Where to Find Cap Wrench to Fit OEM UFI Oil Filter?

[Bonaventure]

Thing appears to be an oddball-- 79mm or so width but only 8 flutes whereas all the cap wrenches I'm seeing commonly available in that diameter are for 14 or 15 flute filters. 

[pete roper]

76mm-8 flute. Not rare, at least over here. Any sort of 'Wattalottacrap Auto' type place should be able to get one in.

Pete

[Bonaventure]

76mm-8 flute. Not rare, at least over here. Any sort of 'Wattalottacrap Auto' type place should be able to get one in.

Pete

Thank you Pete !!  Don't know how I borked the diameter measurement, I will look for 76mm units.   

[pete roper]

If the filter is tight even the correct one my try to spin off when you try to loosen the filter. If that happens put some clean cotton sheeting type rag, a couple of layers, over the filter and then biff the cap wrench on with a mallet. That should give enough grip to wind it off.

[Bonaventure]

If the filter is tight even the correct one my try to spin off when you try to loosen the filter. If that happens put some clean cotton sheeting type rag, a couple of layers, over the filter and then biff the cap wrench on with a mallet. That should give enough grip to wind it off.

Thank you sir !!   

[Bonaventure]

Found:  "CTA Tools A263 Oil Filter Wrench 76mm 3/8" Drive - Cap Style, 8 Flutes" -- Also described as "CTA Tools A263 Cap-Oil Filter Wrench-76mm/Jee"

eBay for the win:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/400243114612   $6.94usd to my door next week.

[Don M]

Is there a reason I should buy another UFI filter? This is the 3rd filter wrench I've had to buy for these UFI filters. All for the same oil filter part number. Can't they decide on a standard for how many flutes to put on their filters? And the latest one, nobody carries locally. So now I have to worry whether the filter will loosen before the filter wrench arrives. How do you hand tighten the filter on one that is inset into the oil pan?

[not-fishing]

The only wrench I've found that fit Ufi's is a rubber strap wrench or



And I'm done buying Ufi's for big blocks.

Mark

[Chuck in Indiana]

Is there a reason I should buy another UFI filter?

That would be No with a capital N...   unless you have a small block. The UFIs for small blocks seem to be ok.

[Don M]

"The only wrench I've found that fit Ufi's is a rubber strap wrench or "

I tried the "or" option, but it seems designed only for loosening, not tightening.

[John Croucher]

I carry mine every where I go.  I have both a left hand and a right hand version.  I grab hold of the clean filter and give it a good twist on tight and wipe the dirty filter off and give it a good twist off.  Seems to work perfect every time.  Guaranteed to last a life time.

[Idontwantapickle]

"The only wrench I've found that fit Ufi's is a rubber strap wrench or "

I tried the "or" option, but it seems designed only for loosening, not tightening.

If you are tightening oil filters with a wrench then that is why you are struggling to remove them.

[Lannis]

If you are tightening oil filters with a wrench then that is why you are struggling to remove them.

It doesn't work that way for me.   I do most of my own oil filters (not all, but the majority).   I never use a wrench to tighten them, always by hand and always at least 3/4 turn after gasket contact - some will go one turn.

And yet, 6 months or a year later, when I stick my hand back in there to take it off, it will NOT move.   And I have to struggle with a oil filter wrench to remove it ....

Lannis

[Don M]

I'm not sure what kind of Guzzis you guys are putting filters on and removing by hand, but if it is one of the Carc bikes with the external filter fully inset into the oil pan, I've got a lot of respect for you. You must have long very slender fingers with amazing strength.  With my gnarly osteoarthritis afflicted fingers, I'd be struggling to do it with a fully exposed filter.
I found a KiWAV filter wrench for Ducati on Amazon that should work.

[elvisboy77]

I'm not sure what kind of Guzzis you guys are putting filters on and removing by hand, but if it is one of the Carc bikes with the external filter fully inset into the oil pan, I've got a lot of respect for you. You must have long very slender fingers with amazing strength.  With my gnarly osteoarthritis afflicted fingers, I'd be struggling to do it with a fully exposed filter.
I found a KiWAV filter wrench for Ducati on Amazon that should work.

