I'm utterly unspeakably fed up with this...

[Petronella]

We used to have this problem too. Two things seem to have solved it.

1. As others have said we made a plywood "table tennis bat" with a cross cut out of it. Make the handle as long as you want.

2. I hardly tighten it up at all when I put it back. It never leaks and is much easier to undo.

 

[thalassa]

Osculati

+1 !
I have thrown out the Vetus in my old and present boat. It is very solid indeed, and you can have a new rubber joint off the shelf at the plumbers.

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

Actually that's a new one on me. I'll try that this time but mucking about with boiling water in a big seaway - ouch!

Best done while wearing salopettes and boots.

 

[LadyInBed]

That supplied all the seawater requirements on my boat including 2 heads, waste tank rinse, deck wash, water maker inlet as well as cooling water for main engine and diesel generator.

It was the way the strainer lids were attached I was trying to indicate.

2 Heads. Ah! 2 x 1GM10's

 

[colin_dev]

I want to make a spanner out of plywood for the Vetus Raw Water Strainer (FTR330) lid before I next go to my boat. Does anyone have the dimensions for such an item, perhaps you have made one. Or if you have the genuine Vetus spanner you could measure it for me. Alternatively, the measurements of the raised portion of the lid would suffice. Thanks in advance.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I want to make a spanner out of plywood for the Vetus filter lid before I next go to my boat. Does anyone have the dimensions for such an item, perhaps you have made one. Or if you have the genuine Vetus spanner you could measure it for me. Alternatively, the measurements of the raised portion of the lid would suffice. Thanks in advance.

Hi I doubt if it’s the same fit but check the size of an emersion heater spanner?

 

[colin_dev]

Hi I doubt if it’s the same fit but check the size of an emersion heater spanner?

This is the shape of the spanner I wish to make, as you can see, it is nothing like an immersion heater spanner, but thanks for the suggestion.

Its the dimensions of the cross that I need.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Ok

Hi I doubt if it’s the same fit but check the size of an emersion heater spanner?

... if you send me the exact sizes of the Cross, I will send you the price for making it on our 3D printer...?

 

[noelex]

I made one from some scrap plywood many years ago.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I had one of these filters on my Twister a decade or more ago, and recall the lid was stiff to undo, but a smear of silicon grease around the rubber seal should mean that you do not have to do it up very tight.
Then a cloth around the lid should allow you to open by hand.

 

[Zing]

I’ve got a couple. One bust and one disconnected. I’ve also got a great big bronze Maestrini (sp?). That’s a proper strainer and very butch and seamanly. Change it for a real one.

 

[Mistroma]

We used to have this problem too. Two things seem to have solved it.

1. As others have said we made a plywood "table tennis bat" with a cross cut out of it. Make the handle as long as you want.

2. I hardly tighten it up at all when I put it back. It never leaks and is much easier to undo.

I had one of these filters on my Twister a decade or more ago, and recall the lid was stiff to undo, but a smear of silicon grease around the rubber seal should mean that you do not have to do it up very tight.
Then a cloth around the lid should allow you to open by hand.

Light smear of silicone grease on the o-ring and barely tighten the top as mentioned in both quotes above. Mine is above the waterline and also fitted before the pump (obviously, or it wouldn't keep debris out of it). This means that it is under slight suction even when the engine is not running.

No need to be very tight as water is not going to spray out under pressure,. You only get a small ingress of air if it isn't tight enough, not water coming out.

I just watch the o-ring when screwing it on and stop when I see it darkening (i.e spreading out due to light contact with the lid). An air leak could cause a problem priming the pump but I've never seen the filter empty, even with very light effort to tighten the top.

I have been doing this for about 10 years with my current boat and only need hand pressure to remove it. I check the filter visually through the lid and usually remove every 4-6 weeks to clean.

I did have a boat with a brass strainer fitted below the waterline and it did need to be tightened as water pressure would cause it to drip. All the clear plastic ones I have seen were fitted above the waterline.

 

[Paul1962]

Hi - Tried the vaseline route without success, it kept sticking . Made one out of some scrap thin aluminium for my Antares 7 - worked every time

 

[lw395]

Strap wrenches are your worst enemy on these things, they squeeze the lid onto the body and make it harder to undo.
If you can't improvise the correct tool, gently tapping the fins on the edge of the lid seems to work.

 

[colin_dev]

Does anyone have the dimensions so that I can make a spanner?

 

[RichardS]

Strap wrenches are your worst enemy on these things, they squeeze the lid onto the body and make it harder to undo.
If you can't improvise the correct tool, gently tapping the fins on the edge of the lid seems to work.

A strap wrench has always worked well for me on my filters but it's certainly not as good as using plenty of silicone grease and not doing them up so tight.

Richard

 

[ithet]

A strap wrench has always worked well for me on my filters but it's certainly not as good as using plenty of silicone grease and not doing them up so tight.

Richard

When I purchased current boat the Vetus filter was jammed tight and there was a comment on previous service that mechanic could not undo it. I managed to release it with a nasty plastic handle and rubber strap wrench (which does not work on much else).

Now use silicone grease, just finger tight then back off a tiny amount - never jammed since. They do not leak air and you should always check cooling water after engine start anyway.

 

[Mistroma]

When I purchased current boat the Vetus filter was jammed tight and there was a comment on previous service that mechanic could not undo it. I managed to release it with a nasty plastic handle and rubber strap wrench (which does not work on much else).

Now use silicone grease, just finger tight then back off a tiny amount - never jammed since. They do not leak air and you should always check cooling water after engine start anyway.

Pretty much what I said in #52 above and also explained why they don't need to be tight. I don't think anyone took any notice.

Lots of talk about strap wrenches and spanners. I know they are talking about undoing the top but I bet some people make up the special tools and use them to tighten and loosen. I use a finger and thumb to tighten, no tools required. It does tighten up over time but doesn't need any tools to remove.

 

[langstonelayabout]

Also look at a proprietary Vetus spanner. They look like a whiffle-ball or pingpong paddle with an X cutout, and they're made of some unsuitable plastic. I made one of nylon sheet with a coping saw and it's bulletproof.

+1 for the proper spanner: Filter Lid Removal Wrench for Vetus FTR330 Series (Vetus FTR330/SPAN)

It worked a treat on my last boat which had a 'sod to remove' Vetus strainer. Sadly I sold it with the boat.

 

[RichardS]

+1 for the proper spanner: Filter Lid Removal Wrench for Vetus FTR330 Series (Vetus FTR330/SPAN)

It worked a treat on my last boat which had a 'sod to remove' Vetus strainer. Sadly I sold it with the boat.

Although £24 is a bit steep for a tool that one only needs to use once. If you have a strap-wrench already, it's probably more cost-effective to use that.

Richard