Just ran into same problem and watching this helped big time. Only difference is I drilled a hole in the wrentch then a drywall screw through the hole into the oil filter, worked great, thanks for the idea!!
You've only been dealing with this for 24 hours? I have you beat at 48. At least you're indoors. My lawn tractor is outside in the pissing rain. Next Day: This technique worked for me.
This last Sunday I just tore a chrome oil filter to pieces driving screwdrivers through it on a 2002 harley softail custom. He what finally got it off after hours and having many sore muscles in my arms. Here is an absolute method that will do it, but you have to take great care and turn you front wheel to the right so you wont hit the fender and dont hit against your right frame tube. Take a larger stanley chisel And beat the outer part of the front of the filter close to the bracket itself, then beat that area until a notch exist, then turn the chisel upwards and hammer it down and it will come loose. Mine also had been installed by a harley dealership and heres why it was so tight, becuae they had put red loctite on the inner threads of the filter. These younger college boy cadets use loctite for everything and dont know what theyre doing. But heres what I could have done if I would have gone to the parts store, is get the strap oil filter wrench that has the 3/8 inch drive to ratchet it off.
Thank you! I’m at the same point you were. I bought this 2001 springer in 2023 and finally getting to change the oil. I hear these stories of over tightening the oil filter and I just don’t get it!! I’ve known not to do that since my first car at 15 years old!!
Thank you for this video. This trick saved my ass today. I've typically had a local shop do my oil changes but lately I've been wondering why I'm paying them $100 on top of the price of oil to do it when I can pay myself and do the work myself. As you'd expect, the filter was so tight that you'd think it was welded on. I have a 3-finger self-adjusting steel grabber tool that accepts a 3/8" square drive. I can put my big powerbar on it but the grabber tool couldn't get enough grip on the filter. The gear clamp solved the problem. The gear clamp gave the tool something solid to grab on to without crushing the filter can. On my '09 Sportster, there's so much stuff crowding the filter that you can't do much in there. With the gear clamp, I could only turn the filter about 1/8'th of a turn and I had to reposition the gear clamp to repeat. I had to do that about 6 times before I could finally turn the filter out by hand. I put the new filter on only hand tight, like 60% power, not reefing on it.
For others that might find them selves in this situation ( 99 to 05 88's) find yourself a 3" cargo tie down strap, like Harbor Freight sells, cut 9" off, wrap 4" of 9" inches of strap around *clock wise* a 6" 3/8 socket extension on the end of a rachet, then slide it in and over the filter on the front side, no need to remove sensor, then twist the drive and strap *counter clock wise* while feeding the loose end of the strap into the strap you are twisting, it will tighten up and the filter will start to twist out. Same for installing the filter if you don't have the K&N nut to grab on, but only about a 1/4" turn beyond hand tight. You can also buy these wrenches on line, I happened to have the material already.
I've crushed too many oil filters in my day. I solved my problem forever. I bond one of those oil filters sockets to the oil filter, then I can lay into it and have no problems whatsoever.
Lionel here in Central California. That happened to me too. I have an oil filter wrench that has 3 arms that are geared. The more you crank, the tighter it gets. Works like a charm. I got it years ago when I saw it, I had to have it. It's saved me a couple of times. I did bo back to the shop and jokingly gave the mechanic a bad time. It looks like your Harley shop doesn't use HD oil filters. That looks like a K&N filter. Just saying...
In my opinion it's more the aftermarket filter than the tightening torque, although torque obviously played a huge part. EXACT same problem. Idiots at K&N filters use METRIC bolt head in the end....for a freaking Harley!!! But with Harley filter no prob. Excellent video, thanks for the unique method.
