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Started an oil change about 6:00 yesterday. Finished shortly after 10:00. True Story.
I've been changing oil on various vehicles since the mid-80's, and I never knew it was possible for a filter to be seized like this one. The last oil change was done while it was in a local shop. I was seriously starting to wonder if they impacted it on or used super glue.
It was an aftermarket, and my Harley filter end cap wouldn't grip it. Problem #1. My oil filter wrench (the metal band kind) would grip it, but slip when I put any real torque on it. Problem #2.
I went to Harbor Freight and bought a set of vice-grip oil filter pliers. It wound up crushing the hell out of the filter, but no matter how much I pounded it with the hammer, zero movement.
I finally solved the problem with a technique I found online, where you tap a screwdriver through the filter, then beat it with a hammer. It seriously took about six repositionings of the screwdriver before it FINALLY was loose enough to push it by hand. Before that, I was seriously thinking about calling the shop that did this and seeing if I could have it towed over there. If so, I was going to get them to remove it, but send it back home for me to put the new one on. Enough.
You can always show them what you had to do to the old filter, to get it off.
If you're feeling vindictive, you could accidently drip some of the oil on the counter or something.
Yes. You can also drill a couple of holes in the face of your HD filter and use a couple of sheet metal screws through the holes to give you more leverage.
Or get you one of these as I have never had a filter I could not get off using these: 2 different sizes 63600 & 63250
Did this on a friend's Ducati in a Manhattan loft years back.
Bike was not old, but filter felt like it was welded on.
Bare minimum of tools available.
Stabbed filter straight thru w long screwdriver, mangled it good twisting, but ended well.
I just grabbed it out of the can and took a couple of shots.
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, or didn't bother lubing the ring seal (or both).
I'm seriously considering calling the shop and asking if I can send them these pictures.
Yes. You can also drill a couple of holes in the face of your HD filter and use a couple of sheet metal screws through the holes to give you more leverage.
Or get you one of these as I have never had a filter I could not get off using these: 2 different sizes 63600 & 63250
Started an oil change about 6:00 yesterday. Finished shortly after 10:00. True Story.
I've been changing oil on various vehicles since the mid-80's, and I never knew it was possible for a filter to be seized like this one. The last oil change was done while it was in a local shop. I was seriously starting to wonder if they impacted it on or used super glue.
It was an aftermarket, and my Harley filter end cap wouldn't grip it. Problem #1. My oil filter wrench (the metal band kind) would grip it, but slip when I put any real torque on it. Problem #2.
I went to Harbor Freight and bought a set of vice-grip oil filter pliers. It wound up crushing the hell out of the filter, but no matter how much I pounded it with the hammer, zero movement.
I finally solved the problem with a technique I found online, where you tap a screwdriver through the filter, then beat it with a hammer. It seriously took about six repositionings of the screwdriver before it FINALLY was loose enough to push it by hand. Before that, I was seriously thinking about calling the shop that did this and seeing if I could have it towed over there. If so, I was going to get them to remove it, but send it back home for me to put the new one on. Enough.
Any of you ever run into this?
Use a Harley OEM filter and the correct size cup wrench and even if someone bottoms the filter, it will come off
If someone uses that popular one with a hex spot welded to the filter case, if someone bottoms it, that hex will shear off the filter.
Harley's 63731-99A is 2.905 X 14 flats wrench . That's 2 29/32. That actually is not quite as big as what most 74MM cup wrenches (2.915) are since they are slightly over 74MM. I have a aluminum one for Toyota's that measures 2.930.
My Harley tool has a strip of masking tape on 7 of the flaps. It goes on tight.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 6, 2022 at 08:32 AM.
Had the same problem with my 2007 when I bought it last year. Bought 2 different filter wrenches and still couldnt get it loose and ended up doing the big screwdriver stab and mangle technique.
I had the same exact problem this weekend trying to get the filter off my son's 2017 GMC Acadia Limited.
The filter is very hard to access on that car, and nothing I had would break it free.
I had to go buy one of these. The little spikes on the jaws were able to get a good enough grip to do the job.
I actually bought two yesterday. I figured that since Harbor Freight was several miles away and I REALLY needed to get this filter off, I may as well since they're fairly cheap.
I got these two:
Only the second one was somewhat useful, because of the limited space. The steel mount for the voltage regulator is in the perfect spot to prevent you from having any leverage. Even the second one did nothing but further wreck the can after beating it with a 4-pound hammer.
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My seized oil filter adventure
