Oil filter wrench
Steve B
engineer put the oil filter in a nearly inaccessible place. I took my
regular oil filter wrench, cut the handle off it, and welded two old sockets
on the stub so I could slip it up in there and get the thing off and back
on. Barely enough room at that.
Is a wrench made that sockets up from the center, and upon turning,
constricts? I have one that is 16 sided or something like that, but not all
filters are hex shaped. And the ones that are don't always spin off with
that flimsy little plastic goober.
Anyone know of a good filter wrench configured like that?
Steve
Artemus
"Steve B" <ne...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:juga77-...@news.infowest.com...
years ago. It would be easy enough to make one if you can't find
one to buy. I can post pics if you want.
Art
Artemus
"Artemus" <bo...@invalid.org> wrote in message
news:hnu5ng$g8o$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8848/pict0003c.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9862/pict0004v.jpg
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1909/pict0005a.jpg
Pete C.
I believe Harbor Freight has both a three jaw clamping one, as well as a
set of stamped cup type wrenches in sizes for most filters.
Or you could upgrade to a 6.4L Ford where they got two out of three
right and have cartridge type oil and secondary fuel filters mounted on
top of the engine all nice and accessible. The third they flunked on,
the first fuel filter is also cartridge type and is horizontal mounted
on the frame rail in a poor access location guaranteed to give you a
diesel shower when changing it. The good news though is that diesel
doesn't sting like gas when it runs down to your armpit...
Dave__67
http://toolmonger.com/2007/11/08/hot-or-not-claw-game-oil-filter-wrench/
http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/Worlds%20Best%20Oil%20Filter%20Wrench.jpg
$6.75 here (dang, I should get one)
http://factorypowertools.com/product/553406/B000M96RVA/World_s_Best_Universal_Oil_Filter_Wrench/details/
dave
Buerste
You're supposed to stab it with a screwdriver and unscrew it using a series
of holes and rips in the sheet metal. And, it's not done right unless you
bleed a bit.
Steve B
I found this after using good old google. The one posted by others looked
good, too. The three fingered one with the chrome nut on it ..........
How would that work once it was tightened down? Is there a slot there for a
shaft in the middle of the nut? One direction or the other, it would loosen
if twisted in that direction.
I gotta do something, because this filter is in a bad bad place. Those
engineers need to use this stuff before they turn it loose on the public.
Steve
"Artemus" <bo...@invalid.org> wrote in message
news:hnu6n4$nb6$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
David Lesher
>Is a wrench made that sockets up from the center, and upon turning,
>constricts? I have one that is 16 sided or something like that, but not all
>filters are hex shaped. And the ones that are don't always spin off with
>that flimsy little plastic goober.
I have seen one with a filter diameter spiral/spring; as you unscrew, the spring tightens.
--
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
sta...@prolynx.com
Bunch of different sorts out there, I've got one that drives from the
end of the filter and clamps down on it with two opposing fingers, got
it from the likes of Autozone for cheap. Was one of a pair, one for
large and one for small. For those items that are really in there
deep in a skinny hole, I've seen one sort that consisted of a flat
steel band in a helix, the more you spun it, the tighter it gripped.
Sort of a Chinese finger puzzle kind of thing. Saw it in either HF or
one of the chain auto parts joints, maybe NAPA. Haven't needed it
yet.
My problem is that the filter wrench hides from me, tried the
screwdriver through the side bit once, just ended up tearing half the
filter off and had a hell of a time removing what was left. Have used
a set of chain Visegrips, those worked OK, but the sides caved on the
filter. Did get it loose enough to spin off by hand, though. On some
filter makes, those rubber gaskets get vulvanized to both sides, don't
leak, but just about makes it impossible to remove.
Stan
Jesse
I have a Hazet 3 finger one that works GREAT. They are very high
quality. They are pricey but they do show up on Ebay every once in a
while. I bought mine over 25 years ago. I bought one for my son for
$25.00 on Ebay a couple of years ago.
The nut in the center comes out so you can also use a 3/8 drive
ratchet.
Joe Pfeiffer
I got one just like you're describing at Sears, years ago. Also ought
to be able to get one at NAPA.
--
As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should
be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;
and this we should do freely and generously. (Benjamin Franklin)
Dave__67
That is a truly minimized design- gear and finger from the same piece
of round stock.
Dave
cl...@snyder.on.ca
My experience with Hazet tools has been that they look chintzy
(compared to a shiny polished Snap-On), but they are GREAT.