My 1400 Eldo also has almost no space, no way you could get fingers on there.  I got the right wrench, the one for the obsoleted filter on the third try lol.  Now I have a nice collection of oil filter wrenches, what the heck!

[Zoom Zoom]

If you are tightening oil filters with a wrench then that is why you are struggling to remove them.

On the newer bikes such as my 1400, they are recessed up from underneath. You cannot properly tighten them by hand since you can't get your fingers in there. Not too much choice.

John Henry

[Idontwantapickle]

On the newer bikes such as my 1400, they are recessed up from underneath. You cannot properly tighten them by hand since you can't get your fingers in there. Not too much choice.

John Henry

I understand all that. The point is that filters should be installed properly to avoid an ordeal that may damage the vehicle or the person upon removal.
I have a Norge and yes, it requires a wrench to both remove and install it. It still only needs to go 3/4 turn to be tight enough but it's easy to go too far when a big ol' handle is attached. Having the filter in a recess in the engine requires even more care during installation since it is quite difficult to resolve if things go wrong during removal. Add to that the ongoing mystery of UFI flute patterns and you end up lying on the garage floor cussin' like a sailor! No offense to our fine Naval Personnel.

Hunter

[80CX100]

If you are tightening oil filters with a wrench then that is why you are struggling to remove them.

     Normally I would agree with your line of thinking. I've been putting on oil filters for 40+ years, and was always able to get them tight enough by hand, sometimes a light touch with a mcgyver wrench of some sort,,, but the recessed installation of the UFI on the bottom of my Griso (all CARCS?) was a real biatch!

     I ended with this wrench from Harpers,,, a bit expensive, but it came highly recommended by others on this forum,,, I've used cheap plastic oil filter wrenches in the past,,, they only have to fail once, to take the bargain out of the bargain, fwiw ymmv. http://www.harpermoto.com/8-flute-oil-filter-wrench-1142004.html

     When I saw how tight I had to get the external mounted UFI on the Griso to stop the leaking, I couldn't help but wonder, how many of us with UFI's mounted inside the sump tightened up good by hand and hose clamped,,, are still getting slight internal leaks and a drop in oil pressure and don't realize it?

     Kelly

[Chuck in Indiana]

  When I saw how tight I had to get the external mounted UFI on the Griso to stop the leaking, I couldn't help but wonder, how many of us with UFI's mounted inside the sump tightened up good by hand and hose clamped,,, are still getting slight internal leaks and a drop in oil pressure and don't realize it?

Not to mention documented cases of UFIs leaking around the crimped seam on external filters. Issues with sealing gaskets. Paint coming off of them. Just say no.. 

[80CX100]

Not to mention documented cases of UFIs leaking around the crimped seam on external filters. Issues with sealing gaskets. Paint coming off of them. Just say no.. 

     Hey Chuck,      I think you're right; unfortunately I've got a few+ of UFI's already in my supplies.

     Up here in Canada, Fram(not a good reputation) & jobber filters(of u/k origin) are the only ones readily available (in my area anyways), you guys south of the border seem to have easy access to quality name brand substitutes.

    I know I've read some of the discussions previously on substitutes, but the brand names discussed weren't ones I've ever seen in my area on the shelf anyways. I'll have to do some research on here, and see what I can pick up locally or on Amazon.ca or some other mail order.

     Appreciate the input.

     Tks

     Kelly

[Lannis]

     Hey Chuck,      I think you're right; unfortunately I've got a few+ of UFI's already in my supplies.

I do too, and since I have to save up now for pepper jelly, I'm not throwing out perfectly "good" (?) filters.   I've always used UFIs on my Guzzis and AS FAR AS I KNOW I've never had any trouble with them flaking or loosening.

I'll keep an eye on them though, since others HAVE had troubles.   In the pan for the SP, and outside recessed up in the sump for the Stelvio ....

Lannis