Yes Richard, so many are cranked up so tight that you have difficulty in removing them without destroying them and making a horrible and unnecessary mess. I find the strap wrench the best option for removing them even when too tight. You will get some distortion but it won't rip it open. It rarely doesn't get enough grip but if that does happen then use an inspection glove under the strap, doesn't have to fully surround the filter, just use the width of the glove.
If you really can't remove one and its damaged, don't drive around with it thinking its ok as the distortion will have stuffed the pressure release valve and it won't be filtering anything. Rather, punch a hole in the bottom or lowest part and drain out. Then using side cutters trim around the canister about an inch from the seal and pull off the outer can and paper cartridge. you will be left with the central steel support. Some filters it just pops off quite easily but if fixed and part of the threaded central mount pack the central section with a piece of rag and tape over the holes in the upper mount and cut it off, I always use a hacksaw, some use grinders! Point of note here! DON'T MAKE YOUR CUT TO CLOSE TO THE TOP AS THE MOUNTING THREADS ARE LONGER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK! When at this point you can see the top of the cartridge where it screws to the housing. You will see that it has a series of holes around the central hole in what is quite a strong mounting plate. The idea now is to use or make a simple sprocket holding tool. I made mine from gable end roof ties with two small fixed bolts, one in each arm and then two free nuts so I can adjust the depth the bolts stick into the filter housing..... you don't want to go in to deeply and damage the housing. If you can't picture what I am describing look up sprocket tools and all will be clear. It is surprising how easily this method removes that stuck mounting plate. Only once have I had to make something more elaborate and that was because I needed to reach a depth of 6". Here I used a Land Rover wheel hub socket and an old hub nut with two pins welded to it. It was actually so tight that it started to bend the pins so I added a third and off it popped!
Not trying to preach to anyone here but hope it might help someone one day!
Last edited by sewin; 02/05/26 01:05 PM.
