How strong are you... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TWeatherford · #1 11-20-2006, 03:56 PM

I am not strong enough to get my fuel filter off without tools. Maybe I put it on too tight, but I am now at college, getting ready to go home tomorrow, and my car will barely do seventy. I don't have a filter wrench with me, or a wrench big enough to hold the filter bolt still

I don't own many tools, so don't have them with me although hopefully at Christmas time we'll get that fixed. Are any of you strong enough to get it off with bare hands? Oh, and just to clarify, this thing is still threaded the right (clockwise) way. So looking down at the fuel filter, as I am turning it looks like I'm going counterclockwise, but I'm really going the right way. Don't want to spend all my strength getting it tighter

John Doe · #2 11-20-2006, 04:03 PM

Wrap a leather belt around it and put a lever (bout 1" X2"X1') on the filter where the belt wraps on itself. Hold the lever and the live end of the belt at the same time and it works just like a filter wrench. I have done this on tractors many times. Bad description I know, but think about how a filter wrench looks and you'll get it.

Matt SD300 · #3 11-20-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWeatherford

I am not strong enough to get my fuel filter off without tools. Maybe I put it on too tight, but I am now at college, getting ready to go home tomorrow, and my car will barely do seventy. I don't have a filter wrench with me, or a wrench big enough to hold the filter bolt still

I don't own many tools, so don't have them with me although hopefully at Christmas time we'll get that fixed. Are any of you strong enough to get it off with bare hands? Oh, and just to clarify, this thing is still threaded the right (clockwise) way. So looking down at the fuel filter, as I am turning it looks like I'm going counterclockwise, but I'm really going the right way. Don't want to spend all my strength getting it tighter

Get a crescent wrench and unloosen (counter clockwise)the large bolt on the fuel filter housing, then unscrew the filter.

John Doe · #4 11-20-2006, 04:50 PM

Hopefully he remembered that, but I have had situations where the gasket was munched on there, melted, ect...

Matt SD300 · #5 11-20-2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

Wrap a leather belt around it and put a lever (bout 1" X2"X1') on the filter where the belt wraps on itself. Hold the lever and the live end of the belt at the same time and it works just like a filter wrench. I have done this on tractors many times. Bad description I know, but think about how a filter wrench looks and you'll get it.

Thanks for the tip! I like it!

mbzkid · #6 11-20-2006, 09:27 PM

Buy a cheap adjustable wrench. You can probably find one at a dollar store.

Its no fun driving the turbo diesel at 70.

Frank X. Morris · #7 11-20-2006, 10:26 PM

Howdy TW,
Lefty loosy,righty tighty.

t walgamuth · #8 11-20-2006, 10:29 PM

when looking down on the top of the filter, to loosten, the bolt needs to go anticlockwise, the filter needs to go clockwise.

good luck

tom w

Matt SD300 · #9 11-20-2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t wolgemuth

when looking down on the top of the filter, to loosen, the bolt needs to go anticlockwise, the filter needs to go clockwise.

good luck

tom w

HUH??

Like posted before... Righty tighty ...Lefty loosey

300EVIL · #10 11-20-2006, 10:45 PM

Use a big screwdriver and a hammer! works every time. Remember to pre-oil the gasket on the new filter so you don't get stuck next time.

Ara T. · #11 11-20-2006, 11:25 PM

Some PB Blaster might be worth a shot, but it really shouldn't be that hard to get off. I've never tried getting the filter off with my bare hands, I doubt I could get the leverage needed. I did have to get the primer pump off with a pair of vice grips, and let me tell you that was pretty painful. I bet my neighbors got a good laugh at my ass sprawled over the engine of my car, contorting my body trying to get the stupid thing off. I was about ready to give up when suddenly it broke loose.

cmac2012 · #12 11-21-2006, 01:20 AM

Not sure if my crude screwdriver method is like the one mentioned above but, uhhh.... a few times when I had nothing else at hand I've just jammed a screwdriver clear through the it and used it as a hillbilly wrench. Damn thing's gonna be garbage anyway.

BTW, if your view from above is looking at it from the end where it twists on, that's backwards. Look at it from the butt end. Counter-clockwise is what you want from that angle. T'other'n would be clockwise.

t walgamuth · #13 11-21-2006, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt SD300

HUH??

Like posted before... Righty tighty ...Lefty loosey

if you were looking up from the bottom of the filter yes,

tom w

TWeatherford · #14 11-21-2006, 11:41 AM

Thanks for the ideas guys. I have long known the difference between righty and lefty/clockwise and counterclockwise, but as has been mentioned its a bit confusing as you look at it from above. I'll see if I can get it off, hopefully I'll let you know from home tonight!

Hatterasguy · #15 11-21-2006, 12:18 PM

Do it the right way? Go buy a metric wrench 18MM I think and losen the bolt and remove the filter? Takes like 2 minutes you should never need to turn the fuel filter on a 617 to tighten it.