i HAVE AN 01 ELECTRA GLIDE AND i WAS GOING TO CHANGE MY OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME (JUST GOT THE BIKE) AND COULD NOT FIT THE ROUND FILTER TOOL ON THE END OF THE FILTER BECAUSE THE STATER PLUG IS IN THE WAY. i TOOK OUT THE HEX BOLT BUT COULD NOT PULL THE PLUG OUT. i DID NOT WANT TO FORCE IT. IS THERE SOMTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS BE DONE TO TAKE THE PLUG OUT? WHAT OTHER TRICKS ARE THERE FOR TAKING THE FILTER OFF?
tHANKS

 

Autozone sells a tool with three teeth that will grip the filter and let you loosen it enough to remove it by hand. becareful with the crank position sensor....you don't want to hit that sensor with the tool used to remove the filter. going forward, buy the filter that has the nut at the end of it...makes it very easy to remove.

 

Are you using the HD oil filter wrench? It has a cutout to get by the crank position sensor.

Oil Filter Wrench - End Cap Style

 

There are several different style tools as well as filters with a hex head on it, but your going to throw it away anyway and sometimes the easiest way is to grab it with a large channel locks and remove it. when installing the new filter put a film of anti-seize, o-ring lube or a dab of old oil on the sealing ring around it. Then screw it on by hand till it seats somewhat firm, then give it a 1/4 turn more. It does not have to be spot torqued.
P.S. Spot torqueing is tightening it till you see Spots in your eyes !

 

I bought a tool from my dealer that has a clearance notch for the sensor plug. Works great.

 

I used a larger channel lock to take the first filter off, then started using an K&N oil filter with a 17mm nut on the end...no more special gadgets needed or need to get around anything...

 

I used a small tow strap and wrapped it around the filter then pinched it with a pair of needle nose pliers and spun it right off. Worked quite well to my surprise! I work at a car dealer and a tech here has a flexible rubber coated piece of metal that you can shape however you need to, I will buy one of those to keep the mess under control. Most auto parts stores sell a strap type wrench for car filters but why buy one when you can make it?

 

I bought a filter wrench from Pep Boys for $3. I used a cutting wheel to notch a slot in it to clear the sensor. Took about 5 minutes.

 

Strap wrench from sears $4.00