen it with a screwdriver through it. I've had to resort to notching the rolled over lip next to the engine with a chisel and then using the chisel to loosen the filter. If you don't use a hammer, you didn't do something right. :)
 
#6 ·
i just changed the oil on my thruxton yesterday. same problem. i hammered a large screwdriver through the filter and used it as a lever. worked great and was actually a little fun. i'd probably do it the same way next time.

as far as the "mess" goes... with the pan underneath it really wasn't bad at all.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the link to this specialty tool. Didn't know there was such an animal. Next time at Harbor Frt, I'm getting one.

Bob
 
#9 · (Edited)
If I put the filter on with my hand I'll over tighten it. I'm a big fella.

I use the cap type filter wrench to match the end of the filter, and I use a torque wrench to the correct setting so it doesn't get overtightened. I should probably have clarified that up front.
+1 on smearing oil on the O ring though. And while I'm banging on - fill the filter with oil before putting it on.

Channel locks to get the thing off, because I can't be bothered to mess around, although I have found that I can use the filter wrench to get them off becuase I don't overtighten them.

Works every time - never leaks, never falls off, never gets stuck on.

This is my method - and I'm sticking with it. :cool:

EDIT: Although - the hand tight then 3/4 turn method is very reliable, and a perfectly sound approach. Proven to give highly repeatable torque values in several applications. :thumbsup:
 
#11 ·
Thanks lads for all the info i will have to see what wrench they have down the shop here in switzerland bike tools are hard to come across....do not ask me why....clutch cover is comming of next weekend...going to strip the paint off and get the scratches out then polish or repaint it...
 
#12 ·
This worked for me

The filter was so tight for the first oil change my cap type filter wrench just spun on the filter. I don't have a set of channel lock pliers large enough to span the filter. I did have a "pipe wrench" which would open wide enough. Filter came of easily with that (lots of leverage). I use the oil the gasket, 1/2-3/4 turn after contact method to replace the filter since and the cap filter wrench now works like a charm:D
 
#13 ·
What's up with a screwdriver?! Sometimes, "stone-age" techniques are just as good as modern ones. Only the sales people will try to convince you otherwise.

I did an oil change last week. The filter was stuck fast (I don't have any special tools) so I just knocked a screwdriver through it. (Actually, it was a spikey-thing with a handle.) Did the job with no mess.

When I was buying the filter, the mechanic who usually works on my bike said it was easy to damage the engine by tightening the filters too much so only go hand-tight.
 
#15 ·
OK - well - just make sure you're calm and collected before going at it - it doesn't matter what the filter looks like once it's off, but you don't want to slip and damge the underside of the bike.

Relax - deep breaths. You'll get it - huge great big pliers / channel locks / pipe wrench will budge it, pokeyjoes method of chisel to get it started is a good one as well.
 
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