Author Topic: Suggestions for removing a rounded off oil filter bolt... (Read 10663 times)

GrandRapids750K3 · « **on:** July 10, 2011, 10:43:46 AM »

Looks like PO COMPLETELY rounded off the oil filter bolt. Anyone got some good tricks or tools for removing it? I have tried vise grips, pipe wrench, and cursin at it. This thing really can't get much rounder... please tell me someone has a trick...

andrewk · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2011, 10:50:52 AM »

Get some penetrating oil on it, then try the vice grips again. I have a pair of Knipex water pump pliers (that's what they call them, they're basically channel locks, but set up to grip round things.) that I use for this, but I think vice grips would be the next best thing. Also tap the head with mallet both before and while applying pressure to loosen it.

HondaMan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2011, 11:15:49 AM »

Since you will be replacing it anyway, try a chisel on the outer edges of the flat portion. It will usually move it, which is all it takes to break the corrosion free, then some Visegrips will let you take it off.

Most folks tighten these too much. When installing the new filter, use the big O-ring new each time, and tighten until the bolt stops, then back off about 1/8 to 1/4 turn. The new O-ring won't leak, and the new change will be a breeze. I've gone 125,000 miles and 37 years on the one in my bike, with the 12mm head on it.

MCRider · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2011, 12:41:30 PM »

HM-Interesting procedure. Supports my "squishables" protocol. Anything with a "squishable washer should be tightened minimally. That goes for valve covers, oil drain plugs, spark plugs, etc. Tightren till the washer squishes then a quick "uh" and STOP. Ride it if it leaks give another "uh".

Now I'll add in the case of the oil filter housing, your suggestion of actually backing off a tad.

As to getting a stuck one out your suggestion of tappig the outer flange of the head of the bolt in a anti-clockweise direction is the best.

Or any of the other suggestions.

GrandRapids750K3 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2011, 12:42:15 PM »

Thanks for the tips everyone... Once the wife gets home I'm off to the store for some penitrating oil and a cruise through the isles for some new bolt destroying tools. I also filed the bolt a bit to try to put some corners back on it, hopefully that will help... Once I get this oil change done I'll be able to ride for the first time all season.

On a related noted.... The bike is drained of its old right now, is it any harm to leave it empty while I order the new bolt?

WarwickE36 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2011, 01:15:02 PM »

Napa sells kits to remove rounded bolts. they have teeth that cut in as you turn out, pound it on with a hammer (dont go too crazy) then put a ratchet on it and it should come out. I have always found a pipe wrench to be a great tool for this as well, im surprised its not working for you.

GrandRapids750K3 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2011, 03:02:14 PM »

I have just spent an hour with every bult removal tool known to man and still no luck. I have saturated it with penetrating oil, used vice grips, pipe wrench, special bolt removal socket set, hit it with a hammer and chisel. All I seem to do is round it off again, file in some edges, round it off again, and repeat....

Lets say I cut off the bolt head.... What will I be dealing with then? Obviously I'll be replaceing the bolt anyways, but what am I looking at as far as gettng the bolt shaft out? I am really at a loss here... This was suppose to be a quick oil change and get a ride in tonight....

octagon · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2011, 03:57:21 PM »

lets say the bolt head and flat part all together is a clock face. set your chisel so it makes a line between 12 at the outer edge and the center where the rounded bolt head is.
drive straight into the flat surface with light taps to make a slot. then angle the chisel and tap some more so you're applying force counter-clockwise.
do the same between six o'clock and the center. go back and forth and it should break loose.

MCRider · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:15:17 PM »

Quote from: GrandRapids750K3 on July 10, 2011, 03:02:14 PM

I have just spent an hour with every bult removal tool known to man and still no luck. I have saturated it with penetrating oil, used vice grips, pipe wrench, special bolt removal socket set, hit it with a hammer and chisel. All I seem to do is round it off again, file in some edges, round it off again, and repeat....

Lets say I cut off the bolt head.... What will I be dealing with then? Obviously I'll be replaceing the bolt anyways, but what am I looking at as far as gettng the bolt shaft out? I am really at a loss here... This was suppose to be a quick oil change and get a ride in tonight....

Octagon fleshed out HMs suggestion. 99.9% effective.

Realize its the head that is stuck to the filter housing. Its not (usually) the threads in the block. Get the head off, or loosen it, and the bolt part should follow easily.

