Hydraulic filter damaged

[Cade]

I am trying to do all the fluid changes and I am quickly learing that it sometimes doesn't pay to buy used. The previous owner was a mechanic and owns his own shop, which is scary. It is obvious that he was lazy with the work that he did do to the Kubota. AN example is the 'O" rings were missing on the fuel filter, the rubber gasket for the air filter was missing etc. I am patiently waiting for the O rings (on order) so that I can use the Bota. I went out and bought a new filter wrench (looks like a pliers) figuring that the filters weren't changed recently. The hydraulic paper filter-no problem, the hydraulic filter doesn't budge. I am not weak by any means and in fact i ended up crushing the filter. The wrench can't get a decent bite on the filter now. ANYONE have any ideas? The only thing I was thinking is drilling a hole through the filter and then sticking a screwdriver through both holes and trying to turn it that way. Oh yeah, I also sprayed it w/ wd40 to let it soak for a while pryer to even trying it.

 

[Slacker]

I am trying to do all the fluid changes and I am quickly learing that it sometimes doesn't pay to buy used. The previous owner was a mechanic and owns his own shop, which is scary. It is obvious that he was lazy with the work that he did do to the Kubota. AN example is the 'O" rings were missing on the fuel filter, the rubber gasket for the air filter was missing etc. I am patiently waiting for the O rings (on order) so that I can use the Bota. I went out and bought a new filter wrench (looks like a pliers) figuring that the filters weren't changed recently. The hydraulic paper filter-no problem, the hydraulic filter doesn't budge. I am not weak by any means and in fact i ended up crushing the filter. The wrench can't get a decent bite on the filter now. ANYONE have any ideas? The only thing I was thinking is drilling a hole through the filter and then sticking a screwdriver through both holes and trying to turn it that way. Oh yeah, I also sprayed it w/ wd40 to let it soak for a while pryer to even trying it.

I've wrenched em' off with a large channel lock before.

 

[pemad]

I use the screw drive trick!
Hammer and screw drive should do it!

 

[Cade]

Oky, I will try the hammer/ screwdriver idea. If that doesnt work then what?

 

[john_bud]

I use the screw drive trick!
Hammer and screw drive should do it!

DON'T use the screw driver trick, unless all else has failed. Then don't drill a hole thru it. Use a chisel and hammer and tap drive it off. First on one side then on the other.

The HST filter has a machined aluminum base. Use a strap wrench on it down close to the base. If the strap slips, I use adhesive backed sandpaper on the filter housing. (lefty loosey?)

You may also want to take off the air hose from the filter housing to the manifold and clean that out. Dirty air will wear the engine out FAST. It should be super duper clean inside that pipe. White glove clean. It does have the double filter setup, right?

jb

 

[RPK]

I am no mechanic by any means. That is why I buy new. My mechanic buddies use ( I think it's called) "Master Blaster" spray. It loosens stuff up far better than anything I've ever used. NAPA sells it. I bet it will loosen the filter up. Good luck

RPK

 

[Cade]

john bud,

you are correct, negative on the double filter setup. I do not have a strap style wrench. You sound like you have more experience with this issue than me. Do you think I should try a strap wrench first? I have a hard time beleaving that the strap wrench would work when the one I bought didn't. I will try anythng.

 

[Cade]

rpk,
sounds like a plan. thanks.

 

[_RaT_]

DON'T use the screw driver trick, unless all else has failed. Then don't drill a hole thru it. Use a chisel and hammer and tap drive it off. First on one side then on the other.

The HST filter has a machined aluminum base. Use a strap wrench on it down close to the base. If the strap slips, I use adhesive backed sandpaper on the filter housing. (lefty loosey?)

You may also want to take off the air hose from the filter housing to the manifold and clean that out. Dirty air will wear the engine out FAST. It should be super duper clean inside that pipe. White glove clean. It does have the double filter setup, right?

jb

John Bud is right, a bite at the base with a heavy duty metal strap type wrench will work. I have had to use a cheater before.

 

[RayH]

Try a cloth strap wrench before jabbing holes in it. Like was mentioned, put it close to the base, if it slips, wrap the filter in sandpaper. Cloth straps wont deform or pinch the filter like can happen with metal strap filter wrenches.
The lubricant/break free spray mentioned earlier is called PB Blaster. Its alot better then most of the shelf lubricants and cuts through rusted and stuck hardware much better than WD40.

