My seized oil filter adventure
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 5,297
From: Behind you, making faces
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 1,761
From: Atlanta, GA
Had this happen to a truck in the 90's. Dry filter ring was installed at a garage; what a PITA. That filter ended up looking like yours! Something so simple like oiling the ring gets missed and you're screwed.
Glad you were successful in the end!
Glad you were successful in the end!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 11,762
From: Omaha,NE
I have all the tools shown so far in this thread, along with the HD and Triumph specific cups for the job. If you do your own oil changes, it's never an issue. Triumph actually has a torque spec for their oil filters and it never fails. I use it on all oil filters. 89 in-lb. 
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 5,297
From: Behind you, making faces
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 5,297
From: Behind you, making faces
I'll be the only one doing my oil changes from now on. It happened to be in the shop last Summer for something else and I let them do the oil change. Never again.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,614
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
This wasn't a Harley OEM filter; they used an aftermarket and I have no idea what brand. My filter end cap wrench is specifically for Harley filters, which I always use. It would "sort of" grip this filter and "sort of " not. Once you put any real torque on it, it did nothing but spin.
I'll be the only one doing my oil changes from now on. It happened to be in the shop last Summer for something else and I let them do the oil change. Never again.
I'll be the only one doing my oil changes from now on. It happened to be in the shop last Summer for something else and I let them do the oil change. Never again.
I hear you..
Reread my first post . Added some details to it.
My only fear in life at this stage is rapidly approaching the age were I will need to have someone else work on anything...
So far, the only ones I have clicked off is a two story roof and using a chainsaw on a big tree.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,570
Likes: 7,943
From: Long Island, New York
Had a similar issue on my 2005 Road Glide, HD filter installed by me. Some old guy taught me the screw driver trick back in the 80's, hate to do it but it usually works. This time the filter housing was so thin it just ripped it without moving the filter.
Went back to the HD filter wrench which has the cutout for the stator plug. I put one sheet metal screw through that area into the filter, turned for all I had, the wrench snagged the screw and away we went.
I put the filter on and I know I oiled it, but it had been on there for a couple of years, my opinion as to why it didn't want to come back off. I have had seasons when I changed the oil more than twice a year, those always come right off. Sometimes they just get used to being on the bike and do not want to come off.
Went back to the HD filter wrench which has the cutout for the stator plug. I put one sheet metal screw through that area into the filter, turned for all I had, the wrench snagged the screw and away we went.
I put the filter on and I know I oiled it, but it had been on there for a couple of years, my opinion as to why it didn't want to come back off. I have had seasons when I changed the oil more than twice a year, those always come right off. Sometimes they just get used to being on the bike and do not want to come off.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 5,297
From: Behind you, making faces
Had a similar issue on my 2005 Road Glide, HD filter installed by me. Some old guy taught me the screw driver trick back in the 80's, hate to do it but it usually works. This time the filter housing was so thin it just ripped it without moving the filter.
Went back to the HD filter wrench which has the cutout for the stator plug. I put one sheet metal screw through that area into the filter, turned for all I had, the wrench snagged the screw and away we went.
I put the filter on and I know I oiled it, but it had been on there for a couple of years, my opinion as to why it didn't want to come back off. I have had seasons when I changed the oil more than twice a year, those always come right off. Sometimes they just get used to being on the bike and do not want to come off.
Went back to the HD filter wrench which has the cutout for the stator plug. I put one sheet metal screw through that area into the filter, turned for all I had, the wrench snagged the screw and away we went.
I put the filter on and I know I oiled it, but it had been on there for a couple of years, my opinion as to why it didn't want to come back off. I have had seasons when I changed the oil more than twice a year, those always come right off. Sometimes they just get used to being on the bike and do not want to come off.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
I've changed the oil on this bike once before and the filter was no issue. As said above, I've changed oil since the mid-80's and never had a problem like this. I can't help but think that the jackass who did it at the shop either torqued the hell out of it with a filter wrench,...
The screwdriver technique has been my go-to for as long as I can remember.
It will never not work, but it will always make a mess.
It will never not work, but it will always make a mess.