Help! Can't Remove aftermarket K&N Oil Filter from K100

[WHITE91K100RS]

Hey Brickheads,


Hoping to get some insight from you guys in terms of best approach. I have a 1991 K100 that has an aftermarket K&N brand oil filter with a stripped out nut. As a result, I'm have a hell of a hard time removing this damn oil filter. See filter below:




I'm trying to get this filter out without having to drop the oil pan on the bike and turn it into a larger project than it needs to be. I saw this video from Chris Harris regarding his clever idea to removing a stuck filter - but I don't think it will work for me due to the large (stripped out....grrr) nut that is on the bottom of the K&N brand filter (see image below)





Do any of you guys have any ideas? Any insight from you all would be greatly appreciated. Spring is on the way and I want to get a fresh filter in there  :falldown:

[koapono]

try using longer screws to span the gap between K&N filter and BMW filter-wrench. You may have to use larger screws, #10 or so, to handle the additional stress. Seems you have little to lose at this point.

[Chaos]

have you tried a large vice grip on the K&N nut, or am I visualizing your problem wrong?  Worst you could do is rip the nut off, then Chris's method ought to work.

[Nailhead]

Yeah, that big stripped nut & years in the oilfield say “pipe wrench” to me.

[Laitch]

Yeah, that big stripped nut & years in the oilfield say “pipe wrench” to me.

+1

[The Mighty Gryphon]

+1    A pipe wrench, vise grips and a big hammer are my end-of-the-world tool kit.

[WHITE91K100RS]

Ya, pipe wrench with vice grip was my first plan of attack  but due to how deep the filter is in the oil pan, I can only bite that stripped nut at an angle, not the clean 90 degrees I would like. As a result, I haven't been able to get enough leverage on that sucker to get it to turn.

Feedback here seems consistent, so I'll give it another go tomorrow and Ill report back my with my triumphant victory or dismal failure part deux

[Martin]

You could try removing the K&N nut by drilling out the spot welds. Then attach the filter wrench with large screws.
Regards Martin.

[Laitch]

It helps save collective brainpower and time if you tell us everything you've already done—like using a pipe wrench—so we don't need to think of ways to tell you how to do things you've already done. Brain cells don't grow on trees. :giggles

You can't try putting the tip of a shock adjuster wrench into that hole on the nut and remove it that way? No shock wrench?

Then Pull off that filter wrench, go get a cap oil filter wrench of suitable size that has a square opening to fit a ratchet wrench extension, screw the new wrench onto the filter, insert the extension into the filter wrench square opening, attach a ratchet wrench to the extension then remove the filter.

Or something like that there.

[gazman]

Sometimes rough as guts is the way to go, hammer a Philips screwdriver through the filter an twist

[alexis291]

Why not take the sump / oil pan off ? You may save time in the long run and it will give you more options to get hold of the filter so you can undo it.

[WHITE91K100RS]

Well, I dickered around with a pipe wrench and hammer today, but I wasn't able to get any kind of real bite on this stripped out nut.

It helps save collective brainpower and time if you tell us everything you've already done

-tried pipe wrench with vice
-tried various sized pliers
-tried hammering slightly smaller socket on there
-tried using my air impact ratchet and some force

You can't try putting the tip of a shock adjuster wrench into that hole on the nut and remove it that way?

Yes, I have a shock adjuster wrench, but not sure I'm following your advice here.

[Filmcamera]

If there is room to get to it I would try grinding off the K&N nut that is stripped so you can fit a normal oil filter wrench on there and then do the Chris Harris method

[kris]

Filmcamera, I was in the same position (except no stripped nut....no nut at all). That filter had been on for 9 years! Dropping the pan was what saved the day for me. In the alternative get a Dremel (or something else small with a cutting wheel) and take the end off the filter. Then I would get some needle-nose Vicegrips and go at 'er! Just twist the shit out of it until it yields....and it will yield! If this doesn't work you can always drop the pan. And don't over-tighten these damn filters going back on. They don't take much more than hand-tight.

Good luck!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Sometimes rough as guts is the way to go, hammer a Philips screwdriver through the filter an twist

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...

[WHITE91K100RS]

If there is room to get to it I would try grinding off the K&N nut that is stripped so you can fit a normal oil filter wrench on there and then do the Chris Harris method

Yes, this is what I was thinking my next step will be. Just try to grind that stripped nut off there and try Chris' approach. Of that doesnt work, then I'll just have to drop the oil pan.

[WHITE91K100RS]

Did some googling and found this medieval bastard someone made for their bike when they had same problem. Thinking I might try to fabricate something along these lines for ultra-leverage and bite  :mbird

[alabrew]

On my first BMW, an '85 K100RT, I had to lay the bike on it's side, remove the sump pan and, after mangling the filter body, even had to drill holes in the filter plate to get it to release from the threads. Oil that rubber ring and don't over tighten.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Those tools should be called "Filter REMOVAL wrenches".  There is absolutely no need for a wrench to install an oil filter.  Unless, of course, it's on a German motorcylcle where the damn thing is installed where you can't get your fingers on it. 

Even then, you just spin it with your fingertips until it stops spinning easily and then give it another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.  If you go further than that, you deserve what you get when you do your next oil change.

[jakgieger]

Had a similar problem on my bike :yow .  I attacked it like I do stubborn filters on farm equipment.  Similar to your "medieval" tool, I drive two big screwdrivers through the filter body and then use a lever.  It really helps to have two people .  The pan also comes off easily...

[BlitzenGruv]

What part of finger tight did you not understand?

[Laitch]

What part of finger tight did you not understand?

The fault, dear Blitzen Gruv, is not in ourselves, but in our stars.

[WHITE91K100RS]

Well, I was finally able to remove the stubborn oil filter.


Dropped the oil pan to get a better angle, and I bit onto the nut with a large pipe wrench. Gave it a turn with all my might and I ripped the nut right off the filter!


So... with the nut removed, I tried Chris Harris' approach and drilled some holes into my oil filter socket, applied it to the stubborn filter, and drove some sheet metal screws through it. Came out no problem! Eureka. Thanks for all the input all  :2thumbup:

[kris]

Can I get an "AMEN!!!" from the crowd, please? :clap:

[Martin]

This saga was nearly as long as "Gone with the wind". Please don't let there be a sequel, put a smear of oil on it and do not overtighten it.  :nono
Hallelujiah regards Martin.