First oil change on my 15 FLTR oil filter was almost impossible to remove. That's what Harley does. They have some stupid super tight torque spec for the filter. have been riding HD's with the case mounted filters since '89 always use K&N and never have a problem. I always use aftermarket over OEM
We've had that problem before. Didn't use hose clamp but great idea. Your way, you only need to notch filer removing tool just enough for clamp size. I have a wing nut tightening hose clamp could you use it backwards but have wing nut for easier adjustments required? I get black filters so when filter touches engine case, i put a chalk mark at 12:00, so I can follow filter mark an stop exactly where I want. So no more overtightening. Check out you tuber that cuts off bottom of round plastic oil container that just fits over filter. Then he drills out hole in lid of bottom to slide long extention through cap, put proper socket on then slide bottle over filter to remove! Bottle catches oil so no oil on rectifier an down motor! I liked it so much unblocking for fight sized round bottle for my own use! Thanks man!
I’m the idiot that put my k&n oil filter on last time and now It’s stuck on there like glue. I’m a pretty good mechanic I don’t really think I’m taking the crap out of it last time at all. But thanks for the trick I’m gonna give it a try
Had the same problem. Simply take your filter removal cap and drill four equal spaced holes in it then place it on the filter. Use a drill and 4 self tap screws and drill into the head of the filter and then wrench it off. Now you have a ready to use filter cap that can be used for this issue if needed or not if it’s not tight.
I always take mine in for that first check up and pay the 300 or whatever it is and of course the oil change. Last new one I got was a 13 King. I change my fluids every 3 k so when I went to start doin the oil myself naturally I found the filter so dam tight I fought and fought with it and the Harley oil wrench wouldn't work so I went auto store an bought a band wrench that had a pivet handle and worked it in over the filter with the handle between the frame uprights an above the oil cooler and it still slipped. Took it off and shot some sheet metal screws into the filter for something the band could grip onto. Put the band wrench back and it took just about all I had ta get the filter to move but I got it. I put my filters on 1/4 to 1/2 turn past . Never had a leak yet. It happened that way on my wide glide an then my o7 softail and then my 13 King. I hav always let them do it the first so I don't get any crap about warranty stuff and then I do from then on. They can kiss my ass and won't get my money for oil changes.
Just a Thought. If you were to remove the Regulator mounting bolts. And move it out of the way. And use a Bad Style wrench. Its hard to see if there is any space behind the Regulator.
I use a much simpler method. I have a 2001 Ultra Classic with oil cooler and there is plenty of room to get to the bolts. Take the 3 bolts out that hold the housing that you screw the filter on to. No mess, no sensor removal, no shift linkage removal. I use a 6 point socket and 1/4 drive ratchet with extension. Removal is super easy. Clean everything and replace the 2 o-rings. I use a little blue lock tight and tighten (couldn't find a torque spec.). Put on the new filter (with a little oil covering the seal) and there you go.
I've gone to Harley-Davidson twice to order simple, in Jesus Christ when I say simple I mean simple part. Just the O-rings and a decorative cap. They could not get that right. Now with any mechanic auto mechanic truck car whatever and bike now. I would never let a Harley-Davidson mechanic touch my bike. I'd let him change my tires and that's it. And even then I wouldn't trust them. I would inspect the hell out of it
should have tried some penetrating oil where the gasket touches the housing let it set over night and spray again, it will loosen the grip of the crushed rubber gasket.
same here, killed 2 cheap steel band clamps, they just broke, tryed a chissel, didnt work, got a hole and oil came out. tryed a found a 3e band clamp in my toolbox and used self sticking sandpaper from ikea for in shower or on stairs. i put one on the filter and one on the bandclamp, sand to sand and it did work. i also tryed the hose clamp , but it did not work for me, even when i got the filter comming loose the threats where still hard to turn, real strange , it was a chrome filter. i hope my new filter go's on by hand,
@@MidLifeDucatiCrisis You are right, only an idiot would do that. I've been changing oil in my cars and bikes for decades and never had an oil filter get stuck. I read the directions! Oil the contact surface and spin on until surfaces make contact, and then what it says on the filter, usually a half turn more.
Why didn't you try a regular oil filter wrench? You know, the kind you use on a car. It works! Ive used one before. There are 2 types, one has the built on handle, the other use a rachet with an extension.
That is not a filter from a Harley dealer, that is K and N. Ever thought of buying the 9 dollar Harley filter wrench? That is backyard hacksaw work. With a Chinese made Covid infested K and N filter.
