Water filter - Over tightened

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Gordy M

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My brother is a nice guy but he is a bit of a gorilla, and he was the last to put the cap back on the water filter on my boat.

I can't seem to loosen it now, I tried one of those rubber band loosen tools, but the band was too thick to go behind the cap. I really don't want to resort to using a monkey wrench for leverage.

Is there a specific tool for this? my cap is the clear plastic type with the + on the top and grips on the outer rim.

Am I supposed to turn off the sea cocks first (have tried both ways, but was just curious as I though that maybe creating a vacuum?

Thanks in advance
Gord
 
A large pair of water-pump pliers would grip the lid without having to pass behind it, though at the likely cost of some marks in the plastic. Opening or closing the seacock won't make any difference to the lid, though as Sailorman says, it should be closed if the strainer is below the waterline.

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Pete
 
Sounds like you have a Vetus type filter. Can you not use a piece of wood held across the + as a lever? I made up a special wooden tool for mine and it still took some shifting!
 
Both my Vetus clear filters had been left too far tight to undo by hand but a little hot water and a strap wrench as used for oil filters worked fine and left no marks at all.

Have coated the sealing gaskets with red rubber grease which is useful because it is easy to see if there is a gap anywhere which will let air through and prevent the raw water pump self priming. No need to do up tight any more!

Richard
 
Beware of using the large grips on the cross flats they are hollow and will crush, You can just buy a replacement top if you damage it though (have you seen the price of a complete new filter). If it is that tight I would remove the complete filter from the boat to gain better access and try your rubber band clamp again.
Pete
 
I found that the top was still very difficult to remove even after smearing silicone grease over the O-ring and section of top where it mates. I finally realised that I should tighten it very lightly and only tighten further in event of a leak. I've never had a leak and it always seems pretty tight when I remove it after a few weeks. I think that the O-ring seals well with little pressure and the filter is under slight -ve pressure anyway.

I check the filter visually without opening once every couple of weeks and remove the strainer for cleaning once a month. Pretty certain that I was over-tightening the top even when I thought I was only applying light hand pressure.
 
Get hold of Vetus UK. They used to do the x shaped tool in plastic in their spares catalogue. The OP mentioned they had one in plywood- I suppose you could do your own with a coping saw.
 
I have just cracked one of those using big pliers even though it was greased. Bought a replacement from ASAP supplies for about £15.
The new one went on and off much easier. Just wondering whether they get old?
 
Someone did the same to mine - I finally got it off in situ with hot water but cracked one of the body attachment lugs doing so. I should have removed it completely first so I was not twisting against the two small lugs that screw it down.
 
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