Coytee Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 I have a transmission filter on my backhoe that was totally STUCK to the machine. Seems I might have tightened it too much when I last changed it (oops!) It was so tight that it was crushing under the pressure of me trying to take it off... then, my filter wrench itself, deformed under the strain. Walked next door to my wife's cousin to borrow his....he handed me three of them. I was intrigued with the strap wrench, you connect it to a 1/2" ratchet (on the end of an extension in my case) The ratchet lets you get some serious torque on it that is much harder to achieve with the typical filter wrench.... This strap finished crushing what the filter wrench didn't crush BUT, I was able to get it off and the effort to get it off was far less than I was experiencing with the standard filter wrench. I was dumbfounded (doesn't take much to dumbfound me!) So today, what do I do? I bought a new filter wrench, then get home....remember the strap wrench and found it. I'm going to be adding one of those to my collection. For me, it was (to be a bit dramatic) a godsend. I'll admit, I was very dubious when I saw it.... and kind of scoffed at it BUT, decided to try it first just for kicks. Now, I'm going to own one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Yup, I've used those many times on backhoe filters, along with many other types of equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Yes Sir. Strap wrench in toolbox, check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Oh absolutely. I have one for when I work on my water main leaks and don't feel like digging giant holes just so I can get a big wrench onto a 2" compression coupling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 I use a humongous pair of gas pliers for tight places where the oil filter seam is so it doesn't crush. Doesn't matter anyway since I throw the filter away. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Yes, a must have. And for working on your cylinders ans such, these are awful handy. I don't have one of these chain wrenches that a ratchet is needed, but it looks like something I should get before I need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted July 30, 2020 Moderators Share Posted July 30, 2020 Yes they work well. But remember to always add a little motor oil to the rubber gasket on the filter and where it seats on the equipment, and don't over tighten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Coytee said: I have a transmission filter on my backhoe that was totally STUCK to the machine. Seems I might have tightened it too much when I last changed it (oops!) It was so tight that it was crushing under the pressure of me trying to take it off... then, my filter wrench itself, deformed under the strain. Walked next door to my wife's cousin to borrow his....he handed me three of them. I was intrigued with the strap wrench, you connect it to a 1/2" ratchet (on the end of an extension in my case) The ratchet lets you get some serious torque on it that is much harder to achieve with the typical filter wrench.... This strap finished crushing what the filter wrench didn't crush BUT, I was able to get it off and the effort to get it off was far less than I was experiencing with the standard filter wrench. I was dumbfounded (doesn't take much to dumbfound me!) So today, what do I do? I bought a new filter wrench, then get home....remember the strap wrench and found it. I'm going to be adding one of those to my collection. For me, it was (to be a bit dramatic) a godsend. I'll admit, I was very dubious when I saw it.... and kind of scoffed at it BUT, decided to try it first just for kicks. Now, I'm going to own one. I remember those from the 70s.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Woofers and Tweeters said: Yes, a must have. And for working on your cylinders ans such, these are awful handy. I don't have one of these chain wrenches that a ratchet is needed, but it looks like something I should get before I need it. I've got two of these.... not exact like this one, but mine are 100% useless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 9 minutes ago, oldtimer said: I remember those from the 70s.... You might have thought it would help a flacid situation.....but you would have been wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 7 minutes ago, Coytee said: I've got two of these.... not exact like this one, but mine are 100% useless. Too much lost motion n tight places with those straps. That's why I went to gas pliers where the lost motion is zero. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 Yeah, I think you nailed it. Was knocking my knuckles before it grabbed. (I was in a tight spot with little room) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 16 minutes ago, Coytee said: I've got two of these.... not exact like this one, but mine are 100% useless. I have used mine several times, when they are needed. They don't chew into a surface, and sometimes that's important (repairing nice shiny steam whistles, painted cylinders and such). 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 4 minutes ago, Coytee said: Was knocking my knuckles before it grabbed. I have had the Vise Grip chain wrench the longest of those. No more slack after it's adjusted and locked...It has seen some work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 I had a similar problem with the Volvo. The filter would not budge and it was slippery with oil. So I drove a big screwdriver though it thinking it would create two handles to twist. It did but twisting it only shreded the sheetmetal housing of the filter. I thought I should have left the filter in place and could at least drive the car. But then I wrapped a cloth towel around the remains and it gripped the shreded housing very nicely indeed. WMcD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 I was changing the oil on my grandmother's 69' Cougar w/351w 4V. That PH8A just would not come off and I didn't have a strap wrench nor a way to get one. So, I drove a very large screwdriver through the canister knowing where the threads of the bung were. With a good healthy jerk and a few drips, off it came. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebuy Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 I find it's best to install the Oil Filter with a Impact Gun. No Oil Leaks Here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosco-d-gama Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Keep a basin wrench in your tool kit also. Same idea devised for hard to reach bolts that need to be tightened or loosened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 3 hours ago, Coytee said: I'll admit, I was very dubious when I saw it.... and kind of scoffed at it BUT, decided to try it first just for kicks. Now, I'm going to own one. They do work and work very well. I have broken one, but I can't blame the tool and it might have been on something other than a filter when it gave up. I have the filter pliers and a few of filter sockets and a couple of the wrenches. Sometimes they just can't do the job. Here is one that I've not seen before. They need to insert drive links from a chainsaw chain. B!tsh filter would say uncle at first sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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