 

[john_bud]

john bud,

you are correct, negative on the double filter setup. I do not have a strap style wrench. You sound like you have more experience with this issue than me. Do you think I should try a strap wrench first? I have a hard time beleaving that the strap wrench would work when the one I bought didn't. I will try anythng.

I'm a little surprised that you don't have a double filter. Might want to double check with the dealer .....

I would buy a good strap wrench. Very useful. They are even bi-sizual (both english and metric) -- joke.

The deal is, once you start mangling it up, your options shrink. A strap wrench may have the strap cut on the edge of the filter. Then you only have the option of a chain wrench. etc. Destructive removal is the last resort.

The penetrant RPK was thinking about is PB Blaster. It's ok stuff. The BEST stuff is sold at GM dealerships. I forget the exact name, but it's something like "heat pipe lubricant". Mechanics that are on the clock for pay, use it as they don't have to wait around for it to work. It's like 8-9 bucks a spray bottle, but worth it.

{ok, I HATE giving incomplete information. follow the link for the stuff.
]Merchant Automotive :: Your Duramax Diesel and Allison Transmission Experts!


Try heating up the base of the filter with a propane torch. Not glowing red hot! Just wanting to heat it up! A heat gun will do the job, if you have a thing about open flames around flamable liquids. Then put on the strap wrench with a cheater bar (12"), pull the slack out and give it some muscle, then use a 16 oz hammer to WHACK the cheater bar. The shock will often get it to go.

jb

 

[Berniep]

The best penetrant hands down is a product called kroil made by the Kano company
You can buy it direct at KanoLabs.com
Or I have noticed that some John Deere dealers carry it.
I used it in the Air Force to loosen various corroded bolts on the very old C141.
Being that most of them were stationed on the coast and kept outside there was lots of corrosion. Kroil would ruin the cheap screw drivers in the toolkits by making the shanks slip in the handles. We used PB blaster and various other products but the Kriol was the best.

 

[kwolfe]

I have used the drill the hole through technic on my Jeep. It worked, however if that filter is very tight, your screwdriver will start ripping that filter appart. As others have said, metal strap and some good cursing first . Leave the drilling as a last resort.

 

[Rich P]

Personal favorite spray is AeroKroil (KanoLabs.com). The screwdriver through housing is last option. THe sandpaper on a strap wrench gets my vote.
-Rich

 

[crazyal]

Forgive me if I misunderstood what type of filter this is. If it's like an oil filter for a car then it has an o-ring around the outside edge. If so the penitrant might not work very well in this case. When I have had this problem in the past I've used large channel locks right at the base. Even if I crushed the filter (going to be replaced) some I didn't mind. The only times I've run into this is when the filter has been on for a long time. I always date my filters with a marker and apply a small amount of greese on the o-ring.

 

[ToddW]

john bud,

you are correct, negative on the double filter setup. I do not have a strap style wrench. You sound like you have more experience with this issue than me. Do you think I should try a strap wrench first? I have a hard time beleaving that the strap wrench would work when the one I bought didn't. I will try anythng.

A strap wrench may make all the difference in the world, I've had them bail me out before when nothing else worked.

Do you have a Harbor Freight near you? Harbor Freight Tools

I have used an old leather belt as a strap wrench before with quite good results when a proper one wasn't available.

/Todd

 

[workinallthetime]

as a mechanic myself i always buy new to, i see what people due to used stuff everyday but i also take very perticular care of my own stuff !!
i have seen what happens when people overtighten a fuel filter on a d-max engine, cracked filter base a mere 650.00 and its fixed plus labor of corse. this is also a alum. filter base. so you need to get as close to the base as possible to remove this filter, i start with filter plyers and then go to the strap wrench then to the air hammer,lol
here is a couple pics one of the penitrate that john bud is talking about and the other of a strap wrench

 

[Rich P]

Who makes that spray stuff?
And don't tell me GM, because I doubt thay have a plant that produced nothing but petroleum products. It is rebadged "brand X", who is their brand X?

 

[_RaT_]

Who makes that spray stuff?
And don't tell me GM, because I doubt thay have a plant that produced nothing but petroleum products. It is rebadged "brand X", who is their brand X?

I don't know but it is available as Brand GM, or rebadged GM from your local GM/Chevy dealer

 

[Cade]

i picked up the strap wrench and I will let you know what happens. I finally have the days off / time / tolls and equipment to get the job done and now I'm sick. Figures. I will post the outcome.

Thanks for your help.