How do I NOT Break This??

TerryKing

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B7100HST-D
Aug 18, 2024
153
94
28
84
Topsham, Vermont USA
arduinoinfo.mywikis.net
Hi Yet Again,

Wish there was a Sticky for "How Do I take THIS apart Without BREAKING it??"

Just the fuel filter on B7100 etc. You know:
FilterHow.jpg


That ring with the bumps on it unscrews, right? CounterClockwise like it should, Right?

Hand/rag doesn't move it. LIGHT grab with Visegrips wiggles it. Only that one bolt holds it in place. REALLY don't want to Break That.
Maybe there is a Tool for That? What do YOU do??

Mine has metal bowl so I can't see the element. Probably it Ain't Broke and Ain't clogged and it can wait until Spring...??

Thanks for Listening to Newbies :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,885
5,685
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
Terry, you have it figured out, it's just on there tight! If you have a pliers that opens wide enough to get around the nut you can get a better grip, but only use the pliers as a gripper, not a torque wrench! Gently try to get the nut to move while applying pressure counter-clockwise. Be gentle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

chris_the_wrench

Member

Equipment
L3902
Oct 31, 2023
64
21
8
Chinook Pass
I had that same issue last winter. Temps dropped below zero f for a week and my fuel gelled. I had to get it off. Seems like there should be a wrench that fits that diameter and notches, but I couldn’t find one in my tight time restraints. I used a strap wrench and had to REALLY crank on that ring to spin it loose!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

JasonW

Active member
Jan 29, 2015
304
144
43
Al
I’ve had better luck using a flathead screwdriver or chisel and lightly tapping it to turn it. The issue with vice grips is when you get it tight enough to not slip it’s deforming the entire ring against the threads.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
Hi Yet Again,

Wish there was a Sticky for "How Do I take THIS apart Without BREAKING it??"

Just the fuel filter on B7100 etc. You know:
View attachment 139990

That ring with the bumps on it unscrews, right? CounterClockwise like it should, Right?

Hand/rag doesn't move it. LIGHT grab with Visegrips wiggles it. Only that one bolt holds it in place. REALLY don't want to Break That.
Maybe there is a Tool for That? What do YOU do??

Mine has metal bowl so I can't see the element. Probably it Ain't Broke and Ain't clogged and it can wait until Spring...??

Thanks for Listening to Newbies :)
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
Place the housing in a vise, with soft wood blocks on both sides to protect the casting from damage..
Use a LARGE pair of channel lock pliers to remove the ring.
Tapping gently with a wide blade screwdriver, or blunt cold chisel, to loosen the ring, can also work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Dustball

Active member

Equipment
2016 B2650HSDC
Sep 15, 2023
312
186
43
Hudson, WI
Just like anything round, you want to grip it with as much force as you can all the way around without squeezing it at only two points. Strap wrench or pliers with round jaws.

1729090563520.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 users

MapleLeafFarmer

Well-known member

Equipment
Lots incl. B and L kubotas
Dec 2, 2019
658
535
93
E.
Just like anything round, you want to grip it with as much force as you can all the way around without squeezing it at only two points. Strap wrench or pliers with round jaws.

View attachment 139995
filter wrench is a good idea. lots of different designs.
I use a large set of channel lock pliers if a rag and hand doesn't do it.

I take mine off yearly (regular maintenance) so hand and rag works fine.

I never have any water but find more and more every year the metal screen stops the heavy green snot stuff (algae) that seems to get worse and worse every year as this bio diesel crap seems to get worse.

FYI... last weekend on a L3301 I removed the bowl and metal screen and had a worrisome amount of green snot. No water just snot. And machine gets about 300 hrs use a year, always use additives summer in summer , winter in winter, stored indoors in vented machine shop, fuel kept very fresh (kinda fussy about fresh fuel, etc.... I hate this biodiesel craze
 
  • Love
Reactions: 1 user

Trimley

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX23SLSB-R-1 plus additions
Jul 25, 2023
1,185
879
113
PNW-WA
To add to the other suggestions...

There are many ways to accomplish the task at hand. All tasks for that matter.

How about using two 1/4" thick pieces of mild steel flatbar, (square shank steel punches would work aswell) that fits the inside indentations of the collar, then place the jaws of large channel locks (or a large pipe wrench) on those for leverage points.

A Coil-Over Spanner-Wrench will also work.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

TerryKing

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B7100HST-D
Aug 18, 2024
153
94
28
84
Topsham, Vermont USA
arduinoinfo.mywikis.net
Just like anything round, you want to grip it with as much force as you can all the way around without squeezing it at only two points. Strap wrench or pliers with round jaws.
@Dustball : I've found several wrenches like your photo, but their smallest limit is 2-3/8 inches or more. The fuel filter outer ring is about 2-1/8 . Anyone seen a different smaller size?

"without squeezing it at only two points." is the main point. Strap wrench meets that I think..
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

dirtydeed

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650 BH77, U27-4R2, BX23TLBM, box blade, rear blade, flail mower, Stump Grinder
Dec 8, 2017
3,042
3,722
113
Wind Gap, PA
I just use a large channel lock pliers or oil filter pliers similar to what dustball posted.

Do you have a harbor freight near by?

either of these will work (from harbor freight), these are what I use. The red handles doyles are simple to use if you make sure that the tip pushes against one of the raised edges of the filter lock ring.

harbor freight pliers.JPG
 
Last edited:

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
@Dustball : I've found several wrenches like your photo, but their smallest limit is 2-3/8 inches or more. The fuel filter outer ring is about 2-1/8 . Anyone seen a different smaller size?

"without squeezing it at only two points." is the main point. Strap wrench meets that I think..
Don't over think it!
A properly sized set of channel lock pliers will do the job, .......and will have many other uses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,644
5,038
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
The ultimate ,perfect tool.....
would be a very deep, castled socket that 'meshes' with the 'nubs' on the ring.......
as it fits 'like a glove' ,NO problem removing the ring
 

mcmxi

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
5,388
6,467
113
NW Montana
OK, I Like Klein tools...
I like Klein Tools too. (y)

I've had a couple of plastic handled strap wrenches for decades, the ones with the smooth rubber strap. When I installed a remote fuel filter on the BX I bought the steel handled strap wrench shown below and have used it on lots of filters and even a few days ago on the pump and heater fittings for my hot tub. It's not the best tool for every job, but it works well if you have clearance for the handle.

strap_wrench.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

WI_Hedgehog

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2370 (impliment details in Profile-About)
Apr 24, 2024
359
376
63
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Spanner wrenches are thin and slip easily, though they do work well on coil-overs.

Either a Strap Wrench (infinitely adjustable and very even pressure but can break) or a Filter Plier works well, however I'd suggest two, one for the filter body and one for the housing, then use equal and opposite pressure on each (turn them opposite ways) to not put strain on the nipples or fuel lines. (I have no experience doing this on a tractor as I'm new to tractors, but do have experience in the automotive industry; it should work similarly I'm guessing.)