Stuck Hydraulic Filter

[gravel13]

Time for the 200 hr hydraulic fluid change. Everything was going fine until I went to try to get the hydraulic filter off. I had been the one who did the 50 hr change and I basically put it on hand tight. The whole bottom of the filter crushed with the filter wrench, and this thing will not budge. I have a ck25 gear, and the backhoe is still connected at the rear remotes but the sub-frame is just lowered down to access the filter. I'm thinking of putting the screwdriver through it and trying to spin it off that way, but I'm worried that it will just rip the metal of the filter. (I know that I should stay about 1/2 way down the filter if I try that method.) Can putting heat to the filter do any damage to anything? I think I'll put the new fluid in and try to move the tractor back to the shed, as it is half way in and half way out of the garage. The 50 hr change went so nice and this one is killing me. Any other tips, short of trying to just cut the thing off tomorrow.

 

[Natureboy]

Had the same thing happen on an old Chevy years ago. Put a screwdriver thru it and it sheared off the bottom of the filter. Ended up tearing off the rest of the filter and using an adjustable spanner wrench in the small holes of the filter base to spin it off. Good luck.

 

[Sandlot]

Try a strap wrench, snug it up as close to the base as possible. That is what I have been using.

 

[gravel13]

Try a strap wrench, snug it up as close to the base as possible. That is what I have been using.

I went out and bought a strap wrench. Placed it right up to the top of the filter and gave it a try. It still will not go, it started to crush the top of the filter a little.

Time for several beers and regroup for tomorrow. I might try the screwdriver and just hack the crap out of it till I can get it off. Oh, I did fill it up with new Hydraulic fluid and was able to put it to bed. Maybe tomorrow I will take the backhoe completely off and see if that helps. I don't want to run it too much with the bottom of the filter all crushed.

 

[unhappykioti]

This kind of thing usually happens when you way over tighten the filter, or more commonly not lubing the rubber gasket when you put the new filter on. Try notching the base and use a punch and hammer to try and loosen it.

 

[Gittyup]

Put the strap around the base of the filter. The filter is much stronger there and less likely to crush.

 

[gravel13]

I will say that when I put the filter on at the 50 hrs change I did not even use a filter wrench, but it was about 1.5 + yrs ago. I will say though that I can't remember if I put a little fluid on the gasket or not. I can't believe that I didn't, I do it to all my car filters. I could have overlooked that step and that could be what is causing this.

 

[Bird]

I have yet to find anything that works as well as a 3-leg oil filter wrench and the link is just one place you could get one. I think most auto parts stores, tool trucks such as Snap-On, MAC, Matco, etc. and other places also have them.

 

[gravel13]

That 3 leg wrench looks like it would work, or should I say would've worked. I don't know if I can get it on the bottom of the filter now that I crushed it. I should have stopped when I noticed it starting to deform, but I was getting a little pissed and figured that it would eventually let go, guess I was wrong.

Does anybody think heat would be a good idea? or is it not recommended to put heat to a filter.

 

[Gator6x4]

I don't think I would use heat. Does the filter have a rim or ring around the top? If so take a large screw driver or long chisel and see if you can get it to start moving by striking the screw driver or chisel with a hammer. Sometime the jarring from the screw driver will allow the filter to be removed. If all else fails you may have to completely destroy the outer shell on the the filter to allow access to where it is attached.

 

[Redbug]

Another tool, (I can recommend, that I have and use), is a vise grip locking chain clamp. Wrap the chain portion around the base of the filter, tighten down and turn. It's like a strap wrench. The tool is good for all kinds of other things...(can't have too many tools)...

 

[SCDolphin]

I had the same problem on my high pressure hydraulic side. The base was notched and looked like it was made for a special type wrench. I used a punch and hammer and kept tapping on the base of the filter using the notches to put the punch in. After about 20 minutes it came free. This filter was much heavier made, but I was afraid to punch a screw driver thru it. I did make sure I greased the new on.

 

[ToadHill]

I had the same problem on my DK35 at my 50 hour service. It seemed like the filter was put on and then the frame was powder coated. I used something like Redbug suggested but it wasn't attached to a vice grip. It;s known as a plumbers chain wrench, and you can pick one up at most plumbers supply places. I used in rather than the vice grip type due to the restricted space I had to work in.

It worked very well and was well worth the price.

 

[gravel13]

Forgot to update, I wound up using the screwdriver through the filter method. I punched it about 3 inches up from the bottom. It came off with a little effort. I was suprised that the strap wrench didn't work because it seemed like I was using more force with the strap wrench than the screwdriver. This time I took the backhoe completely off (which was for the first time and it wasn't as difficult getting the hoses re-connected than I thought it would be) and that gives a little more room to work without the subframe mount. Thanks again for all the tips and advice.


Oh yeah, this time I made sure to put a film a fluid on the gasket and again only put the filter on hand tight about a half turn or so after the gasket contacted the housing.