Worlds hardest oil filter to get off

[Industrial Toys]

That's just stupid. WE are all told how to properly install a filter, but the manufacturers don't have a clue?

Since many of the OEM filters are the engine color, I guess the filter is on before paint. Maybe they don't want any oil compromising their paint job.

 

[aczlan]

That's just stupid. WE are all told how to properly install a filter, but the manufacturers don't have a clue?

Since many of the OEM filters are the engine color, I guess the filter is on before paint. Maybe they don't want any oil compromising their paint job.

More likely, with the oil filter in place they don't have to worry about getting paint inside the oil passages in the engine and possibly gumming things up...

Aaron Z

 

[k0ua]

I had to punch a hole in the hydraulic suction filter and put a piece of 5/8 all thread in it about 3 foot long to get it loose. Of course that was the factory job, the second hydraulic change was no problem at all, because I put the filter on the first time It is probably a cool idea to let the dealership deal with first oil changes, but I didn't. Besides, "how hard can it be".. pretty darn hard sometimes. I screwed around with the filter for at least a couple of hours, counting going to town and buying new filter wrenches that still didn't work after breaking my strap wrench. Ironically the hydrostat and engine oil filters were no big deal.

 

[Wolfy]

Today at work, I serviced a Kubota minature excavator, the hydraulic return filter was hands down the tightest filter Ive ever dealt with, it took a 24 inch pipe wrench, plus 48 inch bar for more power to get it off, I thought I was going to crack the pipe that the filter mounts to.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That really does put a whole new perspective on a tight filter.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Today at work, I serviced a Kubota minature excavator, the hydraulic return filter was hands down the tightest filter Ive ever dealt with, it took a 24 inch pipe wrench, plus 48 inch bar for more power to get it off, I thought I was going to crack the pipe that the filter mounts to.

I KNOW - RIGHT....how is that possible.
Like on mine when you break a weld, or snap a steel band what the heck kind of force is that?

 

[rScotty]

Today at work, I serviced a Kubota minature excavator, the hydraulic return filter was hands down the tightest filter Ive ever dealt with, it took a 24 inch pipe wrench, plus 48 inch bar for more power to get it off, I thought I was going to crack the pipe that the filter mounts to.

That's interesting you should mention that pipe that the filter mounts to because I almost had problems with mine. Last time I changed the hydraulic filters on our Kubota M59 - what a battle that can be! - I just happened to notice that pipe was loose. In fact I reached up and unscrewed it with my fingers.

With the pipe in my hand, I was surprised to find that pipe is nothing more than what looks like a standard black iron water pipe nipple about 4" to 6" long with tapered male threads on each end. In fact, It looks like it came from the plumbing shop. I put some threadlocker on one end and screwed it back into the hydraulic housing using a plumber's wrench. My guess is that it never was tightened properly.
I was suprised to find that there isn't any set screw or other locking device to keep it from unscrewing with the filter.... or from gradually unscrewing a little bit with every change.

Better check the pipe each time. It could be held into the block with nothing more than one thread and you would never know without checking it.....and that pipe is all that holds the filter on. If it lets go, the entire contents of the hydraulic system dumps onto the ground.
rScotty

 

[Turbys_1700]

Last week I changed out an oil filter on a Toro Workman 2100 with a 16 HP Vanguard engine. Access is almost impossible. Toro has a rectangular cut out on the bottom of the skid plate to access both the drain plug and filter. It requires a 1/4 drive with extension on claw type oil filter wrench to access. They must have had an octopus for an engineer on that one.

 

[Threepoint]

Today at work, I serviced a Kubota minature excavator, the hydraulic return filter was hands down the tightest filter Ive ever dealt with, it took a 24 inch pipe wrench, plus 48 inch bar for more power to get it off, I thought I was going to crack the pipe that the filter mounts to.

Yikes! 2' wrench plus 4' pipe. I think we may have a winner here. :laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

The pipe would have to be chained to the back of a fork truck to qualify for that.

 

[sixdogs]

Does anyone use the channel lock oil filter pliers?

I have them and they have removed every difficult filter but one. That one was an extra large diameter Deere filter and for that I bought a big metal band wrench and off it came.

Many filters now come with a degree of lube on them so the no-lube at the factory thinking may not be valid for tight filters. The best argument I heard was that the first time expansion of the engine metal tended to lock the filter in place. Not sure if a valid point but I think I can disprove the other options. I do not believe they are overtorqued at the factory.

 

[nikerret]

Between these two tools, I have yet to find a filter too tight.

 

[Jstpssng]

The worst that I ever took off was on my nearly new 1984 Ford Ranger. The dealer had done the original oil change, and as somebody else mentioned even a screwdriver through it wouldn't even take it off. I don't recall what finally worked, but I do remember walking several miles to an auto parts store to find the solution.
It also was the day that I got there and realized that my wallet was in my glove compartment. :embarrassed:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The worst that I ever took off was on my nearly new 1984 Ford Ranger. The dealer had done the original oil change, and as somebody else mentioned even a screwdriver through it wouldn't even take it off. I don't recall what finally worked, but I do remember walking several miles to an auto parts store to find the solution.
It also was the day that I got there and realized that my wallet was in my glove compartment. :embarrassed:

Sometimes, bicycles are worth their weight in gold...

 

[Alan W.]

Between these two tools, I have yet to find a filter too tight.

I have those same two. I really like the Craftsman.