The filters always come off hard, get over it. I take the cup style filter wrench drill maybe 6 or 7 3/16ths holes in it, put it on the end of the stuck filter and then install 6 or 7 sheet rock screws. Turn it out with a wrench. Works every time.
Just ran into same problem and watching this helped big time. Only difference is I drilled a hole in the wrentch then a drywall screw through the hole into the oil filter, worked great, thanks for the idea!!
My thoughts exactly although I would probably not so brave as to use just one screw. I'd probably screw in several.
You've only been dealing with this for 24 hours? I have you beat at 48. At least you're indoors. My lawn tractor is outside in the pissing rain. Next Day: This technique worked for me.
This last Sunday I just tore a chrome oil filter to pieces driving screwdrivers through it on a 2002 harley softail custom. He what finally got it off after hours and having many sore muscles in my arms. Here is an absolute method that will do it, but you have to take great care and turn you front wheel to the right so you wont hit the fender and dont hit against your right frame tube. Take a larger stanley chisel And beat the outer part of the front of the filter close to the bracket itself, then beat that area until a notch exist, then turn the chisel upwards and hammer it down and it will come loose. Mine also had been installed by a harley dealership and heres why it was so tight, becuae they had put red loctite on the inner threads of the filter. These younger college boy cadets use loctite for everything and dont know what theyre doing. But heres what I could have done if I would have gone to the parts store, is get the strap oil filter wrench that has the 3/8 inch drive to ratchet it off.
Was working on my bike and tried everything in the book and still couldn’t come off. I seen this video and tried it out. Worked perfectly! THX!
drill three holes in the back of the oil filter wrench then put in three self-tapping screws into the oil filter muscle off!
Just did this to remove my stuck on filter..... worked great THANKS. Nvr again with the K&N went to a Wix Thanks again
Thank you! I’m at the same point you were. I bought this 2001 springer in 2023 and finally getting to change the oil. I hear these stories of over tightening the oil filter and I just don’t get it!! I’ve known not to do that since my first car at 15 years old!!
Thank you so much for the tip , had harley dealer do the same thing to my fatboy .
Thank you for this video. This trick saved my ass today. I've typically had a local shop do my oil changes but lately I've been wondering why I'm paying them $100 on top of the price of oil to do it when I can pay myself and do the work myself. As you'd expect, the filter was so tight that you'd think it was welded on. I have a 3-finger self-adjusting steel grabber tool that accepts a 3/8" square drive. I can put my big powerbar on it but the grabber tool couldn't get enough grip on the filter. The gear clamp solved the problem. The gear clamp gave the tool something solid to grab on to without crushing the filter can. On my '09 Sportster, there's so much stuff crowding the filter that you can't do much in there. With the gear clamp, I could only turn the filter about 1/8'th of a turn and I had to reposition the gear clamp to repeat. I had to do that about 6 times before I could finally turn the filter out by hand. I put the new filter on only hand tight, like 60% power, not reefing on it.
It worked !
Thank you so much for posting this.
I’ve had the same problem. I wrapped my filter a few times around with electrical tape and then put the wrench on. Works every time.
Your a legend. This worked instantly 👍
Brilliant idea!! Saved my ass today 🤘🏻
For others that might find them selves in this situation ( 99 to 05 88's) find yourself a 3" cargo tie down strap, like Harbor Freight sells, cut 9" off, wrap 4" of 9" inches of strap around *clock wise* a 6" 3/8 socket extension on the end of a rachet, then slide it in and over the filter on the front side, no need to remove sensor, then twist the drive and strap *counter clock wise* while feeding the loose end of the strap into the strap you are twisting, it will tighten up and the filter will start to twist out. Same for installing the filter if you don't have the K&N nut to grab on, but only about a 1/4" turn beyond hand tight. You can also buy these wrenches on line, I happened to have the material already.
I did this today and it came off like butter. Thank you
I just tried it and it worked perfect.. thank you for the tip.
