Broke 2 Oil filter wrenches

[MHarryE]

You said hydro filter. My Kubota hydros have had 2 filters, hydraulic filter (they've been suction filters) with a lightweight can and the hydro charge filter with a heavy shell can. As the hydraulic suction filter isn't subjected to the same pressure, its not tightened as tight - 1/2 turn per the book. The hydro charge pressure filter can see up to about 500 psi on cold start cold hydraulic oil. The can is heavier, ring on the base heavier, and the book tightening spec is 1 turn. They say in the book a person needs a wrench to get the right torque on the hydro charge filter. The charge filters are always a bear if installed correctly. Fortunately for me, my dad had a water system installation business and needed special tools for accessing various components in tight places and a couple of them worked for me - after learning the first time that automotive wrenches can't do the job. At my plant (Caterpillar), we ran each machine through a test process after assembly. It was probably 2 hours of operation testing flows, pressures, everything you can think of. Procedure at the end of the test was to replace the 2 charge filters. Calibrated torque wrench in each test booth - and audited to make sure process was followed. It took a lot of torque to remove the originals and the installation torque was high. Nothing of which wrenches I see on racks at auto stores are capable.

 

[PILOON]

While on oil change woes.
Lacking proper crush washers I DIY'd my own using poly sheet stock I had on hand.
I own a set of hole cutters and had some 1/8" poly sheet stock so I simply DIY me a new crush washer.
Many hours and no problems.

PS, I now have a 'kit' stock of sizes bought on line.

 

[California]

I just now went looking for the coil filter wrench shown above. The Images part of google search was the only way to distinguish that tool from other unrelated Google hits. There are some Ebay matches but Unitool seems to be the only source for a new one.

New Britain M-150 was an old stock #, now NLA.

 

[Raul-02]

Success. I bought a honkin chain wrench for my 1/2" breaker bar. that did it. Of course I was so into getting the damn thing off I forgot to have the new one ready to go. Why engineers think filters should be at the bottom of a gravity well is beyond me.

 

[Raul-02]

Unitool

that's an interesting wrench.
UNITOOL INC.
I can see how it might be good.

 

[rScotty]

I just now went looking for the coil filter wrench shown above. The Images part of google search was the only way to distinguish that tool from other unrelated Google hits. There are some Ebay matches but Unitool seems to be the only source for a new one.

New Britain M-150 was an old stock #, now NLA.

I think I'm going to try one of those myself. Now to find a good one.

The Kubota hydraulic suction and charge filters are a particular challenge because there is only access to about the bottom third of the filter cannister to grab onto with something like a band or chain style. Those always end up just crushing or collapsing the filter. But there is room alongside the filter to slide something up.

Interestingly I find the same lack of space in Kubota's wiring plugs. Same designer? And there is one manifold/muffler mounting bolt that I still have not figured out how to get a wrench or socket on.

The search is on.
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Success. I bought a honkin chain wrench for my 1/2" breaker bar. that did it. Of course I was so into getting the damn thing off I forgot to have the new one ready to go. Why engineers think filters should be at the bottom of a gravity well is beyond me.

A chain wrench will move just about anything, although they sure can make a mess of a filter. Not much help in some of the HST+ Kubotas which have too many parts and pieces projecting underneath to swing the leverage required for a chain wrench to do its job.

On the gravity well, it's probably so that they will drain. Pros will slide a container into place, punch a hole in the filter, and come back later.

 

[Alan46]

Success. I bought a honkin chain wrench for my 1/2" breaker bar. that did it. Of course I was so into getting the damn thing off I forgot to have the new one ready to go. Why engineers think filters should be at the bottom of a gravity well is beyond me.

congrats!

 

[rScotty]

SNIP
Below is a hyperlink to a supplier. I have never used this supplier but I did find the link why searching for a picture of the coil wrench.

BTW: Don't let the neighbors borrow it, you may never see it again...LOL

Unitool | Outils automobiles professionnels

Outils de première qualité, innovants et durables. 50 ans d'expertise. Fièrement canadien. Plus de 1500 produits conçus pour durer.

www.unitool.com

I had a thought...why don't I measure my Kubota oil filters before ordering the UNITOOL Coil Spring Type Filter Wrench?

