Topic: aaaahhhhh!!! oil filter bolt completely seized/stripped

[Falken]

My 5am nightmare.  Up all night dismantling my new project (K7 750F)...literally have everything off the bike and was about to try solo pull the motor.  (using the ole pad the floor, tip the bike, pull the frame off the motor technique)  Took the oil pan off...only the oil filter pod remains.  At first glance the bolt isn't in good shape...someone long ago had a fight with it. 

I cross my fingers and try a hex 12mm socket...no way will it slide on.
So i try a 12 point 12mm...we're in business.  Except that at even half pressure it slips...damn.
There are still a couple good edges and i don't wanna waist them...so i start soaking it in WD40 every few minutes hoping for it to penetrate (i had spritzed it with wd40 the day before along with a lot of other bolts).  after an hour I break out the torch and hope that heating the surrounding area might help me break it loose.

I grab a 12mm wrench in a final hope that the edges might hold but they fold like a cheap.....(whatevers cheap and folds easy)
I don't have vice grips at the moment so i grab the biggest set of pliers i have, squeeze till my hands hurt and give it a go (righty tighty, lefty loosy lol).   nothing worked.  I tried again and again...what started as a half stripped bolt is now a totally stripped bolt!

What do i do?
the only thing i can think of is buying a tapping kit and try drill it out.  any other suggestions?
(other than this i'm having a lot of fun   actually even this is fun...i love the smell of wrenching in the morning)

[MCRider]

There are several threads on this so you are not alone. The stick is occurring between the underside of the bolt head flange and the filter cover. If you can grind off the head of the bolt, the filter cover will pulloff over the shaft of the bolt. Then you can spin the shaft of the bolt out. You will destroy the bolt, and possibly the cover. But it will be off.

[bryanj]

Weld a nut on it or I have never yet failed with hammering a 1/4 WHITWORTH (you may have a problem getting one of those in the US) onto the bolt head that is left

[Bodi]

Put a propane torch on the head and heat it up pretty damn hot (not red hot, the aluminum filter case will melt). While hot, spray penetrating oil around where the bolt meets the filter case. It should draw the liquid into the stuck area as it cools.
Give the bolt head a good firm whack with hammer, straight in. Then try vise-grips. Get them on the head as tight as you can with the fixed jaw on top. Instead of leaning on it, whack the handle with a hammer for an impact effect. If that doesn't work, you can have a nut welded to the head or drill the head off. You need a pretty big drill - the size of the filter bolt shaft - once you get a good pilot hole down the centre of the bolt head.

[Bankerdanny]

This happens all the time. It's practically a right of passage for SOHC4 owners.

My 2 cents is that when this happened to me I used a cold chisel to loosen the bolt. Position it carefully, but the flange at the bottom of the bolt head is thick enough that the chisel can get good purchase without damaging the filter housing. It took about 10 minutes of hammering to finally move the bolt.

Once it's off I recommend that you buy one of the readily available replacement bolts with the larger 17mm head or consider a conversion to a spin on filter.

[MCRider]

All of these suggestions will work on a case by case basis. Grinding or cutting the head off with a Dremel tool is the least barbaric (no hitting, no heat)

Use of the 17mm head bolt is good, I do. But it must be remembered that this bolt doesn't take much tightening, and the 17mm may tempt someone to crank it even more. Use it simply for a more comfortable fit of the tool.

A dab of antiseize under the flange of the bolt is what is needed. Or a more frequent turning of the bolt. Time will allow the surfaces to corrode together. Its stuck for that reason, not necessarily that the PO tightened it too much, though that's definitely possible too.

[lone*X]

I use the 17mm filter bolt as well but remember that 17mm wrenches usually means a lot more leverage.  Use caution as already stated.  It is easy to over tighten.

[Johnie]

I like MC's reply "A dab of antiseize under the flange of the bolt is what is needed." I will do this in the future just because...

[ekpent]

Won't hurt to try and hammer a smaller size socket,like maybe an 11mm 12 point or such onto whats left of the head,actually the more mutilated the better. Has worked well for me in the past.

[BobbyR]

Won't hurt to try and hammer a smaller size socket,like maybe an 11mm 12 point or such onto whats left of the head,actually the more mutilated the better. Has worked well for me in the past.

That is the best and easiest solution. You are essentially wedging the the bolt head into the socket. Since the head is shot no harm will be done.   

[Grabcon]

Same topic different thread..


http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92245.0

[grcamna2]

Falken,
      I have a new 17mm head oil filter hold down bolt(the longer one) for the 77'-78' CB750F that I'll sell to you, PM sent...

[Falken]

Wow!  thanks for the all the replys and suggestions everybody!
(i'm new to the board (and the bike) and i can tell this is gunna be a great forum/resource for a long time)

I'm gunna try just about everything suggested in some order or fashion until i get the bloody thing off.

I'll start a project thread and post up some pics as it comes together.

[USCG_C130]

I had the same issue go on my thread and see what I did.. I believe someone else said to weld a nut or bolt on... I ground my down and had a buddy come over with a stick welder had it off in 5 mins.. Its rediculous looking though.. Also I bought a new one with a larger head

 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=99832.msg1117631#msg1117631

[Falken]

Ha!  Victory is mine!

after days of penetrating oil, vice grips, tapping, hammering...nothing worked.

so i grabbed my trusty 4 1/2" grinder and butchered it right off...problem solved.

[MCRider]

Ta Da!

"Grinding or cutting the head off..."

[Falken]

yep.  i was literally acting on your advice

[MCRider]

The other suggestions have all worked at one time or another.