Greatly appreciated
I've crushed too many oil filters in my day. I solved my problem forever. I bond one of those oil filters sockets to the oil filter, then I can lay into it and have no problems whatsoever.
Waw. You just showed How you removed it!!!! Really Helpfl
You saved my ass! Thank you for posting
Thank you so much! Worked great! Didnt know how I was gonna get that Mfer off!
Drill two holes in through the filter wrench then two large screws through those holes into the filter undo as normal easy peasy
Wow bro!! This seriously saved me from having a coronary, it came right off with this method 😅
Glad it help man!
Smart as hell. 😎
The hose clamp works great. I think they put mine on with a impact driver. Was my first and last oil change from the dealership.
The problem just happened to me today, THANK YOU so much .... It works 👍
Thanks for this video it was very helpful.
Lionel here in Central California.
That happened to me too. I have an oil filter wrench that has 3 arms that are geared. The more you crank, the tighter it gets. Works like a charm. I got it years ago when I saw it, I had to have it. It's saved me a couple of times. I did bo back to the shop and jokingly gave the mechanic a bad time.
It looks like your Harley shop doesn't use HD oil filters. That looks like a K&N filter. Just saying...
In my opinion it's more the aftermarket filter than the tightening torque, although torque obviously played a huge part. EXACT same problem. Idiots at K&N filters use METRIC bolt head in the end....for a freaking Harley!!! But with Harley filter no prob. Excellent video, thanks for the unique method.
First oil change on my 15 FLTR oil filter was almost impossible to remove. That's what Harley does. They have some stupid super tight torque spec for the filter. have been riding HD's with the case mounted filters since '89 always use K&N and never have a problem. I always use aftermarket over OEM
We've had that problem before. Didn't use hose clamp but great idea. Your way, you only need to notch filer removing tool just enough for clamp size. I have a wing nut tightening hose clamp could you use it backwards but have wing nut for easier adjustments required? I get black filters so when filter touches engine case, i put a chalk mark at 12:00, so I can follow filter mark an stop exactly where I want. So no more overtightening. Check out you tuber that cuts off bottom of round plastic oil container that just fits over filter. Then he drills out hole in lid of bottom to slide long extention through cap, put proper socket on then slide bottle over filter to remove! Bottle catches oil so no oil on rectifier an down motor! I liked it so much unblocking for fight sized round bottle for my own use! Thanks man!
That's one of those k&n filters, that happened to me, nvr again. I like their air filters...
I’m the idiot that put my k&n oil filter on last time and now It’s stuck on there like glue. I’m a pretty good mechanic I don’t really think I’m taking the crap out of it last time at all. But thanks for the trick I’m gonna give it a try
Had this problem on my ultra what a mo fo. Went and even bought the Harley wrench still couldn't get it off. Gonna try ur method. Thanks
Had the same problem. Simply take your filter removal cap and drill four equal spaced holes in it then place it on the filter. Use a drill and 4 self tap screws and drill into the head of the filter and then wrench it off. Now you have a ready to use filter cap that can be used for this issue if needed or not if it’s not tight.
I always take mine in for that first check up and pay the 300 or whatever it is and of course the oil change. Last new one I got was a 13 King. I change my fluids every 3 k so when I went to start doin the oil myself naturally I found the filter so dam tight I fought and fought with it and the Harley oil wrench wouldn't work so I went auto store an bought a band wrench that had a pivet handle and worked it in over the filter with the handle between the frame uprights an above the oil cooler and it still slipped. Took it off and shot some sheet metal screws into the filter for something the band could grip onto. Put the band wrench back and it took just about all I had ta get the filter to move but I got it. I put my filters on 1/4 to 1/2 turn past . Never had a leak yet. It happened that way on my wide glide an then my o7 softail and then my 13 King. I hav always let them do it the first so I don't get any crap about warranty stuff and then I do from then on. They can kiss my ass and won't get my money for oil changes.
Just a Thought. If you were to remove the Regulator mounting bolts. And move it out of the way. And use a Bad Style wrench. Its hard to see if there is any space behind the Regulator.
