K11 Owners Group

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:14 pm Post subject: The BMW Oil filter "wrench"

Hi Guys...

OK... I give up!! It seems my BMW issue oil filter wrench decided to go riding or hiking on its own sometime during the HMSP-4 weekend. No worries.. I'll just pop into my local NAPA or wherever and get the 76mm domestic version and away we go... right ?? Wrong ! I bought a new metal 76 mm 'end cap' wrench which fits NAPA, WIX, VW etc with no problem ( I have a box of 12 NAPA filters waiting to be used ) BUT it will not grip the BMW filter at all... Whats up with the BMW filter body, until today I never realized that the OD configuration was not standardized.. and so it looks like a 'pan removal' will be required to get the old BMW filter out !! Any suggestions ??

Regards........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

old guy old bike · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject:

Been there. Just put some shims in a few of the flats and it will come out. There is also the 2 screwdrivers poked thru the bottom trick. I have used both.
Jeff
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Ernie-NH · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:37 pm Post subject:

Hi Jeff...

You mean..... drive two screwdrivers vertically and parallel to one another and then use the space between and a suitable rod to gain leverage ?? I never really cranked the BMW filters in,,, ie: only just 'hand tight' with the cap wrench, or so I thought. All the previous BMW filters came out with no difficulty, but then again, the wrench did fit ! Will give it go your way...!!

Thanks for the tip....!

Best regards............// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:32 am Post subject:

Ernie, something I have read about others doing. Drill a couple of small holes in the filter wrench, one on each side of center.
Then with the wrench up on the filter drive(screw) in a couple of sheet metal screws into the filter(to grab it) and then remove the filter.
Could be a little less messy than the screwdriver route.

Btw it sounds like the wrench fits up thru the filter opening? odd that it could fit the opening yet still not grab the filter.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Ernie-NH · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:08 am Post subject:

Hi Scott...

Looks like the ribs on the NAPA filters are much more pronounced than on the BMW filter. The NAPAs fit snuggly and crisply into the 'end cap' wrench. whereas the BMW filter does not seem to have the same pronounced ribs, thus allowing the wrench to slip just it starts to feel the rotational force. attribute this to a difference in actual geometry.... havent tried to remove it any longer last night, but will renew efforts today...SCREWS might be a lot less messy. will give it a go !! Thanks for the tips guys...

Best regards........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

E T · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:57 am Post subject:

When i first bought my bike and did the first oil change, it had a BMW filter in it, I had a few of the end cap wrenches in my tool box and took them out to see what fit.. What i found that fit mine perfect was the one i used for my oil filter in my Onan generator on my motorhome, and it worked perfectly..
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2005 Honda VTX 1300c---Passed

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject:

Ernie,

Might be too late, but I could ride to you with my wrench if it would help. (any excuse for a ride, eh?)

Good luck.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Don Sproule · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject:

I removed a stuck filter before without having to drill the filter wrench.
I took two 'eyebolts' (kindof like you find on a garden gate latch or a cable loom that you fasten on the outside of your house) and screwed them directly into the top (closest to the bottom of the oil pan) of the filter. They come with a pointed end that self-taps into the steel (or wood).
I just had to line up the 'eyes' and slide a long screwdriver through the two 'eyes' and use it as a handle to unscrew the filter. Worked great.
If you try it, get the big ones, almost 1/4" diameter shaft. They're cheap too.
If I'm not mistaken, I picked up the tip from this forum.

Don

old guy old bike · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject:

I had another instance where the socket did not fit correctly and would just pop over the flats as I turned it. All I did was use an extension on the socket, apply side load and push up as hard as I could. It then caught enough to loosen the filter.
Jeff
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

lee richter · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject:

Ernie,
I've taken a shop towel folded it in half, lay it across the filter wrench, line up the flats on the wrench with the flats on the filter and tap it up on the end of the filter, insert the ratchet and turn it out. It should not be that tight. Usually once you get it to turn it gets loose quickly.
_________________
Lee Richter
Orlando, FL
I like flying, HIGH or low, Wings or Not
182 Texas Tail Dragger
'39 J3 Cub
2000 HD Soft Tail Sold
2002 R1150R
1994 K1100LT

slyderx · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 2:20 pm Post subject:

if its slipping have you thought about wrapping gaffa/duct tape within the filter wrench ? May give you grip.
_________________
slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:19 pm Post subject:

Hi Guys...

As it turned out.. because I had to leave on the bike for a quick run to Maryland from NH, ( 500+ miles ) and needed to change the oil asap, I did the "trick" Scott suggested by first drilling two holes in the filter wrench 180 degrees apart, and then using the wrench as a guide, drilled two much smaller holes in the filter base. I then used two hex-head #8 sheet metal screws to secure the wrench to the filter base, inserted the ratchet extension, gave a twist and off she came !! GOOD BYE BMW overpriced filters. In hindsight perhaps loosing the OEM wrench was not such a bad thing, we'll see.

Thanks all for the many ingenious tips, and its encouraging to know that others have had to face the same problem....ie: its not just me !

Very best regards...........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7