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[dayne66]

In the process of changing the fluids yesterday afternoon I found the oil filter to be very tight. The Harley filter wrench with the cut-out would just 'hop over a notch' no matter how hard I pushed it on. I attempted to use a couple other OF wrenches I had....but, because of the tight area, they would not fit/work. I ended up using the Harley wrench....and screwing it to the filter.
This worked great......damn was it tight....a turn & a 1/4 before it was movable without the 3/8" ratchet handle.
Oh ya......last service was done by my local dealer.

[HOGMIKE]

In the process of changing the fluids yesterday afternoon I found the oil filter to be very tight. The Harley filter wrench with the cut-out would just 'hop over a notch' no matter how hard I pushed it on. I attempted to use a couple other OF wrenches I had....but, because of the tight area, they would not fit/work. I ended up using the Harley wrench....and screwing it to the filter.
This worked great......damn was it tight....a turn & a 1/4 before it was movable without the 3/8" ratchet handle.
Oh ya......last service was done by my local dealer.

Bet they said it was your fault for not bringing it in sooner or letting their "master tech" do your oil change! LOL
I use a 3 legged filter remover for all types works fine.
JMHO

[dayne66]

What is this '3 legged' filter wrench you speak of?

I found a pic


I don't anticipate any more issues though, as my local dealer wont get the opportunity to do that again. I'm not sure what the future at the dealer holds though...just changed hands a couple months ago.

[Afdharley]

When I did my 1000 it took me forever to get the damned filter off. Had to go get a different filter wrench. The other day I saw a video of engine assembly by HD factory. It showed oil filter being out on with no oil in o-ring and tightened with an air wrench. No wonder I had such a time getting it off.

[ultrafxr]

When I did my 1000 it took me forever to get the damned filter off. Had to go get a different filter wrench. The other day I saw a video of engine assembly by HD factory. It showed oil filter being out on with no oil in o-ring and tightened with an air wrench. No wonder I had such a time getting it off.

Same on my 1k oil change on my '12. Filter was so tight the wrench jumped the flutes but the filter would not budge. Like to have never got it off.



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[ultrarider123]

In the process of changing the fluids yesterday afternoon I found the oil filter to be very tight. The Harley filter wrench with the cut-out would just 'hop over a notch' no matter how hard I pushed it on. I attempted to use a couple other OF wrenches I had....but, because of the tight area, they would not fit/work. I ended up using the Harley wrench....and screwing it to the filter.
This worked great......damn was it tight....a turn & a 1/4 before it was movable without the 3/8" ratchet handle.
Oh ya......last service was done by my local dealer.

EXACTLY what I went through last oil change....same deal, the dealer performed the last one (and last one).  Dang thing was tight!  Same mechanic that tightened the primary cover I had so much trouble with.  The filter and screws were Schwarzenegger tight. 
Finally got her loose but your ingenious idea is how I will do it if there is ever a next time it's that tight....good deal 

[ltank]

I normally go hand tight then 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn. Then it still not too bad to remove.

[CVOStreetglide]

EXACTLY what I went through last oil change....same deal, the dealer performed the last one (and last one).  Dang thing was tight!  Same mechanic that tightened the primary cover I had so much trouble with.  The filter and screws were Schwarzenegger tight. 
Finally got her loose but your ingenious idea is how I will do it if there is ever a next time it's that tight....good deal 

Get a K&N 171B  with the 17mm bolt head on the end. (you will need a 8 point socket) at a lower cost than the HD 25mil filters too.      

[ultrarider123]

Get a K&N 171B  with the 17mm bolt head on the end. (you will need a 8 point socket) at a lower cost than the HD 25mil filters too.      

Thank ya sir for the suggestion....I have a K&N on my truck.  So much easier.  However, I got a deal on oil filters a few months ago and shouldn't have to purchase any (HD or otherwise) for 4 more changes...will consider the options at that point. 

[Chains]

Quote: Get a K&N 171B  with the 17mm bolt head on the end. (you will need a 8 point socket) at a lower cost than the HD 25mil filters too.      

That's all I have used for years after a dealer oil change and a way too tight filter. None of my wrenches would remove it. Harley wrench was useless as well.  Ended up buying the 3 fingered one and it still was a bear to remove.  Never use anything else now just got a 3 pack of them for $36.00 delivered to my home. Always buy 3 at a time that way if I am headed out on a long run which would require oil change I have a filter with me in the trailer to use.

[Road Dad]

You can also just punch a screwdriver through it and then use that as a lever getting the old filter off. No big deal.

[ultrarider123]

You can also just punch a screwdriver through it and then use that as a lever getting the old filter off. No big deal.

That does work in some cases but there isn't much leverage room considering not only the front fender but the oil cooler lines, oil lines, etc. 

[Para Bellum]

K & N forever, and always done by me.  Had way too many that were so tight it required a five-fingered death punch with a screwdriver...or so loose it leaked.

I ended up using the Harley wrench....and screwing it to the filter.
This worked great......damn was it tight....a turn & a 1/4 before it was movable without the 3/8" ratchet handle.
Oh ya......last service was done by my local dealer.

Great idea.  Gonna add that to the mental tool box.

[grc]

Just one more item in the long list of good reasons to do this service yourself.  And yes, I've found the factory filters to be a real bear to remove, not just on the bikes either.  Those items in all the how-to articles, like applying a thin coat of fresh oil to the filter gasket before installing, don't lend themselves to the "crank 'em out as fast as possible" production process.

I've used the "punch a screwdriver through the filter and use it as a lever" method on cars, with middling and messy results, but there really isn't much room on a Harley for that one.  I've also used various forms of filter wrenches over the years, and found the ones designed to fit the flutes of the filters to be hit or miss, depending on how well they actually fit each type and brand of filter.  The three leg wrench illustrated in an earlier post is still resident in my tool collection, but it isn't exactly great either.  A good adjustable strap wrench tends to outperform all the other various wrenches, but only if you have good room to maneuver.  Thus my choice of the K&N filter with the handy dandy 17mm nut welded on the end. 

Jerry

[CVOStreetglide]

Just one more item in the long list of good reasons to do this service yourself.  And yes, I've found the factory filters to be a real bear to remove, not just on the bikes either.  Those items in all the how-to articles, like applying a thin coat of fresh oil to the filter gasket before installing, don't lend themselves to the "crank 'em out as fast as possible" production process.

I've used the "punch a screwdriver through the filter and use it as a lever" method on cars, with middling and messy results, but there really isn't much room on a Harley for that one.  I've also used various forms of filter wrenches over the years, and found the ones designed to fit the flutes of the filters to be hit or miss, depending on how well they actually fit each type and brand of filter.  The three leg wrench illustrated in an earlier post is still resident in my tool collection, but it isn't exactly great either.  A good adjustable strap wrench tends to outperform all the other various wrenches, but only if you have good room to maneuver.  Thus my choice of the K&N filter with the handy dandy 17mm nut welded on the end. 

Jerry

Just be sure to use a 17mm 8 point socket. The 16 point sockets seem to do what the filter wrench does on the HD Filters.

ALSO, for those who want to continue to use the Harley filters, (riders choice) Harley made a newer filter wrench with a longer side skirt. I returned a short skirt one and they handed me the newer one a couple of years ago.

Jerry