So I did. Uh-oh....The coil spring says it is for 3" size filters. All of the Kubota filters are over that. Suction, HST, and engine oil all ranging from 3.6 to 3.725 inches.
rScotty

 

[Raul-02]

why don't I measure

good thought. My hydro filter is 4.250" in whatever screwed up metric is closest

 

[Baby Grand]

I just ordered one of these for the stuck on filters, though smaller than most tractor hydro filters. We'll see how it does.

Lisle 63600 Oil Filter Tool,​

Never seen one of those Lisles, but the design looks great - thanks for posting that. It brought back memories of our kitchen in the sixties. Mom had arthritis in her fingers, so jar lids could be a challenge for her. But in the top drawer, just under the counter, she kept her nuclear options:

The Edlund is what I first thought of when I saw the Lisle. Dual racks & single pinion running gear - for a six year old with an abnormal interest in gears it was hypnotic.

If the Edlund couldn't free up a lid, then out came the Foley, all chrome and killer hornet yellow. The Foley yielded to no jar. The leverage and resulting grip on a lid was deathly. In Mom's achy hands it shattered a full jar of spaghetti sauce. Like a firearm, it demanded respect. Playing around with it one day, its pinchy parts gave me a blood-blister the size of a penny. If you extended the jaws a bit, it just might make a decent end grabbing filter wrench.

I wonder if the designer of the Lilse grew up with an Edlund?

 

[Golden Rocket]

The biggest culprit that causes filter to "cook" onto the mount is the use of "used" oil on the gasket rather than using new oil, seconded by excessive overtightening during installation. Most filters call for up to 3/4 of a turn after the gasket ring makes contact. Seen this way too many times!!!

 

[spitter]

Those unitool wrenches suck . I bought one twenty some od years ago and never realy had success removing any filters with them. First the don't bite into the filter so unless the filter is big enough to take up the slack on the first few windings you have to hold the wrench and then turn it to take up the slack .Thats if there is enough room to get both hands in and be able to turn a wrench.

They only work on like 1 diameter filter, the rest were always too small or too large. When I get a new piece of equipment that has a odd ball size on it I usually just by the right cap type wrench . Over the years I have acquired. 20 - 30 different types of filter wrenches.

Strap wrench [oil filter] is #1 cap wrench #2 most used.

 

[ranchito]

Before the 1970s or so, cars were designed to be serviced by the owner. My ‘49 Ford, every thing was easy to get to. Some cars today, you have to unbolt the engine mounts to change the spark plugs.

Anything on the front of the engine in a Volkswagen is: Step 1 remove bumper and grill

 

[ranchito]

My idiot ex wife wanted a Saab. She thought they looked cool. It drove all right, could go like a bat out of hell.
I had to do the water pump.
To access the water pump, required I drop the tranny and lift the engine. Yah, for the water pump.
It would only accept one model of Continental tires ( the most expensive model).

I got rid of that car with the witch.

That's what happens when they install the engine backwards. Only good job on that car was a clutch replacement. It is done from the top side in a few minutes. Congrats on losing the witch.

 

[lacritz]

This is a Factory one. Prolly put on with a pneumatic tool with the torque set too high. I'll be lucky if the thing wasn't cross-threaded on.

first change on my Kioti CK25. Had to punch a hole in the filter, of course ALL the fluid drained out!

 

[sea2summit]

Here is what you need; I have been there. This wrench will put pressure on the entire filter. After it tightens it will not slip because it grips the entire filter. Since it a coil you can take your had and compress the tool to get it on the filter.

I have never crushed a filter with this tool. In fact I used this tool to take a filter off that started to shred apart.


View attachment 739399

Do you have a name or source for that? Looks super cool if nothing else.

 

[sea2summit]

I had a thought...why don't I measure my Kubota oil filters before ordering the UNITOOL Coil Spring Type Filter Wrench?

So I did. Uh-oh....The coil spring says it is for 3" size filters. All of the Kubota filters are over that. Suction, HST, and engine oil all ranging from 3.6 to 3.725 inches.
rScotty

But it's a coil spring, why cant you just unwind it a bit for a larger size? Works in my head anyway.

 

[Raul-02]

Congrats on losing the witch.

Lost the witch kept my daughters and never gave her a dime

 

[sem389]

Trying to get the Hydro oil filter off.
I am hoping to avoid pounding a hole through the thing because it'll be messy.
I've crushed the can with one tool A band wrench just slips. A chain wrench slips. Can't get my big pipe wrench on it; no room to maneuver.

I used a slip jaw filter wrench and it was a bear to get off. No need to be on that tight.