I did my 3 hole oil change today. No biggie, right? At 7500 miles how bad can it be? Previous owner had it serviced at a dealer at 5k. That was the problem. The damn dealer. Oil filter took close to an hour to remove. The freakin' mutant must have tightened the oil filter with an impact gun. I actually had to use a breaker bar on the oil filter wrench to get it to turn. (counterclockwise, for those who would toss that out, lol) In my 30 plus years of doing my own services I have never, ever came across a filter so tight. I did replace it with a KN filter with the 17mm nut on the end. Next time it will be much easier.

 

Hey......I use the 17mm wrench end too.......and a few times I've had to use the screwdriver through the filter to get it off......I dont Gorilla it and I do use fresh oil on the gasket..........chit happens.....

 

Just a thought but do you think a dealer tech would intentionally crank on the filter to spite and frustrate the efforts of DIY's?

 

I cant think of a multitude of things they could do (or not do!)........thats why I dont go there!

 

My first change on new bike I had the same issue after the dealer did the 1st change at 5k. Installed a harley filter and snugged to what should be easy to remove with wrench but that bastard required a screwdriver through its heart too the following year. Next one had the 17mm nut.

 

Buffoons have been overtightening spin-on oil filters since they were invented. Just take solice in the fact the next oil change will go much smoother!

 

No, just the nature of the item being dealt with. I have a dedicated toolbox drawer with every type filter removing tool made and you still get those you have to destroy to get off and many of them I installed myself. Some will act right others will bring the harsh language, no pattern to it I've ever found.

 

I have always worn a pair of rubber gloves when changing my oil and filter. I take the filter off with my rubber glove and put the new one on with the rubber glove tight. A little oil over the seal about 1/4 cup of oil in the filter and on it goes hand tight. 14 different Harleys probably 100 oil changed no leaks ever. It's that dam wrench that someone wants to sell you. My cars, truck, Jeep, and boat all the filter are on hand tight and none of them leak, you know what you can do with that oil filter wrench right.
Oil changes guys can't agree on how to do it or what oil to use when doing it. Got to be the biggest disagreement about having a Harley-Davidson.

 

I've never tightened a filter for than "hand tight" in my entire life. I've never had one leak, and I've never had one I couldn't get off later.

 

It is really frustrating when a prior hack screws things up on your bike. When I recently bought my SG it had a primary leak. When I pulled it apart the inner primary seal was installed backwards. I guess the last guy didn't know what oil side meant.

Phil