GrandRapids750K3 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:22:45 PM »

Turns out I was using the wrong tools all along.... All I really needed was some cold PBRs, sawsall, angle grinder, and new oil filter housing.... Wasn't pretty but at least it's off. Thanks again for all the info and as usual I've learned something new... Find and order a new housing tonight and hopefully I'll be riding by the weekend....

cameron · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:59:25 PM »

I put an adapter on so I could use normal car filters.

Just an idea.. if you didnt order the thing already.

Redrider969 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:38:20 PM »

I had the same problem years ago. I drilled a hole through the head from side to side and put a short nail through it. Then used the vise grips. The nail bend part way around the rounded head but gave the vise grips something to hang on to.

GrandRapids750K3 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:41:03 PM »

Nice tip... I'll have to remember that one.

Cameron- I've trying to bring it back as close to original as I can afford, so I'm going to stick with the original housing. Thanks for the idea though.

camelman · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2011, 08:57:51 PM »

Grinding a flat on opposite side of the bolt head works great. Put a monkey wrench on there afterwards, and turn. I've removed some seriously stuck bolts doing that.

Grabcon · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2011, 09:05:53 PM »

A couple of thoughts, although to late for this event but maybe will save others grief in the future.

First NEVER NEVER EVER beat on that bolt with anything. I did that once and it came off and so did the casting on the lower case.

For those that are rounded but have a little hex left I have used a one size smaller 12 point socket and tapped in on straight, and then eased it off with a breaker bar.

For those that are really bad I have used a 4" angle grinder and very very carefully ground it off without damage to the filter housing.

Patients is a virtue when it comes to these filter bolts. These need to be tight enough not to leak. To many people over tighten. I am surprised that there is not a torque spec. in the manual, or I just missed it. By the way all of us who wrench on these bikes should have a couple of good torque wrenches. These prevent a lot of damage for those of us with heavy hands.

jneuf · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:48:44 AM »

Quote from: Grabcon on July 10, 2011, 09:05:53 PM

First NEVER NEVER EVER beat on that bolt with anything. I did that once and it came off and so did the casting on the lower case.

Now I don't feel so bad knowing that someone else did this too..

I tried all the methods listed above when I was battling mine, and nothing work. Seeing as I already have a spare filter housing, I would've much rather cut mine off the way you did than break mine off the way I did!

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #16 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:54:23 AM »

I have found that HM's suhhestion of the cold chisel is very effective. I used it to remove my stuck and completely buggered up bolt. The bolt head is not very hard, so the chisel easily carved itself a groove. Once you get the head to break loose from the housing the bolt comes off easily, and with some care there wasn't a scratch on the housing itself.

gnarlycharlie4u · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2011, 09:28:27 AM »

pipe wrench and a chisel got mine out.

vice grips just couldn't quite cut it, they just rounded it off even more. the pipe wrench and some bouncing got it loose though.

octagon · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2011, 10:13:36 AM »

hm's suggestion of tightening then backing off was news to me, but it makes sense - guess the 12mm size of the bolt head is a hint from the honda engineers that you shouldn't crank it down to tight.

Holubs · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2011, 10:27:28 AM »

My neighbor used to weld a 12mm box end wrench on the bolt to get it out. I tried to tell him he was overtightening the oil filter bolt, but he wanted to make sure it didn't leak. :-)

Didn't seem to bother him that he needed to buy a new bolt and a new 12mm wrench each oil change.

Holubs

MCRider · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2011, 10:36:56 AM »

Quote from: Holubs on July 11, 2011, 10:27:28 AM

My neighbor used to weld a 12mm box end wrench on the bolt to get it out. I tried to tell him he was overtightening the oil filter bolt, but he wanted to make sure it didn't leak. :-)

Didn't seem to bother him that he needed to buy a new bolt and a new 12mm wrench each oil change.

Holubs

Wow, takes all kinds.

MCRider · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2011, 10:37:39 AM »

This discussion leads me to add, maybe a dab od anti-seize on the underside of the flange wouldn't hurt.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #22 on:** July 11, 2011, 11:35:34 AM »

Quote from: MCRider on July 11, 2011, 10:36:56 AM

Wow, takes all kinds.

Yeah. I love it when I have an excuse to post this picture of what a PO did.

Welded a carriage bolt to the stripped bolt head.

cameron · « **Reply #23 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:36:59 PM »

That is strangely brilliant.

Tugboat · « **Reply #24 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:42:03 PM »

Quote from: cameron on July 11, 2011, 08:36:59 PM

That is strangely brilliant.

+1

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Author Topic: Suggestions for removing a rounded off oil filter bolt... (Read 10663 times)