Can't remove oil filter!!!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 11
From: Northern Ontario
Also, be careful if you've pinched the filter too much b/c if the flow's restricted you could take a chance at puking the engine riding it to the shop. I've changed oil in many vehicle types (from tractors to bikes to planes) and there's never been one I couldn't remove. Had to do both "open filter surgery" options (channel-lock & screwdriver punch) & trust everyone - you will get it off. Even if you have to break the entire outer casing off to get more access. Be careful at the base where the filter threads into your block...& remember to "always" put a bead of oil on the rubber seal (someone mentioned earlier), or you'll have a repeat. Good Luck & let us know when you get this fixed.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, Ca
all the advise works most of the time. Another thought... take a bladed screw driver, or chisel in vise grips, place it on the base of the filter and try tapping it in the unscrewing direction. The chisel bites into the base of the filter, tapping it and forcing it to turn... and might help to have a buddy twist on the filter wrench at the same time. Just getting the filter to move is the trick. Once it breaks and moves, your home free.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 0
From: WireGrass, AL
I don't have much room on my EVO and if I didn't have the 3/8 endcap wrench mine wouldn't have come off as it was we used a 24" breaker bar and two people. have used the screwdriver method which didn't work all I was left with then was a hammer and chisel witch got it off, never forget finger tight.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 381
Likes: 1
From: Daytona Beach, FL
Damn guys. Guess you forgot your Wheaties for breakfast!
Not to bust your butt but it would have seem some gorilla put in on with some vigor last time. Mine was the same way the fist time I changed it at 1k miles.... I bent up a slip on filter wrench but got it off. Now I got me one of these from harbor freight.... http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...ter+oil+wrench The $5 on sale.... To bad unlike the car Fram filters the chrome bike ones done have the nice grip area.
Not to bust your butt but it would have seem some gorilla put in on with some vigor last time. Mine was the same way the fist time I changed it at 1k miles.... I bent up a slip on filter wrench but got it off. Now I got me one of these from harbor freight.... http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...ter+oil+wrench The $5 on sale.... To bad unlike the car Fram filters the chrome bike ones done have the nice grip area.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
ok guys, got the F&%#$*G thing off. I went and bought the HD wrench for the 3/8 drive ($25?!?!), and it still didn't work! when I put some weight on it just slipped over the angles on it. So I took a couple of pieces of cardboard to make it a bit more snug and still slipped, but I felt like I was onto something. Then I had a brilliant idea that only someone as mechanically retarded as me would think of (probably not). I put the old oil back in and ran the bike for about 2 minutes thinking maybe it would let it loosen up, and the wrench with the cardboard worked!!! ALthough I really had to put all of my 150 lbs into it. Glad I have the wrench now, but it won't do me any effing good next time because the replacement filter is smooth, I guess not HD. So I lubed up the rubber seal pretty good and FINGER tightened it. So next time I'm on here bitching about it remind me it was me that screwed it up this time. Thanks for all the help guys.
BTW, that filter position makes damn sure you spill a bunch of oil taking it off. I was prepared with rags, a cut 2 liter leading straight to the oil pan, and still managed to make a mess. there not even a lip you can get the 2 liter under to avoid a spill!!!
on a side note, is it ok to throw the filter and the cardboard covered in oil in the trash or recycling? I share bins with my landlady and I really don't wanna listen to her bitch.
BTW, that filter position makes damn sure you spill a bunch of oil taking it off. I was prepared with rags, a cut 2 liter leading straight to the oil pan, and still managed to make a mess. there not even a lip you can get the 2 liter under to avoid a spill!!!
on a side note, is it ok to throw the filter and the cardboard covered in oil in the trash or recycling? I share bins with my landlady and I really don't wanna listen to her bitch.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 678
Likes: 1
From: Lebanon, MO
On a public forum---you should recycle. Side note(trash can works too. Glad you got the filter off though.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
Of course I am going to recycle the oil, it's the clean up stuff and filter I wasn't sure about. I just tossed the dirty cardboard, cut soda bottle, rag, and oil filter in the recycle bin the city pics up, should I have used the trash? It's easy enough so I just wanna do the right thing. The filter was the one I really wasn't sure if it should be brought in with the used oil.
Glad it worked out for you.