ZF trans filter removal

[km1125]

Helping a friend out who has ZF transmissions. Trying to get the old filter out to replace it. Trying to loosen the 6mm bolt on the top of the filter cap, but it doesn't loosen. It's stuck to the cap and will turn the cap when I try to remove the bolt. The cap will turn (fairly easily) but then the tab on the cap hits the housing and won't go farther and the bolt won't loosen. Tried lifting the cap after it's turned left as far as it will go and can't lift it... afraid of breaking off that tab.

How does this come apart?? What am I missing? Seems like it should be pretty simple!

ZF_Filter.jpg

[bud37]

Is that washer a lock washer ?.....if so try to grab it with pliers then use a drill driver impact back and forth....maybe the washer is biting into the cap and fastener and the impact will loosen it easier than steady pressure....

[km1125]

I do believe that is a lock washer, but the torque I've put on the bolt should have easily overcome that.

Just trying to understand how this SHOULD come apart. If I DID get that bolt out, does that cap still need to be twisted to the left and then pulled up on to remove? Is there some kind of latching mechanism that holds the cap if it's turned to the right? The cap does have "turn << then pull" embossed on the top, which is why I'm inclined to thing that. Also wondering if that bolt is screwed into something in the cap or if it's screwed into some kind of tower in the housing in the center of the oil filter. The bolt is (supposedly) only about an inch or so long. If it screws into the cap, then I'm really "screwed" if it snaps off, as I'll have no recourse but to drill it out to remove the cap. If it goes THROUGH the cap into some kind of tower down to the housing, then snapping it off would/should allow me to remove the cap and unscrew what's left of the screw and just replace it.

[km1125]

OK, I think I understand now. Found a youtube that had some good views of the parts. The top is in two parts, the part that you see (cap, in his right hand) and the part below in his left hand. The bolt screws into that bottom part and pulls it up compressing the O-ring in between them. That O-ring gets trapped below a lip in the housing. If I do break the bolt off, then I can/should be able to just lift the top off and see the bottom half and pull that out with pliers. Then I could deal with the broken bolt, which might be as easy as just unscrewing the remaining threads. It's all sitting in trans fluid down there so I doubt there is any corrosion. If anything is corroded or stuck it's right at the bolt head on the top.

ZF_Filter2.jpg

[bud37]

Sometimes it is not the overall mass of force but the quick hammering shock, like hammering on a screw driver.....

Unfortunate, ya never know , maybe the one before may have screwed up the threads etc. Hopefully someone that has one of these or worked on one may chime in.


In the meantime check this out......https://teamtalk.mastercraft.com/forum/ ... and-filter

[Viper]

In my experience, the biggest problem is usually due to units that have never been dismantled and are caked with the original paint. A couple of good cautious taps is usually enough to help with removal. It's an odd design, basically the fastened assembly floats, not hard fastened to anything. You can pry the whole assembly off if you wanted to but you risk damaging the mating/sealing surfaces. You can do that, just go easy and be patient.

[km1125]

Source of the post In my experience, the biggest problem is usually due to units that have never been dismantled and are caked with the original paint. A couple of good cautious taps is usually enough to help with removal. It's an odd design, basically the fastened assembly floats, not hard fastened to anything. You can pry the whole assembly off if you wanted to but you risk damaging the mating/sealing surfaces. You can do that, just go easy and be patient.

Yep, I think that's exactly the case here. Looks like it's never been apart and it's a 2015. Should have had that filter replaced at the first interval. That's why I'm insistent that he gets this replaced before he launches this year.

Now that I know how it works, I can be more aggressive with the bolt. If it breaks, I can just replace the bolt easily. I don't want to pry the cap, because that's a $175 part. I also know now that I can grab that top washer. There's so much paint I thought that was part of the cap. I might be able to get some vice-grips on that and break it loose (the paint) which might make the bolt easier to move.