I did an oil change and now i have a leak around the two Allen nuts on the oil filter assembly. Did you ever had similar issues?
Harleys high dollar on everything and the dip wade that tightened that needs to be removed from his job
I use a much simpler method. I have a 2001 Ultra Classic with oil cooler and there is plenty of room to get to the bolts. Take the 3 bolts out that hold the housing that you screw the filter on to. No mess, no sensor removal, no shift linkage removal. I use a 6 point socket and 1/4 drive ratchet with extension. Removal is super easy. Clean everything and replace the 2 o-rings. I use a little blue lock tight and tighten (couldn't find a torque spec.). Put on the new filter (with a little oil covering the seal) and there you go.
I've gone to Harley-Davidson twice to order simple, in Jesus Christ when I say simple I mean simple part. Just the O-rings and a decorative cap. They could not get that right. Now with any mechanic auto mechanic truck car whatever and bike now. I would never let a Harley-Davidson mechanic touch my bike. I'd let him change my tires and that's it. And even then I wouldn't trust them. I would inspect the hell out of it
I’m going through this problem on my 16 street bob. thank you
It’s areal headache, the filter on my bike is recessed into the sump and I can’t get a hose clamp on it, I’ll have to try Lenny’s approach.
what size oil filter cup wrench did you use on that? the 74-76 mm cups dont't fit those shitty K&N filters. I'm in the same boat! Beyond frustrating.
should have tried some penetrating oil where the gasket touches the housing let it set over night and spray again, it will loosen the grip of the crushed rubber gasket.
Can’t thank you enough!!!
I bought a reusable stainless steel one luv it...
A 1/2" drive strap wrench works everytime.
Thanks for the idea, my M8 filter is seized. Pain in the ass.
i changed to s&s oil filters little smaller and easier to work with
same here, killed 2 cheap steel band clamps, they just broke, tryed a chissel, didnt work, got a hole and oil came out. tryed a found a 3e band clamp in my toolbox and used self sticking sandpaper from ikea for in shower or on stairs. i put one on the filter and one on the bandclamp, sand to sand and it did work. i also tryed the hose clamp , but it did not work for me, even when i got the filter comming loose the threats where still hard to turn, real strange , it was a chrome filter. i hope my new filter go's on by hand,
Were you going left down to lose it
Man I have never seen a filter that jammed on. The Harley dealer used a K@N filter? Good the threads on your bike were not destroyed.
I did the oil change and filter, they tightened it when I took it in for an inspection {something about standard checks}. Hence being so pissed....
@@MidLifeDucatiCrisis You are right, only an idiot would do that. I've been changing oil in my cars and bikes for decades and never had an oil filter get stuck. I read the directions! Oil the contact surface and spin on until surfaces make contact, and then what it says on the filter, usually a half turn more.
Those Harley dealers and some of their technicians are getting really sloppy.
Ty brother i am having the same problem Ty
Geez. That was really on there
That looks like a perfect candidate for a leather belt removal method.
Why didn't you try a regular oil filter wrench? You know, the kind you use on a car. It works! Ive used one before. There are 2 types, one has the built on handle, the other use a rachet with an extension.
Jeff Tilghman they were stripping instead of turning it off. I did the hose clamp method, came right off. What a sonna of bitch
It’s 17mm for that filter
No body saw you take that filter off!!!
Why didn't you use a chain wrench on it?
Didn't fit and the hose clamp got better bite
fillazur I tried that no room on a ultra for turning
17mm
That is not a filter from a Harley dealer, that is K and N. Ever thought of buying the 9 dollar Harley filter wrench? That is backyard hacksaw work. With a Chinese made Covid infested K and N filter.
The filters always come off hard, get over it. I take the cup style filter wrench drill maybe 6 or 7 3/16ths holes in it, put it on the end of the stuck filter and then install 6 or 7 sheet rock screws. Turn it out with a wrench. Works every time.
You could always go back to the dealer and complain and get that ‘your-an-idiot’ look, which never really helps...
I am in this situation 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Don’t trust the dealer!!!