A bit harder to wipe clean (they usually have a "sandblasted" finish)
but easier to hang on to.
Just about all the tools we had at the school in Zambia were either
Hazet or Gedore.
John
> filter makes, those rubber gaskets get vulvanized to both sides, don't
> leak, but just about makes it impossible to remove.
>
> Stan
Do you oil the rubber gasket before you fit the filter? It stops the
gasket sticking to the engine as you describe.
I'm in UK and don't know the engine you're talking about but I've used
one of these for years
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/drapertools/product.php?product=20945
It's worked every time and is cheap. It would be easy to make if
they're not sold in US.
John
sta...@prolynx.com
> On some
>
> > filter makes, those rubber gaskets get vulvanized to both sides, don't
> > leak, but just about makes it impossible to remove.
>
> > Stan
>
> Do you oil the rubber gasket before you fit the filter? It stops the
> gasket sticking to the engine as you describe.
> I'm in UK and don't know the engine you're talking about but I've used
> It's worked every time and is cheap. It would be easy to make if
> they're not sold in US.
>
> John
Yeah, they're ALWAYS oiled up when I stick them in, doesn't always do
the trick. Sometimes the gasket sticks to the engine side when the
filter spins off, that's a lot of fun trying to peel off.
Neat wrench, haven't seen anything like that here. Wouldn't help with
some makes, there's about 1/8" clearance around the filter and the
thing is at the bottom of an 8" hole in the works. End-on is about
the only access. My dad's old Buick was that way. The common item
sold for the purpose resembles a plastic jar lid with a dozen or so
flutes that engages the end of the filter. Has a 3/8" drive socket in
the center. Doesn't always work, though.
Stan
Jim Wilkins
> ...
>
> ...The common item
> sold for the purpose resembles a plastic jar lid with a dozen or so
> flutes that engages the end of the filter. Has a 3/8" drive socket in
> the center. Doesn't always work, though.
>
> Stan
The steel ones work better and can be fine-tuned to a snug fit with a
hammer.
I carried a new filter in the car as a sample until I found the
matching wrench.
jsw
Don Foreman
wrote:
http://auto-part.co.cc/engine-tools/worlds-best-universal-oil-filter-wrench-3-jaws.html
Steve B
"Don Foreman" <dfor...@NOSPAMgoldengate.net> wrote in message
news:2bfbq5hatn16mvshu...@4ax.com...
Looks like this one got the most votes. Will try to get one locally.
Steve
Larry Jaques
sta...@prolynx.com scrawled the following:
>On Mar 20, 4:20 pm, John <johnmand...@freenetname.co.uk> wrote:
>> On some
>>
>> > filter makes, those rubber gaskets get vulvanized to both sides, don't
>> > leak, but just about makes it impossible to remove.
>>
>> > Stan
>>
>> Do you oil the rubber gasket before you fit the filter? It stops the
>> gasket sticking to the engine as you describe.
>> I'm in UK and don't know the engine you're talking about but I've used
>> one of these for yearshttp://www.lawson-his.co.uk/drapertools/product.php?product=20945
>> It's worked every time and is cheap. It would be easy to make if
>> they're not sold in US.
>>
>> John
>
>Yeah, they're ALWAYS oiled up when I stick them in, doesn't always do
>the trick. Sometimes the gasket sticks to the engine side when the
>filter spins off, that's a lot of fun trying to peel off.
Doublecheck your torque settings. You are likely overtightening the
filter. Do it like a wheel bearing: crank it down (seating the gasket
tightly in the oil filter), loosen it, then spin it up more lightly.
Are you using high quality oils and filters, Stan?
--
If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we
shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.
-- Samuel Butler
Larry Jaques
<dfor...@NOSPAMgoldengate.net> scrawled the following:
Good product. Whenever I had a problem filter and had room, I used
these: http://www.toolsurge.com/prodview.asp?sku=CHA-480
Doug Miller
I have one similar to this, that works very well on small filters.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02820519000P
Doug Miller
>On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:48:14 -0700 (PDT), the infamous
>sta...@prolynx.com scrawled the following:
>>Yeah, they're ALWAYS oiled up when I stick them in, doesn't always do
>>the trick. Sometimes the gasket sticks to the engine side when the
>>filter spins off, that's a lot of fun trying to peel off.
>
>Doublecheck your torque settings. You are likely overtightening the
>filter. Do it like a wheel bearing: crank it down (seating the gasket
>tightly in the oil filter), loosen it, then spin it up more lightly.
