Stuck oil filter

[SeaRayboater95]

Mornin' Guys and Gals.
I have been fighting with this oil filter for 2 days. The engine in question is a 2012 4.3 Mercruiser. Have it ripped down to the plate and can't get it to budge. I have search through forum and the entire internet for ideas on how to get this thing off. I'm ready to pull engine for better access. I read some where that the nipple the filter is threaded onto can be backed out with an Allen wrench. Any truth to that? The holes on the plate are not accessible because of the angle they are at. Going to try and attach a pick.
Thought I would check with you guys before I pull the engine. Really don't want to.
(Not my boat and I didn't install the filter)
Thanks
Ken

 

[Scott06]

Grab the metal flap with a vice grip clamped as tight as you can get it. Use BFH to hit vice grips in counter clockwise manner. Or use drift or punch to drive the holes in the filter housing CCW

 

[SeaRayboater95]

Grab the metal flap with a vice grip clamped as tight as you can get it. Use BFH to hit vice grips in counter clockwise manner. Or use drift or punch to drive the holes in the filter housing CCW

Havent tried that one yet. Not sure what to grab. The outer shell, which there isn't very much left, will just rip. The rest of it is firmly attached to the block. I'll see if I can get ahold of something.
Thx, Ken

 

[airshot]

Based on your pic....find a piece of flat stock steel, drill two holes spaced the distance across two of the holes in the housing. Drop some bolts or pins thru the steel arm and you have created a form of spanner wrench. Drop the pins/ screws into the holes in the housing and yank or beat with a hammer. Something will move......good luck !

 

[Chris1956]

Use a strap wrench or Stillson wrench (chain strap wrench) on the filter base. Make sure you turn it the correct way (lefty loosen).

A hammer and chistle would work as well.

 

[SeaRayboater95]

Drop the pins/ screws into the holes

Thanks for you response. I was attempting that, but the holes are on angle or bevel, and won't accept the pins, not flat like the OE filter.

Ken

 

[Scott Danforth]

Shove a phillips screw driver in one of the holes and use it as a handle

Or use 2 phillips screwdrivers and a large flat blade screw driver. Stick the two philips in the holes, pry with the large flat blade

 

[Kola16]

From the picture, it looks like you have so much of the filter removed, you could just insert the allen key up the middle hole and take the entire thing off, no? Or am I missing something?

 

[SeaRayboater95]

you could just insert the allen key up the middle hole and take the entire thing off,

I read that is an option. Your the first person to suggest this. Is this a thing? This is not my boat and I don't want to damage anything. Does that nipple that the filter threads onto back out of there?

 

[Bt Doctur]

next time use heat where the sealing ring is then a regular spanner will remove the filter

 

[SeaRayboater95]

next time use heat where the sealing ring is then a regular spanner will remove the filter

I ran the engine to operating temp before attempting to remove the filter. I have removed many filters in the past and have not encountered one this stuck on. Would be nice if it was that simple.

Ken

 

[Lou C]

Based on your pic....find a piece of flat stock steel, drill two holes spaced the distance across two of the holes in the housing. Drop some bolts or pins thru the steel arm and you have created a form of spanner wrench. Drop the pins/ screws into the holes in the housing and yank or beat with a hammer. Something will move......good luck !

I was thinking the same thing, fab up something that looks like a pin wrench like the kind you use to remove the cap on a trim cylinder.

 

[Lou C]

Not sure if that's so, here is what the oil filter mounting pad looks like on a 4.3, different than the V8s.

 

[Lou C]

Found a better pic, might be possible...

 

[SeaRayboater95]

Got it guys. Thanks for all your input!

 

[airshot]

Thanks for you response. I was attempting that, but the holes are on angle or bevel, and won't accept the pins, not flat like the OE filter.

Ken

That is why the screws or pins need to be tightened on the piece of flat stock, they need to be ridged and held in place while you use it as a wrench.
Adjust the dia of the pins/ screws so they will fit into those holes.

 

[airshot]

Got it guys. Thanks for all your input!

Glad to hear !!! Perseverance can pay off.....

 

[flashback]

Did the allen wrench work?

 

[SeaRayboater95]

Did the allen wrench work?

Yep. Backed it out and it dropped into the bilge. Adapter and the oil filter plate.

Thanks,

Ken

 

[Mc Tool]

I have previously removed a filter in a tight place by digging out the rubber seal and cutting it. Once you have hold of one end of the seal it pulls out easily as the rubber stretches and thins out and then the filter spins off easily.