Topic: Oil filter bolt cross threaded

[kurtkarram]

Took off the oil filter housing because I forgot to put the spring and washer in. Went to put it back on and saw this. I can’t seem to get it to thread properly. Looks cross threaded to some extent.  How #$%*ed am I?

[bryanj]

Sorry to say very, you need new cases, i have never seen that thread sucsessfuly repaired

[Kenzo1979]

Don’t be tempted to use power drivers and power impact drivers on these bikes.  You need to feel that you’re hitting resistance and back out. 

[desertrefugee]

Too late for the OP.   Still, you might have a prayer chasing those threads out.  Good luck finding a tap.

[BenelliSEI]

Are those threads the same as a spark plug? There is a tool called a reverse plug tap. You put it at the base of the hole, expand it (in the good portion) and back it out. Might work if they are the same....
That looks bad.

There are a few experts at installing helicoils on this forum. Not sure if they come that large. Per?

[Tracksnblades1]

Are those threads the same as a spark plug? There is a tool called a reverse plug tap. You put it at the base of the hole, expand it (in the good portion) and back it out. Might work if they are the same....
That looks bad.

There are a few experts at installing helicoils on this forum. Not sure if they come that large. Per?

+1 on the expanding back cutting tap…

But then an experienced Bridgeport man could back cut those threads without the special tap..😁

[City Boy]

HI.You could try chasing the threads with a filter bolt.Take a hack saw and cut a couple slots right through the bolt threads to aid in catching debris.lube the bolt and chase away.Good luck.

[BenelliSEI]

HI.You could try chasing the threads with a filter bolt.Take a hack saw and cut a couple slots right through the bolt threads to aid in catching debris.lube the bolt and chase away.Good luck.

Good idea. Make your own tap. Even with a tap the correct size, the trick is to ensure you are engaged on the original threads. Catching the ones you made can result in total destruction....

Before looking for new cases, I would consult a really good machine shop. A clever guy could bore that hole and then make a new threaded insert that could be welded into place.

[kurtkarram]

Hello everyone

To my surprise, I have the oil filter housing back on correctly. I want to share what went wrong to cause it so that no one else makes the same mistake, and how I got it to work.

My bike has those highway/engine guard bards on it. The bottom tube of that kinda gets in the way of the oil filter bolt. Putting the bolt back in, the highway bar made my ratchet not perfectly level, making the bolt take its own path. It seemed to be less "cross threaded" than it was the same thread pattern just slightly angled. Maybe that's just inclusive of what cross threading is

I took just the bolt and tried screwing it in. I found that I had to have the bolt perfectly level or it would catch the old threads. It screwed in smooth if done right. To make sure it went in perfectly straight, I moved the highway bars down out of the way, and pressed and held the oil filter housing flush up against the engine before screwing the bolt. The bolt went in nice and smooth. All is well now... until my next oil change. Hopefully the method I learned works again with no issues.

I appreciate the responses. I figured since there was "no saving it" I could just try.

[Kenzo1979]

That’s a relief, because that was one of the scarier posts I’ve seen in a while.  Rule of thumb for most bolts is to start it by hand and make sure it’s threading in nice and easily.  I was thinking for a while that you were using power tools.  Good luck going forward.

[BenelliSEI]

And don’t pull it hard. With the big “0” ring it really needs very little torque.....

[ekpent]

Glad to see a happy ending on that one as I was reading down from the top.

[Don R]

  Some of the oil coolers used an extension that bolted on there. They had a machined steel fitting that extended the thread out for the normal filter. One of those locktited in would save wear and tear in the future. Another idea is the spin on filter adapter, it goes on once and after that the filter spins on the front.

[PeWe]

That bolt need to find threads by finger force only, socket on bolt, stock 12mm or 17mm  aftermarket. Or very light hand with tool.

Sometimes it finds it direct, sometimes not. Just keep the calm.
I have tested with bolt only a few times when I thought the outer threads were damaged.

Oil filter can sometimes be pressed outwards making it tricky. Some filters can be pressed inwards and stay there enough for bolt finding threads correctly. Oil the filter's rubber seals helps.

Like xxx situations
Angles in angels

[BenelliSEI]

  Some of the oil coolers used an extension that bolted on there. They had a machined steel fitting that extended the thread out for the normal filter. One of those locktited in would save wear and tear in the future. Another idea is the spin on filter adapter, it goes on once and after that the filter spins on the front.

You should consider this option. Loctite the adapter in and use a spin on.

[70CB750]

  Some of the oil coolers used an extension that bolted on there. They had a machined steel fitting that extended the thread out for the normal filter. One of those locktited in would save wear and tear in the future. Another idea is the spin on filter adapter, it goes on once and after that the filter spins on the front.

You should consider this option. Loctite the adapter in and use a spin on.

+1

[desertrefugee]

Also agree. If you can never use those threads again, that would be the best approach to avoid any unpleasantness and expense.

I am a big fan of the spin on oil filter adapters, but typically on water cooled engines. In your case, it is to your advantage to make an exception.