Need help cleaning oil bath screen

Laneman · Oct 3, 2010

I have a Ford 3000 with oil bath air filter. I cleaned the bowl and refilled with oil, but the screen is packed with sludge. I'd like to pull the canister off and try to clean the screen but I can't get the top cap off so I can pull the canister down through the hole in the hood. Once I do get the canister out, how do I clean the screen?

Jerry/MT · Oct 3, 2010

Laneman said:
I have a Ford 3000 with oil bath air filter. I cleaned the bowl and refilled with oil, but the screen is packed with sludge. I'd like to pull the canister off and try to clean the screen but I can't get the top cap off so I can pull the canister down through the hole in the hood. Once I do get the canister out, how do I clean the screen?

I had a similar air filter proproblem on my Ferguson TO-30. I removed the air cleaner and put it in a five gallon bucket. I filled that with diesel fuel and walked away for a few days. When I came back I lifted the a/c up and let the dirt and diesel fuel go back into the bucket. I did this several times and then walked away for a few more days. After about three or four cycles the air cleaner was clean enough to use. I now change the oil in the cup regularly and the air cleaner works the way it is supposed, centrifuging the large stuff out at the bottom and pulling up oil on the filter mesh while the engine is running and letting it drain down after shut down taking the dirt and dust with it.

Jbrink64 · Oct 3, 2010

Jerry/MT said:
I had a similar air filter proproblem on my Ferguson TO-30. I removed the air cleaner and put it in a five gallon bucket. I filled that with diesel fuel and walked away for a few days. When I came back I lifted the a/c up and let the dirt and diesel fuel go back into the bucket. I did this several times and then walked away for a few more days. After about three or four cycles the air cleaner was clean enough to use. I now change the oil in the cup regularly and the air cleaner works the way it is supposed, centrifuging the large stuff out at the bottom and pulling up oil on the filter mesh while the engine is running and letting it drain down after shut down taking the dirt and dust with it.

That's about the best way to do it. Never try to remove the screen, it'll never fit back inside. I found out the hard way.

Laneman · Oct 4, 2010

The soaking method sounds good. Now I just need to get the intake cap off the top of the pipe

ToadHill · Oct 4, 2010

I have taken mine out and asked the auto repair shop where I get all my work done if I can use their parts cleaner. They have always been willing to let me clean it and I believe it does a better job than I could do at home.

Soundguy · Oct 4, 2010

if the top cap is rusted to the filter pipe, try the usual methods.. ie.. penetrant oil and some heat. see if you can open up a pipe wrench to gently coax it.

also.. a chissle applied to the split area of the skirt wher ethe metal is expanded to go over the filter pipe might start it around.

if that doesn't work, get a new hat and start out by hacksawing the old one off.. then remove the fitler body.. then use a die grinder or similar to carefully cut 95% thru the remaining sleave on the fitler tube, then use the chissle to split it starting at the top and going down to sher the metal, then peel off. clean up in diesel as stated.. remove rust.. etc.. reinstall and replace cap.

soundguy