Sport-Touring.Net - *%&$# Oil Filter!!

So literally hours before I'm due to bug out on a 10-day trip, I decide just to be on the safe side to change the oil on my FZ1 last night -- and find that the K&N oil filter is stuck on there like it's welded. (To answer any obvious questions I did do the previous oil change, I did coat the gasket with oil, the filter spun on easily so it's not cross-threaded, I didn't overtighten it, and I know rightytightyleftyloosey.)

Initial use of a six-point 17mm socket wrench on the filter's handy 'nut' served only to round off the filter's otherwise handy 'nut'. And the presence of said 'nut' makes it impossible to get either a spider-type or cup-type oil filter wrench firmly onto the end of the filter. So, even the Plan B 'sandpaper in the cup wrench' trick is out.

Plan C was a swivel handled, steel-strap type oil filter wrench. Anyone with an FZ1 knows there's barely enough room in, around or to that damned oil filter to swing a cat, so I had to unbolt and move aside (but not remove entirely) the radiator, then unbolt and remove the aftermarket engine guard bars to get the wrench's handle out to the left side where some leverage could be brought to bear. Still no go - simply not enough clearance between the filter, exhaust pipes, frame downtube and various engine mount bolts to get the wrench tight around the filter and turn the handle.

Plan D was to try channel lock pliers. With longer handles than the swivel-handled oil filter wrench I had slightly more room to turn, but the filter again didn't budge, and instead started to deform.

Plan E (bad plan in hindsight) was to try the old standby of whacking a screwdriver through the filter and twisting - nope; the filter didn't turn a millimeter and the screwdriver simply started tearing the thin metal of the filter's outer shell. Even a liberal pre-spritzing of PB Blaster at the base failed to budge it.

Plan F was to take a chisel and hammer and attack the filter at its base. Still nada - now I've got even more holes in the filter. Tired and pissed, I checked my wristwatch (9:45) and decided to withdraw for the night.

Plan G (for later today, and I haven't even started packing yet) is to get a fabric-type strap wrench, respritz the base with PB Blaster and let it soak, then pray I've got enough good metal left on the damned thing to get some grip on it with a ratchet wrench and extension.

Failing that, Plan H (as in the Hell with it) will be to take the Strom instead and deal with it on my return.

Topic: *%&$# Oil Filter!! (Read 3355 times)

**Topic: *%&$# Oil Filter!! (Read 3355 times)**