[Johnny Canuck]

After warming the engine, draining all the oil (including 3 seconds of cranking with kill switch activated for additional removal of residual oil - which did produce as claimed), it was time to remove the oil filter. What could be easier....right? Having read the on-line manual, the torque setting for this bolt is 14 - 18 Ft. Lbs. Well...the Honda mechanic that did the oil & filter change when I purchased the bike earlier this year certainly put a lot more torque on this bolt than 14 - 18 Ft. Lbs. I can't budge it! Rubber and all! SO, before I take the bike back to the mechanic...and before I even think about slapping on the vice grips, is there any advice from the group?

 

[Blue Fox]

First, use only a 6 point socket on that (really all) nuts on the bike. It is almost impossible to strip the heads with a 6 point socket. Then get a decent sized extension for your ratchet. A 12" pipe should be fine. Try turning the bolt with the extension on. If you feel that bad things are starting to happen, put a strap wrench around the filter cover and use that to turn the filter cover at the same time. I can't imagine that not doing the trick.



Vise Grips are a wonderful tool, but I try never to use them on a nut or bolt head. At least if I ever want to reuse it or it shows. While on the subject, there are locking pliers, and there are Vise Grips. I have yet to find another brand of locking pliers that is much more than a fishing weight.

 

[cxlover]

If you happen to strip it there is always the irwin bolt extractors.



i don't have them, i have the matco brand extractors but they are fabulous.



But as said, get a bigass cheater and see what happens. I agree with above, if you feel like something bad is about to happen try to spin both at the same time.

 

[bandit]

After warming the engine, draining all the oil (including 3 seconds of cranking with kill switch activated for additional removal of residual oil - which did produce as claimed), it was time to remove the oil filter. What could be easier....right? Having read the on-line manual, the torque setting for this bolt is 14 - 18 Ft. Lbs. Well...the Honda mechanic that did the oil & filter change when I purchased the bike earlier this year certainly put a lot more torque on this bolt than 14 - 18 Ft. Lbs. I can't budge it! Rubber and all! SO, before I take the bike back to the mechanic...and before I even think about slapping on the vice grips, is there any advice from the group?

jonny,for this bike i needed a new front cover.........

that bolt was only coming off with an air impact wrench

then it flew off

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks Blue Fox, CXLover and Bandit....I hadn't thought about a strap wrench in tandum with the 6 point socket. Hoping to not strip anything here. You guys assumed that I had a somewhat "rounded" nut to begin with (you're right) and finding the absolute best fitting socket/wrench is proving challenging. I've pulled out all the metric and imperial sockets, including the 12 or 18 point sockets (dear old Dad's)...and it seems the absolute right fit is somewhere between 11 and 11.5 mm or something around 7/16". Can't remember if it's smaller or larger. Anyway, I did fill up with oil and will drive over to the Honda dealer and ask him to simply loosen the nut without removing the assembly and retighten with correct torque. I can do the rest from home.

 

[nolavox]

Just some thoughts...



You may want to take a file and square off the edges of the hex before going much further. I'd get a new filter bolt... about 15$ shipped from fleabay dealers.



A six point box end wrench is my tool of choice for the drain plug as well as the filter bolt. I use a breaker bar if I need to use a socket.



I never use a persuader pipe on a ratcheting handle for saftey reasons. I've seen them grenade with busted knuckles and tools bouncing off expensive paint

I would not have the drain bolt re tourqed on a hot engine as well. ( just avoiding exhaust pipe tattoos for my wrencher

)



That air impact looks like it would be about 250 ftlb possible. If it does not loosen something quickly, It WILL break it apart

A Hammer Impact is better for breaking stuck fastners loose without breaking them apart.



Remember the crush washer on the drain plug... Mine was galled to the drain plug permanently.

 

[kingston73]

Another thing you could try is the special socket made for rounded bolt heads. I think Craftsman, but don't remember for sure.

 

[bandit]

Another thing you could try is the special socket made for rounded bolt heads. I think Craftsman, but don't remember for sure.

something like this perhaps

 

[cxlover]

You mean a bolt extractor like I mentioned?



It looks nothing like the gator grip, its an internal spiral with sharp teeth. Trust me, these require very little effort to get rounded bolts out.

 

[Linny]

The bolt is already rounded. Put a vise grip on the damn thing. Or turn it into a chromy by hammering a socket on it and leaving it in place.

 

[Dash]

If you do strip out your oil filter bolt, well bummer, but join the crowd. It's a pretty common bolt to wreck on a Honda. Seems that Honda used unusually soft metal to form that bolt. Old Goldwings have the same oil filter setup and breaking/wrecking that bolt is a common complaint on that bike too.



To get the bolt out, I agree with Nolavox -- use a hand held impact driver. In fact, if you don't have one, just hammering on a bolt often can loosen it. My technique is lots of little taps as if you're hammering in a nail. Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap et cetera. Then wrench.

 

[MotorcycleCommuter]

These bolts round off so often that there's a lucrative aftermarket for them on e-bay.

 

[marshallf3]

That's also why you should buy the replacement with the large hex head, not the small one you also see being sold.

 

[Trickster]

If as you said it has been off recently, it sounds like it is just over-torqued and not rusted on.



As mentioned, hammer on a tight socket and use a breaker bar, the choice of vintage wrenchers.

 

[Shep]

GeorgeFix does the 17mm replacements



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CX50...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb0e4b6a0

 

[marshallf3]

These really do work and work well, they've got a cheaper 5 piece set if the proper size is in there. Same thing from Snap-On or Mac is going to be over twice the price. You can even find them at discount places like Harbor Freight but I think this is one tool I wouldn't go cheap on.



http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952166000P

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Everyone....thanks for your suggestions...I appreciate you being "kind" to me (as I'm definitely the non-mechanic among you)! Time has got the better of me this past week. I may get to my bike by this coming weekend. I'll let you know the outcome.