Spin on filter stuck.

[Simplicity]

I have been working non-stop trying to get the bus ready to drive down to Arizona and see a couple of skoolie friends, so I haven't been on the site much.

But I've hit a roadblock that I never suspected would be what stops me from leaving on time.

My coolant spin on filter will not come off. We've tried four different methods. I finally made my own strap wrench. It includes 1 in strapping material, one and a half inch channel material and an old heavy solid wrench.

I loop the strapping material around the filter, twisted the channel so that was parallel to the filter and got on the other end with the wrench. It didn't budge.

This filter sits seven or eight inches above the engine crossmember and tucked in nicely around the air compressor and pulleys with about 4 inches 5 inches of clearance from the fan. To say it's tight is an understatement.

I also sprayed penetrating oil on top of the filter hoping it might seep in and loosen the gasket or something up. But no luck

I've done all the standard stuff, short of puncturing the filter which I don't want to do so I can drive it to a mechanic if I need to. Any other ideas is appreciated.

[HamSkoolie]

A proper strap wrench designed for filters and driven by a 1/2" square drive.
The correct length of 1/2" drive extension to get clear of anything that would prevent rotation.
A 1/2" drive breaker bar at least 18" long
A piece of pipe over the breaker bar for additional leverage.


Another option would be to get the heat gun out (if you don't have one harbor freight has one for about $20 or you can risk your life and use the wife/GF's blow drier). Apply heat to the filter at the top. It might cause enough expansion to allow your DIY strap wrench to get it off. Be sure to get the heat around as much of the filter as you can.

[sportyrick]

they make a JI-normus pair of channel locks that are just for taking filters off.

[rossvtaylor]

I also have those big curved-jaw Channel Locks...but a big part of his challenge is that there's very little space around the filter. I have never had one of these fail to remove a filter:



He made one similar to this, using Unistrut, but it bent. Steve, you might need to get one of the actual 1/2-inch drive strap wrenches of other means fail. It won't bend, I guarantee.

[TJones]

+1 on the heavy duty filter strap wrench. Heating the filter is also a good idea. Placing the strap as close as you can to the filter head will give you the best chance of getting the filter loose without twisting the filter in half.

Ted

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by sportyrick

they make a JI-normus pair of channel locks that are just for taking filters off.

Yeah, I just bought one. Worked great

[TJones]

If you have room a chain wrench works really well on stuck filters.

Ted

[Booyah45828]

I use one of these on stubborn filters. https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-63830-6...97908711&psc=1 Ours is actually from kimball midwest, but it looks similar to this.

I've also used the cloth strap wrenches, they work okay, but will slip if the filter is greasey/dirty/oily. Worst case scenario is a long flat screwdriver and a hammer, then they always come off, but you seem like you're avoiding that.

If you've got the identical filter on hand, I'm not sure why you're avoiding the last method.

[rossvtaylor]

Originally Posted by Booyah45828

I use one of these on stubborn filters.

I've had good luck with the strap wrenches...but, yes, I've had to clean some filters with acetone or thinner and I've even resorted to spraying them with belt dressing for added gripocity. But this looks like a good addition to my toolbox. I just placed my order...thanks!

[Booyah45828]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

I've had good luck with the strap wrenches...but, yes, I've had to clean some filters with acetone or thinner and I've even resorted to spraying them with belt dressing for added gripocity. But this looks like a good addition to my toolbox. I just placed my order...thanks!

I have too, but I've always felt it's kind of a pain/waste to have to clean the filter. I've never had to clean one with this.

It also will spin/grip both clockwise and counterclockwise. I've never used it to tighten a filter, and have never ran across a LH threaded filter, but I if needed to it's nice to have. We've got a couple single way 3 arm jobs and they don't seem to grip nearly as well as this one either.

Maybe not useful for the average guy, but I'd get one if you change filters on any ag implements, as those filters always seem to be welded on tight.

[Simplicity]

The heat sounds like an interesting option. All the things mentioned I've already tried. It just in such an inaccessible spot to be able to not just fit a tool but to get any kind of horizontal turning leverage. I mean if you took the radiator, the shroud and the fan off, probably be pretty easy. Ha.

This is an option I'm considering. You drain the filter, cut the bottom off, take the filter part out and then attach this to a socket extension. The prongs fit into the six holes at the top of every filter.

All I can think of, is whoever put this filter on must have been really mad at somebody and took it out on the filter that day.

We'll see what today brings. Thanks for all the input.

[Simplicity]

Ooops, here's the option I mentioned.

https://motowheels.com/i-10115677-co...em-filter.html

[HamSkoolie]

I worked in both automotive and aviation fields as a mechanic for DECADES and NEVER found a filter that wouldn't come off without cutting it down and going for the holes in the mating surface. Stubborn ones for sure but a strap wrench applied close to the mating surface never failed (though yes, you might need wipe off the filter). I've even had filters so tight that you could see oil oozing out of the strap as more and more pressure was applied.....but the filter always broke loose eventually.

That includes working on Vietnam era trucks that had been ignored and abused.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by sportyrick

they make a JI-normus pair of channel locks that are just for taking filters off.

I thought they were for taking Ford fuel pumps out of fuel tanks

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

I've had good luck with the strap wrenches...but, yes, I've had to clean some filters with acetone or thinner and I've even resorted to spraying them with belt dressing for added gripocity. But this looks like a good addition to my toolbox. I just placed my order...thanks!

and here I was using JB weld and I could have used belt dressing? good to know

[rossvtaylor]

Originally Posted by kidharris

and here I was using JB weld and I could have used belt dressing? good to know

JB Weld and duct tape will fix anything...

[HamSkoolie]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

JB Weld and duct tape will fix anything...

NOPE those two will fix HALF of things. You gotta have the WD40.


If it moves and isn't supposed to.....DUCT TAPE
If it doesn't move and it's supposed to......WD40 (or a little det cord)

[balawd]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I have been working non-stop trying to get the bus ready to drive down to Arizona and see a couple of skoolie friends, so I haven't been on the site much.

But I've hit a roadblock that I never suspected would be what stops me from leaving on time.

My coolant spin on filter will not come off. We've tried four different methods. I finally made my own strap wrench. It includes 1 in strapping material, one and a half inch channel material and an old heavy solid wrench.

I loop the strapping material around the filter, twisted the channel so that was parallel to the filter and got on the other end with the wrench. It didn't budge.

This filter sits seven or eight inches above the engine crossmember and tucked in nicely around the air compressor and pulleys with about 4 inches 5 inches of clearance from the fan. To say it's tight is an understatement.

I also sprayed penetrating oil on top of the filter hoping it might seep in and loosen the gasket or something up. But no luck

I've done all the standard stuff, short of puncturing the filter which I don't want to do so I can drive it to a mechanic if I need to. Any other ideas is appreciated.

[I]On my International 7.3, I had to eventually tear the oil filter apart and remove the filter mount (oil cooler), put it in a vise, cut into the filter plate portion that remained stuck to the mount, and beat it free with a hammer to eventually get it loose. Just make sure you have all the parts you might need before you get to this point. It does work though.

[LargeMargeInBaja]

a)
Arizona in August.
That seems ambitious.
.
b)
Leave the SCA, add coolant supplements by hand.
.
c)
Could the filter mount-base be removed?
Could the base be by-passed, and a remote mount fabricated?

[Gnoman]

Hammer a long Phillips screw driver through it, careful not to do it too high so you don't mess threads up. Then use the handle for leverage