Stuck Hydro Filter Will Not come Off!

[HarleyBob]

I am doing the first Hydro change on my L3010 HST and the transmission filter (left side) will not come off. The Hydro filter (right side) came off fine. I broke one filter wrench and bought a $40.00 super wrench that turned it maybe 1/4 turn and no more. Any tips on how to get this off. In the past I have taken off engine oil filters by driving a screwdriver through it. This filter is thick and would have to be drilled. I do not want it to come apart, leaving a bigger mess to get off.
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[sandyc]

I have had great luck using a "strap" wrench....like the ones that Sears sells. You can also add a bit of pipe to the handle if you need a bit more leverage.

Good luck....

 

[Junkman]

My inclination would be to call the selling dealer and explain the situation. That way, if the dealer thinks that there is something wrong, it can be brought into the shop and removed. If there is any damage, then it would be covered under the warranty. If the selling dealer isn't aware of the problem and something does break, then it might not be covered. If it won't come off with the tools that you have used and you were only able to get a 1/4 turn and it stopped, there is a very good chance that it was cross threaded when it was installed at the factory. If this is the case and the threaded stub is damaged, better to have them get involved now rather than later. I always prefer to err on the side of caution, than to gamble and loose......

 

[HarleyBob]

Well I got it off. It takes a spanner wrench on the base. If you just turn the filter body, it comes off the base. Does Kubota have a wrench to do this (in another 300 hours)? I used a punch and hammer to get it to go around. ALSO, I was only able to tighten 1/2 turn after contact, not the full turn asked for in the manual.

 

[Junkman]

If you lubed the gasket surface and it looks like it is tight against the housing, I wouldn't worry about it. That book was probably written by a person that never even took an oil filter off once.....
This might be the wrench that you need ........ web page


wrench with 3 jaws.....

another good wrench.......

 

[HarleyBob]

I tested under load and no leaks with only 1/2 turn, but judging from the difficulty I had getting it off, the factory made one full turn. The wrench I need fits in notches around the base of the filter. Anything that attaches to the cannister itself turns it seperate from the base and it comes apart. I would like to get it close to as tight as the factory had it, as they must have had a reason for it.

 

[Junkman]

What you are in need of is an end cap wrench. I would take the old filter to a auto parts store and see if they have what you need. I know that KD makes some and there are other companies also that make them. The problem is finding on that will fit your filter... I am going to look for one for my tractor before the 50 hour service.... Junkman KD tools.....

 

[RoyJackson]

"What you are in need of is an end cap wrench."

These help a lot...strap wrenches tend to slip all too frequently.
But even the end cap wrenches won't help it the filter housing turns in the (crimped) end of the filter.

Best way to reduce this possibility is lubricate the gasket, tighten by hand, then snug the filter (using the end cap or strap wrench) about ¼ turn.

Overtightening can actually warp the end of the filter resulting in leaks.

 

[Bird]

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never encountered an oil filter that I couldn't remove with the 3 jaw filter wrench that Junkman posted a link for. Of course I haven't had one come apart, as apparently happened here. And when I put a new filter on, I always lubricate the gasket with a little fresh oil spread with my finger, and then unlike Roy, I've never used a wrench to tighten one; just snug it as tight as I can with one hand and I've never had one leak. That's what's worked for me so far; may not always work for everyone.

 

[JWE]

I use a band type filter wrench that accepts a 3/8 inch socket extender (I have 3 sizes). I have removed many filters with the wrenchs but only once on my BX2200. It was on very tight and took a fair amount of torque to break it free. When I reinstall, I do the same as Bird, I tighten it by hand and I have never had one leak.

Picture attached.

John

 

[higgy]

I use the strap type filter wrench. Has always worked to this point.

Like others here I allways lube the seal and hand tighten.

I have yet to have one leak.

Once I did come across a filter that was extreamly tight and was installed by the manufacturer. When I got it off inspection showed that there were 2 seals installed, they had stuck together and insatlled as one. THese did heat and fuse, causing them to swell and make the filter tight.

just my 0.02

 

[ELMO67]

I, too had the same problem at my first service on my 3010. I ended up using a chain style strap wrench AND a three finger filter wrench on the end, pulling on them as hard as I could at the same time, yes it did come off, but as I was doing this in the unheated basement of my garage while recuperating from some sort of flu bug, that was it for the day- I reinstalled the filter the next day, but only got a 1/4 to maybe a 1/2 turn on it. I've put 70 hours on it since, and NO leaks. Quoting a long forgotten line from a movie " That was one tough mutha!"

 

[Junkman]

I have found that if the band type wrench starts to slip, that if I put a piece of folded crocus cloth under the strap, rough side contacting the strap and the filter, that it will hold. Only wish that I had big hands like Bird for putting it back on.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[BIGUN]

I definitely would not tighten the filter any further if it were not leaking. What would be the point? I have always used the same installation method as Bird and have never had a leak. Everything you find a certain way on new equipment from the factory is not necessarily right. I don’t think a filter installed so tight that it requires a punch and hammer to remove is right. Screw it on as tight as you can with one hand and that should be enough.

 

[TresCrows]

You can get a variety of oil filter REMOVAL wrenches from your local SnapOn dealer. They will also have appropriate wrenches for reinstalling it. You may also be able to find a "cup" type wrench at an auto parts store. Bring you new filter and see what you can find. The plier type removal wreches are just that--removal only as they tend to crush and scrape the filter when it is gripped. A damaged filter should never be used--ie, it needs to be installed without damage. The strap wrenches sometimes work well as suggested by several people, Sears has a large variety. I have never been "challenged" by a filter but I suppose there is always that stubborn one that may humble me yet /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.
The SnapOn lady loves me and she is pretty too, I suspect you are tool challenged, perhaps a visit to a Snapon/Mac/Proto dealer will correct your deficiency. There is life beyond Sears and the Ace Hardware man but it tends to get expensive and can be addictive, tread carefully /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. You will after all need a neat SnapOn box to store your new collection of oil filter tools in won't you? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif J

 

[Larry_T]

I have operated hevey equitment 35 years.The one full turn idea after contact is bad.Hand tight. Over 60 Years old maybe one fourth turn more with wrench. Filters like to get tighter after they been on four awhile.

 

[Muleskinner]

When I purchased my new B7800 last month, it came with a nice filter wrench in the plastic bag with all of the manuels and an extra main fuse.

It took me about a week to figure out what the wrench was for, then the light came on...It's a filter wrench for the HST and engine filters /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Nice of Kubota to incude it with the tractor.

 

[narcnh]

Bird, in looking at the link that Junkman provided, I have a question for you. For the three-jaw wrench do you adjust the jaws with a hex wrech to the size of your filter and tighten or does it ratchet down by itself?

 

[Bird]

The filter wrench in the link Junkman provided is very similar to, but slightly different from, the ones I've used, so I can't say for sure about that one. The one drawback to the ones I've used is that the 3 legs can swing freely until you start to turn the whole tool with your ratchet, so you almost have to use two hands; one to hold the tool against the filter and the other to turn your ratchet, until it tightens against the filter. And I'm not sure I'm explaining that very well.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> The one drawback to the ones I've used is that the 3 legs can swing freely until you start to turn the whole tool with your ratchet, so you almost have to use two hands;</font>
Another problem I've had with this type of filter wrench...when the filter is really stuck, is instead of turning the filter, the jaws continue to get closer together and they start crushing the filter. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif