How do I loosen the water strainer?

[Cool Hand Luke]

My water strainer is impossible to loosen with bare hands. I think I screwed in on too tight last Winter. Any thoughts or recommendations?





Thank you!

[GordMay]

Strap Wrench?

[gamayun]

Is it the tan fitting on the top that spins or the ridges on the outside? If it's the former, you might want to try a Groco-type spanner wrench up against the X inside the ridges.

[SVRocinante]

I've not found an answer, but I can tell you to be SUPER careful with the Strap Wrench. It's a great suggestion and it SHOULD work, but I tried it and snapped off one of the plastic ridges along the side before deciding it wasn't worth the risk of cracking the plastic cover itself. I eventually got it off using both my hands along with a lot of yelling and screaming and some bruised knuckles!

Good luck!

[jstevens]

Have you tried to tighten the top first, then tried to loosen it? Sometimes that will break it free.

John

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Is it the tan fitting on the top that spins or the ridges on the outside? If it's the former, you might want to try a Groco-type spanner wrench up against the X inside the ridges.

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

[a64pilot]

I would say strap wrench too, or a leather belt and a stick works in a pinch.
You just have to hold the belt against the stick with your hand so it does limit the force you can apply.

I’d consider a Groco bronze strainer myself as a replacement

[hpeer]

Piece of 1x2 and a hammer. But first find someone with a replacement in stock.

I don’t know if you can buy just the screw in lids.

[deblen]

A teakettle of hot water first may help. / Len

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Piece of 1x2 and a hammer. But first find someone with a replacement in stock.

I don’t know if you can buy just the screw in lids.

I had one seize, too, even after greasing the threads. I wouldn't do it in place; I would remove it, or you'll snap the plastic at the mounts with the torque.

And really, they aren't expensive. If you want lifetime use, get a Perko strainer that you can fully break down. I generally think they are a great idea between the pump and the block. I've found plastic bags, seaweed and shellfish in mine.

[Steve Bean]

I second the idea of warming it up with hot water to soften the gasket. Then when you apply torque, increase pressure gradually and keep it up for some time. You may need to use more than one application of hot water.

[LooseGoose]

Unmount the strainer, put the lid in a vise to immobilize it, then use a strap wrench on the bottom of the bowl where it is much, much stronger. An option is to use a pipe wrench taking care to tape the sharp jaws and using a piece of vinyl, rubber or leather between the tool and the plastic.

[oleman]

We run a pair of Scot Ardox 0-1420 all bronze bodied strainers with a thick plastic see-through top held on with 2 bronze 3/8"bolts and sealed with a 1/4" O-ring, the basket is plastic. Not cheap, so probably gone from the system but good as gold for its application.

[noelex 77]

The lid can get tight. Vetus sell a special plastic wrench to remove the lid, but I made my own from some wood scraps.

The underside of the wrench has a deeply grooved cross pattern to match and therefore lock into the ridges on the top of the lid of the filter. The lid of the strainer is only plastic so I think you need something that applies reasonably even pressure rather than a point loading to a small area.

I made this about 15 years ago. It fits my new yacht so it is still is in regular use .

[HopCar]

It looks like it is a Vetus FTR330/XX series strainer. I don’t know which one it is but they all use the same cover. The part number for the cover and O-ring is FTR3301.
https://www.vetus.com/en/engines-and...er-system.html

Filter Parts Guide
https://www.vetus.com/media/magentom...03123931_0.pdf