After reading all he horror stories, I THOUGHT I was "prepared" for the 50 hr HST change... WOW, was that sucker tight. I huffed and puffed with a channel lock tool for a bout 15 minutes before I pulled out the hammer and chisel. As I laid there wondering where to "hit," I found a nice lug on the base that gave me a direct shot. A few taps and it moved, simple from there...
BUT, question?
Is the replacement filter supposed to be that TIGHT? As best I could tell from the "hyroglyphics" on the filter (and other references), lube ring then tighted about 1/2 to 1 turn after contact. I did this by hand basically as tight as I could WITH my hands (no wrench). No leaks, all seems fine. How "tight" is reasonable besides as tight as I could make it WITHOUT a wrench.
For the heck of it (and since I bought the xmission filter by mistake), I changed both filters. The other filter came off easily. I lost more fluid on that filter than the HST, but my pan only collected about a gallon, so I put a gallon of new in. The xmixxion filter had an accumulation of metal on the magnetic ring. There was nothing noted on the high pressure filter. HATE to find ANY metal, but I guess that is what the rings and filters are for. I am GLAD that I changed BOTH filters. For ME, there is a LOT invested in this machine!
(L3240HST wit LA724, HD blade, and "rebuilt" BMB six foot pull type brush cutter that purrs like a kitten and chops ANYTHING!)