Topic: WTF! Completely stuck oil filter bolt, '74 CB550

[zoo mob]

Well, not real happy right now, the CB550 is giving me fits, the oil filter bolt simply refuses to come off. First, it begins to strip with a socket, next, vise grips to no avail, next slotted it with a dremel and couldn't get it to go with a flathead, last, worked into it real good with my impact driver, the result was a twisted tip to the impact driver, I'm lost, Help.

[TIM TINGEY, age 55]

At this point it'll probably be easier to weld a nut with a 17mm hex to whats left. A good mig or tig welder should be willing to do this. Make shore all ground wires are disconnected, un hook the battery.  . The stock bolt had a 12mm head, i'd recommend one of the aftermarket bolts with a 17mm head. For most owners it'll allow easier removal. Just make sure not to overtighten the bolt just because you'll be using a bigger wrench. One last idea: using a chisel with a 1/2 inch head (a good sharp tip ) strike the head where the flat lip rests against the filter, in the direction to lossen it (counter clockwise). . . to help, take the hammer and strike the head straight on to jar the threads. Do this 2 or 3 times then try to loosen bolt again.

[KeithB]

Have you tried warming up the engine first?
I have found this to work with a "stuck" spark plug once.

[Calflash]

Put your vise grips on  the bolt head.  Hit the head of the bolt with a hammer as you turn the vise grips.

[Johnie]

I have seen good results from a basic pipe wrench.  It bites good.

[CrashBar]

These worked for me.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952060000P

[ekpent]

I got a mangled bolt out Andy by taking a socket that was smaller,probabably an 11mm and pounding it on to the mangled head of the bolt with a hammer. It bit down real nice and came out. Put a little heat and PB in the equation also.

[mark]

Somebody here took a sawzall to the housing and through the bolt......

Kinda messy but got past the chewed up stuck bolt in a hurry.

[spitfire]

Normally the hammered on 11 mm socket works, but it's probably more to do with warming up the engine and hitting the end of the bolt with a hammer to jolt the threads that does it.

Cheers

Den

[crazypj]

Your wasting your time with a normal chrome plated 12 point socket.
Get a cheap set of impact sockets, 6 point is the ONLY way to go (cheap set is less than a single Snap-On 12mm)
 You don't mind beating , grinding or welding on them either.
I've found the steel is as good or bad as anyone else's
I'm still using the set I bought in 1971, 14mm is a bit worn, but not as bad as the Snap-On I replaced it with in 1995 (used to use 14mm a lot doing engine work, almost all engine bolts have 14mm nut)

PJ

[duzatun]

zoo i had the exact same prob on my 550 cpl months ago unhooked wires got the welder out tacked a 10 mm rod on the nut or what was left of it and just the heat transfer done it could of undun it with my fingers after that

[robdrobd]

Could you use a propane torch to heat up the bolt? I found that mine is stuck too. I can't warm up the engine because most of it is in pieces

[Flying J]

I used a sawzall on my 750f. I didnt need the filter cover or the bolt. I needed the motor out of the frame. Anyway what i found was that when this is the problem its not the threads that are locked up its actualy the head of the bolt that is stuck to the filter cover. After i cut the head off with the sawzall and pulled the filter cover off the bolt came out by hand. I also have welded a phillips bolt to it and that worked good.