I spin it on finger-tight, then grab it with my whole hand and give it 1/4
turn more. Never had one leak, and never had any trouble removing one either.
Steve W.
You would think that some folks never read the direction printed on the
box!!!
99% of them either have it printed on the box or on the filter itself.
Most say.
Clean the filter base on the engine.
Apply a thin layer of oil to the gasket.
Tighten filter until the gasket seats.
Tighten additional 3/4 turn.
Note that no wrench is involved.
One thing that Fram does on their filters that I wish all the others
would do it the textured coating the put on the filters.
It does give you a better grip taking them off.
About the only time I need a wrench is when someone tightened the filter
down with a wrench OR I can't get my hand onto the filter in a way that
I can grip it tight.
--
Steve W.
Doug Miller
>Doug Miller wrote:
>> In article <q3icq5djs7bnrrrjk...@4ax.com>,
> lja...@diversify.invalid wrote:
>>> On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:48:14 -0700 (PDT), the infamous
>>> sta...@prolynx.com scrawled the following:
>>
>>>> Yeah, they're ALWAYS oiled up when I stick them in, doesn't always do
>>>> the trick. Sometimes the gasket sticks to the engine side when the
>>>> filter spins off, that's a lot of fun trying to peel off.
>>> Doublecheck your torque settings. You are likely overtightening the
>>> filter. Do it like a wheel bearing: crank it down (seating the gasket
>>> tightly in the oil filter), loosen it, then spin it up more lightly.
>>
>> I spin it on finger-tight, then grab it with my whole hand and give it 1/4
>> turn more. Never had one leak, and never had any trouble removing one either.
>
>You would think that some folks never read the direction printed on the
>box!!!
>
>99% of them either have it printed on the box or on the filter itself.
>Most say.
>Clean the filter base on the engine.
>Apply a thin layer of oil to the gasket.
>Tighten filter until the gasket seats.
>Tighten additional 3/4 turn.
Nope. Try again. I just checked the instructions on a Fram box. "Tighten 3/4
turn after gasket contacts base".
"Gasket contacts base" and "gasket seats" aren't the same thing.
"Gasket contacts base" + 3/4 turn, and finger-tight + 1/4 turn are, as near as
I can tell, about the same.
>
>Note that no wrench is involved.
>
>One thing that Fram does on their filters that I wish all the others
>would do it the textured coating the put on the filters.
>It does give you a better grip taking them off.
Makes it a lot easier to put one *on* with oily fingers, too.
>About the only time I need a wrench is when someone tightened the filter
>down with a wrench OR I can't get my hand onto the filter in a way that
>I can grip it tight.
If you *don't* need a wrench to take it off, you probably didn't put it on
tight enough by hand.
Jim Wilkins
> ...
> Tighten filter until the gasket seats.
> Tighten additional 3/4 turn.
>
> Steve W.
Maybe if I could see the thing or get more than two fingers on it I'd
try that.
jsw
Steve B
"Jim Wilkins" <kb1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:b6816ab6-1567-42dd...@q23g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
jsw
Alas, a man with real world experience.
Steve
Steve B
"Steve W." <csr...@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ho62cg$94d$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
Hold your phone calls, folks, we have a winner. If I could get my hand into
the intimate recesses of this beast, would I have written in with the
original question? A freaking 800 pound gorilla could only get at this with
his fingertips. But then, he couldn't get his hambone arms through the
small space between the tie rod, the stabilizer, and the steering dampener.
I'm interested. Just how much force can you exert with only your fingertips
and the rest of your arm straight? If you can get exert enough torque to
get a large oil filter off, you're a better man than I.
From your above post, it looks like you have never ever seen the model,
year, and vehicle in question, or you would not make such ridiculous
statements.
Therein lies your answer.
And yeah. Fram filters. Sorry, I use cheapo Fleet Guard that doesn't have
the coarse coating. When a Fram filter blows up, those fragments sure do
help you get it off with a screwdriver or channel locks. But by then, the
engine is blown, and you can do it on deck and not from a creeper dolly.
You ever worked on a real truck?
Steve
RBnDFW
> One thing that Fram does on their filters that I wish all the others
> would do it the textured coating the put on the filters.
It's cheaper to apply that texture than to make a filter that's worth
putting on a good engine.
I always liked the 7/8" nut that Hastings welded to their filters -
which also had a much thicker steel case, and a coil-spring relief valve.
I use Wix exclusively now, though there are a lot of other quality
filters out there. Fram isn't one of them.
Been in the parts business 40 years, cut apart a lot of oil filters.