oil filter installation question

[LittleRock]

I am trying to install the oil filter and is extremely tight on the shaft which I am pretty sure it must rotate on. I cannot even come close to turning it by hand on the shaft. I have cleaned the shaft and oiled it which helped a lot but it is still very tight. Is this normal, also does a washer go on each side of the oil filter.

[prima5star]

I'll check when I get home... I think it's one washer. You are right, the filter should spin easily. Slide it off the shaft and look for galling or burrs.<br /><br />Matt

[prima5star]

So I checked out the spinability of my oil filter tonight (good thing that case is apart for clutch tests) and it was pretty stiff on the shaft too. I opened it up and whao, lots of crap in there, mostly aluminum from when the engine holed a piston (this is the parts bottom end whose PO mis-set the timing enough to hole a piston and overheat a cam)...<br /><br />To the point, I cleaned it out and used some 800 sand paper on the shaft and in the bearing surfaces of the filter (gently man, gently) and the oil filter spins free with almost no drag.<br /><br />Matt

[LittleRock]

Thanks Matt, that is the info I need, when you say the bearing surfaces, I assume you are talking about the holes the shaft slides into? Also, is there just one washer and it goes on the side of the shaft away from the engine? Thanks for the sanding tip. Terry

[prima5star]

I think the washer goes on the engine side of the filter. When you take the shaft out there should be shiney areas where the filter rides on the shaft, these are the bearing surfaces. I didn't sand very much, just enough to clean off any aluminum bits that had gotten in there from the previously described oops. If you like, I will check my parts book tonight regarding the correct washer placement.<br /><br />Matt

[LOUD MOUSE]

The steel washer goes on the shaft followed by the filter. If you put the filter on first the cap (made of aluminum) will wear against the outside cover (made of aluminum) and both will grind and destroy themselves. .........LM